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Students gain=20 leadership skills through Peer Coaching program =

By Liz=20 Wordelmann, =9210

St. Bonaventure University students have = the=20 opportunity to mentor members of the incoming freshman class by = becoming=20 peer coaches. The program began in the 2009-2010 academic year and = is a=20 part of the CORE (Collegiate Opportunity to Reach Excellence) = program for=20 first-year students. The peer coaches facilitate engagement with = St.=20 Bonaventure for the freshmen that they work with and help = transition from=20 high school to college.

=93Some = freshmen have a=20 difficult time adjusting, finding their place, making friends or = joining=20 organizations/clubs,=94 said Mariesa Gianni, Peer Coach = coordinator. =93The=20 Peer Coaching Program gives freshmen a peer coach who acts as a = big=20 brother/sister to help them with these difficult adjustments.=94 =

As a peer = coach,=20 upperclassmen have the opportunity to provide a meaningful = service,=20 develop leadership skills, have their efforts recognized on a=20 co-curricular transcript and network with students, staff and = faculty.=20 They receive ongoing training throughout the year to enhance their = professional and coaching skills.

=93This is a = volunteer and=20 personal development program, and not a paid job, making it ideal = for the=20 candidate who would appreciate being part of a close-knit group of = pre-professionals with a high campus profile, and wishes to give = back to=20 the University and fellow students in a vitally important way,=94 = Gianni=20 said. In the first year of the program 28 upperclassmen = (sophomores to=20 seniors) were accepted.

This year the = program is=20 looking to welcome 40 peer coaches. Applications to become a peer = coach=20 are due March 24 and the students selected will be notified on = April 7.=20 Each peer coach will be assigned two to four freshman and will = help them=20 to increase their connection to St. Bonaventure through individual = worth,=20 academics, and social and university networks. Peer coaches have a = minimum=20 contact agreement of one hour per week with each assigned freshman = individually or in groups. In addition to weekly discussions, peer = coaches=20 are expected to communicate with their freshmen through e-mail, = phone=20 and/or text each week. The peer coach and their freshmen also have = to=20 participate in informal meetings with faculty and/or staff members = during=20 the semester and develop group activities for their freshmen = peers.=20

=93Peer = coaching provides=20 opportunities for freshmen to get to know upper class students, to = develop=20 relationships and to learn about the University and college = success from=20 students who have already been successful at St. Bonaventure,=94 = Gianni=20 said. For more information about the Peer Coaching program or how = to=20 apply, please contact Mariesa Gianni at giannimm@sbu.edu or Dr. = Nancy=20 Casey at ncasey@sbu.edu.

St. Bonaventure University junior = Nick Sylor=20 bid his way onto the stage to stand next to Drew Carey on =93The = Price Is=20 Right.=94

Sylor found himself on the popular = daytime game=20 show with his friends and teammates during his trip to California = with the=20 St. Bonaventure men=92s rugby team.

=93Our coach, Clarence Picard, set = it up,=94 said=20 Sylor. =93We had an extra day in Los Angeles and he decided to = schedule a=20 trip to The Price Is Right.=94

The Price Is Right runs on a = first-come=20 first-serve basis, so the entire team waited in line for about two = and a=20 half hours before entering the audience.

About halfway through the show, = Sylor was asked=20 to =93Come on down!=94 Proudly wearing his St. Bonaventure Rugby = T-shirt,=20 Sylor jumped from his seat to join the other contestants. Sylor = planted=20 himself next to Drew Carey after guessing the exact price on a = pair of=20 bicycles.

=93I bid $800 and everyone else bid = higher.=94 said=20 Sylor. =93Drew Carey then said, =91The actual retail price is = $800.=92 I ran up=20 on stage and collected my $500 for bidding the exact price.=94 = Sylor lost=20 his game, but was given an opportunity to spin The Price Is Right = wheel.=20 He spun $1, which gave him $1,000 plus a bonus spin on which he = won an=20 additional $10,000. Sylor won a shot at the Showcase Showdown, = which=20 included a new Ford Mustang, a trip to Hawaii and a home = entertainment=20 system. He overbid on the showcase and lost, but he still walked = away from=20 the show $11,500 richer.

