A student stares at his screens in hopes of great outcomes
Steven Stutz/The Bona Venture
stutza20@bonaventure.edu
BY: DAVID SCIBILIA, NEWS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
It’s that time of the semester again. After months of papers, tests and homework it’s finals week. St. Bonaventure University has made some new additions and continued old traditions to help alleviate students’ stress during this time.
Dorms and residence halls on campus will follow 24/7 quiet hours until the end of the last exam.
“Every student either has finals, papers or presentations. Most students understand the need for an environment focused on academics during finals even when their own may be completed,” Ursula Herz, the director of Residence Life said. “Students’ adherence and support for this practice year after year shows an understanding and support of the needs of a community engaging in a common challenge.”
In addition to this, there are 19 different areas throughout campus spanning six different buildings which will be open 24 hours a day from Dec. 10 to 16. One of these areas is the Friedsam Memorial Library. All floors of the library will be open 24 hours a day from Dec. 9 to 16 to help support students.
“[The library] is a favorite study spot for students on campus,” Ann Tenglund, the director of the Library said. “It’s a really nice academic co-working space for people to be in where they have access to printing, scanning, vending machines and pretty much whatever they need to keep themselves going when they’re doing extended work.”
On those late nights in the library, Tenglund encourages students to use the “Ask Us 24/7” service linked on their website. This feature allows students to connect with qualified librarians across the world in case they don’t have access to one.
“If someone went to the desk at 3 a.m. wondering where they could find resources for the paper they need to turn in the next morning, they could be pointed to the 24/7 service,” Tenglund said.
Although there will be a greater quantity of students coming to the library during finals week, Tenglund does not see staffing or lack of spaces becoming an issue.
“The study spaces [may be] a little more crowded, but there hasn’t really been an issue in terms of people needing more rooms,” Tenglund said.
As well as increased hours in popular study spaces, Ellie, Bonaventure’s first therapy dog was approved to have meetings on campus just in time for finals week. Her first appearance was on Dec. 1 and students will have four more opportunities to see Ellie during finals week.
“It wasn’t planned for Ellie to be approved right as finals week was beginning,” Donna Dombek, an assistant professor in the childhood education department and owner of Ellie said. “It really did work out very well.”
Although Ellie is new to campus, college campuses are not new to her.
“Ellie has been a certified therapy dog for four years now and we’ve been making visits with her to many places, including other college campuses for several years,” said Dombek.
Sporting well over 70 different tricks, Ellie has earned the highest level possible with the American Kennel Club, known as “elite performer.”
Students will be able to visit Ellie on Dec. 12 in the library from 9 to 11 a.m., Dec. 12 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Plassmann B62, Dec. 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Plassmann B62 and Dec. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the library. Additional dates will be added in the future and announced on the Notice Board.
“[Ellie’s] got everything you want in a service dog,” Dombek said. “She really is special.”
Scibild22@bonaventure.edu