You can watch the entire chain of = events unfold=20 on The Price Is Right March 31 at 11 a.m. on CBS.

In an attempt to raise awareness = about=20 homelessness and mental health issues in the community, Phi Rho = will host=20 the annual Hut-A-Thon fundraiser the weekend of April 9 at St. = Bonaventure=20 University.

The event will be held next to = Plassmann Hall=20 near the Grotto from 5 p.m. Friday, April 9, until 12:20 p.m. on = April 11.=20 Phi Rho is the St. Bonaventure chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, the=20 international honor society for students, professional counselors = and=20 counselor educators.

According to Anna Prudente, Phi Rho = vice=20 president, those who donate their time to the Hut-A-Thon are = typically=20 members of Phi Rho and graduate students in the counseling = education=20 program. Faculty of the School of Education and faculty members = throughout=20 the university, including the president, Sr. Margaret Carney, = O.S.F.,=20 S.T.D., donate money. Members of Phi Rho will set up a wooden hut = and=20 maintain it throughout the weekend. Participants sit in or stand = around=20 the hut, experiencing what it is like to be homeless, which better = prepares them to be future counselors. They hope to contribute to = changing=20 the perception of homelessness and mental health issues in the = community.=20

=93We don=92t get any kind of prize = or much=20 recognition for it,=94 said Prudente, =93and we are not seeking = those items,=20 but sincerely want to help those in the community who are facing = struggles=20 in their lives.=94 Prior to the event, members of Phi Rho will try = to=20 collect as many donations as possible from individuals in the = community,=20 friends, family and co-workers. They will also collect donations = on campus=20 while they are in the hut. Proceeds from the Hut-A-Thon will = benefit=20 Genesis House, an Olean homeless shelter for single women, = children and=20 families in the community; the St. Bonaventure counseling clinic; = and Phi=20 Rho.

Last year, the event raised $365 = for Genesis=20 House. Checks can be made out to =93Phi Rho=94 with = =93Hut-A-Thon=94 on the memo=20 line. All donations need to be made by April 15. To set up a time = for the=20 money collection or to request further information on the = Hut-A-Thon,=20 contact Anna Prudente at prudenae@sbu.edu, Dr. Mary Adekson at=20 madekson@sbu.edu, Ashley Sinner at sinnerar@sbu.edu or Stephanie = Young at=20 youngsa@sbu.edu.

SBU hosts=20 Challenge-25 Mathematics Contest

The 2009-10 Challenge-24 Mathematics Contest was held Saturday, = March=20 13, at St. Bonaventure University.

There were 52 students from 10 local area schools = participating. The=20 schools include: Cuba Elementary, Cuba-Rushford Middle School, = Hinsdale=20 Central School, four Olean elementary schools (Boardmanville, East = View,=20 Ivers J. Norton, and Washington West), Olean Middle School, = Otto-Eldred=20 Elementary School, and Otto-Eldred Middle School.

Challenge-24 is a game in which contestants are presented with = four=20 numbers between one and nine. The object is to combine the = numbers, using=20 each number once, to produce an answer of 24. Any of the standard=20 arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or = division)=20 may be used as needed to get the result.

Medals were awarded to the first-, second-, and third-place = students at=20 each grade.

They were:

=95 3rd grade --

First Place: Hira Mirza (Boardmanville)
Second Place: = Reagan Stitt=20 (Boardmanville)
Third Place: Andrew Sheeler (Otto-Eldred)

=95 4th grade --

First Place: Kara Howard (East View) =
Second=20 Place: Alyssa Ramarge (East View)
Third Place: Joey Copella = (East=20 View)

=95 5th grade --

First Place: Darian Sherlock (Cuba Elementary)
Second = Place: Mark=20 Miller (Otto-Eldred Elementary)
Third Place: Cameron Kane = (Washington=20 West) (more)

=95 6th grade --

First Place: Madison Forrest (Olean Middle School)
Second = Place:=20 Heath Stewart (Otto-Eldred)
Third Place: Cierra Grimaldi=20 (Cuba-Rushford Middle School)

=95 7th grade --

First Place: Monica Moses (Olean Middle School)
Second = Place:=20 Alexis Sova (Olean Middle School)
Third Place: Moe Morris=20 (Cuba-Rushford Middle School)

For more information, contact Doug Cashing at=20 dcashing@sbu.edu.

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Spring break service trips draw = students=20 across the U.S. and abroad

Boston. Syracuse. Kingstree, S.C. Mexico and = Ireland. Some=20 three dozen St. Bonaventure students visited those communities for = a=20 non-traditional spring break experience, offering the fulfillment = only=20 service to others can provide.

Sr. Suzanne Kush, C.S.S.F., director of the = Franciscan=20 Center for Social Concern, was encouraged by how enthusiastic the=20 first-year students have been in their participation in service=20 activities.

=93They (the freshmen) were a group who got = involved from the=20 very beginning this year,=94 Kush said. =93They arrived on campus = interested=20 and wanted to get information and signed up. To me it=92s = encouraging to=20 think that if they have such enthusiasm their freshman year, they = will=20 just build upon it and have a very enriching education.=94

Participation this year was so great that each = trip was=20 maxed out and some students were on waiting lists, Kush said. This = year,=20 the Franciscan Center for Social Concern sponsored spring break = trips to=20 St. Francis House in Boston, Franciscan Collaborative Ministries = in=20 Syracuse and St. Anne=92s Shrine in Kingstree.

=93All the trips are particularly chosen so that = some=20 marginalized, vulnerable population is served,=94 Kush said. = =93The students=20 were given a variety of experiences (rural and urban = locations).=94

St. Francis House is a multipurpose day shelter = that offers=20 breakfast and lunch, clothing distribution, job seeking and = housing=20 services, counseling and art therapy to its guests. Its setup and=20 offerings effectively improve the quality of life for many = individuals.=20

=93St. Francis House tries to move people from a = temporary=20 living situation into a better quality of life,=94 said Kate = Heaton, the=20 shelter=92s volunteer coordinator. Freshman Jessica Rehac was = among the=20 eight students and one faculty member who traveled to Boston.

=93I was especially impressed at how quickly a = group of=20 students who hadn=92t even met each other came together to work = nearly=20 flawlessly,=93 Rehac said. =93We really grew as a group during the = week we=20 spent together in serving others.=94

=93I, too, was impressed at how quickly our group = bonded,=94=20 added first-year student Meaghan O=92Rourke. =93What stood out to = me even more=20 was everything the shelter offers to the people of Boston; it = truly is an=20 effective avenue toward improvement. With each opportunity I have = to=20 serve, I find myself with a better understanding of the world I = live in.=94=20

Student Gina Oldani was caught off guard at the = number of=20 people who were recently unemployed and had turned to St. Francis = House.=20 =93It was an instant reminder of the fact that anyone, including = myself,=20 could be in that position at any time," she said.

At Franciscan Collaborative Ministries, on the = north side of=20 Syracuse, students had the opportunity to prepare and distribute = lunches=20 and work in the free medical and legal clinics. =93It=92s a very = eye-opening=20 experience,=94 said freshman Patricio Alfonso.

"For me, the Syracuse trip to Franciscan = Collaborative=20 Ministries was an education beyond all explanation,=94 added = student Michael=20 Gargano.

=93The compassion and generosity of the volunteers = toward the=20 disenfranchised of society gave me the tools to become more aware = of=20 people in need. It showed me that we =85 need to show respect to = all people=20 regardless of their situation."

In Kingstree, S.C., students served with St. = Anne=92s Outreach=20 Mission assisting with home repair and visits, tutoring and = grocery=20 delivery. Students were also given the opportunity to serve at a = Chamber=20 of Commerce dinner, Kush said.

=93Basically whatever was needed, we responded = to,=94 Kush said.=20

=93I went on the service trip for spring break = because I love=20 helping others. I feel that my life is not fulfilling if I do not = lend a=20 helping hand,=94 said freshman Franceline Demosthenes. =93When we = were=20 tutoring, one of the students said he thought I would make a great = teacher; that means a lot to me.=94

St. Bonaventure University prides itself in = carrying out=20 Franciscan traditions. Service is a prominent tradition set by St. = Francis, who gave his life to serving the less fortunate.

=93These service experiences give students the = opportunity to=20 enrich their educational experience,=94 Kush said.

=93It=92s very easy to talk about the = marginalized, but when=20 students get to have a hands-on experience and meet these = individuals,=20 they become more sensitive to their needs.=94 The opportunity to = volunteer=20 at St. Ann=92s gave student Shanequa Ravenell a chance to learn = about=20 herself and her family.

=93It was heartwarming to find out that my family = =97 as far as=20 I can trace it =97 was started in Andrews, S.C., only 25 miles = from where we=20 volunteered. Even without finding this out, I felt as though I was = helping=20 family,=94 she said. Likewise, the St. Ann=92s community welcomed = the St.=20 Bonaventure group into their homes and lives like family. =93They = cooked,=20 cleaned, and showed us that true hospitality is the Southern and=20 Franciscan way,=94 added Ravenell.

Mary Rose Kubal, Ph.D., assistant professor of = political=20 science, and four students traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border,=20 specifically to the Tucson-Nogales region, during spring break. = Through=20 Borderlinks, a non-profit organization hosting the trip, the = students=20 gained an understanding of the complexities of immigration issues = and the=20 impacts on neighboring communities. The vocational service trip = focused on=20 the education of political, social and immigration issues, = explained=20 Kubal, and included visits to a migrant shelter, fair-trade coffee = roasting business, and a Japanese-owned maquiladora (assembly = plant) in=20 Agua Prieta, Mexico. At the CAME migrant shelter run by the = Catholic=20 Church, =93CAME allowed us to meet migrants and talk with them = about their=20 struggles living in Mexico,=94 shared Nicole Wiggins, a junior = from=20 Montezuma, N.Y.

=93It was very moving to hear their stories and it = really put=20 things into perspective with their situation versus, life in the = U.S.=20 Visiting the reservation was also a great opportunity to see the = land and=20 to learn about their culture.=94 As that group headed southwest, = another SBU=20 contingent made its way to Northern Ireland and the Republic of = Ireland.=20

Through the Mychal Judge Center for Irish Exchange = and=20 Understanding, 13 SBU Clare Forum students and two staff members = were able=20 to talk with peacemakers, paramilitary, political leaders and = activists=20 during their weeklong visit to learn more about the division =97 = and=20 reconciliation =97 in Northern Ireland. Senior Ruthie Harper said = the=20 experience gave her =93a greater understanding of Northern = Ireland=92s=20 political troubles and a renewed gratitude for my own country=92s = democratic=20 freedom, no matter how politically polarized it may be today.=94 = Read=20 Harper=92s BV column on her experience at:=20 = http://media.www.thebv.org/media/storage/paper1111/news/2010/03/19/Opinio= n/Ireland.Trip.Enhances.American.Pride-3891887.shtml

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Friday Forum

Date: March 26

Time: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.=20

Location: University Club

Cost: $3 =

Presenters: the=20 Ad-Hoc Ellicottville Committee on Faculty and Staff Development=20

Abstract: On a campus that has no centers for faculty or = staff=20 development, where can one go to find information for professional = development, e.g., ways to increase student engagement? Our = committee has=20 created a resource-rich Moodle site for faculty and staff = development. It=20 is currently focused on the challenge of increasing student = engagement,=20 but could be used to address other challenges as they appear. What = we have=20 created is just a beginning. Broader participation is needed. So, = our=20 presentation will be as much about informing you as it will be = about=20 inviting you to use and build this new resource on = campus.

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Dr. Kaplan P. Harris,=20 assistant professor in the Department of English, = presented the=20 invited lecture =93After New Narrative: Innovation and Its Social=20 Discontents=94 as part of the Small Press in the Archive Lecture = Series at=20 the University at Buffalo March 17, 2010.