BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, MANAGING EDITOR Masks will no longer be required in St. Bonaventure University classrooms as of Monday, March 14. The Wellness Center will be the only on-campus facility that still requires masks. “We’ve been really kind of in lockstep with following both federal and state guidance, CDC guidance suggested masks weren’t necessary anymore,”…
BY TUCKER REILLY, EDITOR IN CHIEF In the wake of St. Bonaventure University lifting its mask mandate last Friday, some are asking questions about the future of the policy. The current mandate, which requires masks only in classrooms and the university’s Wellness Center, aligns with New York State’s own mandate expiration last week. Tom Missel,…
BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, MANAGING EDITOR After a year without Bonnies basketball in the Reilly Center, action is back in full swing, although with restrictions. On Dec. 21, in accordance with New York State’s mask-or-vaccinate policy for public spaces, St. Bonaventure University has required fans age 5 and older to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to attend…
BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, MANAGING EDITOR Students at St. Bonaventure University are required to get booster shots by Feb. 1, if they are eligible for one. The university strongly recommended receiving a booster vaccine before returning to campus. On Jan. 21, the Center for Student Wellness, in partnership with the Cattaraugus County Health Department hosted a…
BY KURT MARTONE, NEWS EDITOR hree weeks into the spring 2022 semester at St. Bonaventure University and, as of Wednesday, the school has had 67 COVID-19 cases since Dec. 27. Last semester, St. Bonaventure only reported 79 COVID-19 cases over a six month period. “It’s a little unsettling to see,” said Tom Missel, co-chair of…
BY KURT MARTONE, NEWS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Omicron, the new COVID-19 variant, is in New York State. St. Bonaventure University is monitoring the variant as it progresses throughout winter break, to determine policy for next semester. “It’s just a little bit too early to tell what we should do at this point,” said Tom Missel, the…
BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, NEWS EDITOR As a result of the HERO Act activated on Sept. 7 by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, St. Bonaventure University has implemented two new COVID-19 protocols Monday. Students, faculty, staff and visitors regardless of vaccination status are required to wear masks inside all campus facilities. There are a few exceptions…
BY TUCKER REILLY, MANAGING EDITOR As St. Bonaventure University contends with an increase in COVID-19 cases over the past week, several parties are considering preventative changes on campus. In a faculty senate meeting on Sept. 10, discussions were held over the topic of suggesting the university impose in-class mask mandates. Dr. Rene Hauser, associate professor…
By Kurt Martone, Staff Writer The COVID-19 task force has decided that visitors will be allowed to come on St. Bonaventure University’s campus starting on May 17. Tom Missel, the co-chair of the COVID-19 task force and the university’s chief communications officer, said the university wanted the campus to remain active and open during the…
By Tucker Reilly, News Assignment Editor St. Bonaventure University has released a tentative plan for the fall 2021 semester, with the expectation that traditional instruction will be possible in the coming months. In a letter to the university community on April 9, Interm President Dr. Joseph E. Zimmer outlined several plans “based on the assumption…
By Kurt Martone, Staff Writer Graduation will be held in person this year, according to a release sent out by St. Bonaventure University on March 22. Graduation will take place on Saturday, May 15. Seven small ceremonies will be conducted over the course of the day, divided into graduating schools. The schools of arts, sciences,…
By John Pullano, Advisory Editor St. Bonaventure University canceled Reunion Weekend 2021 on March 22 citing concerns surrounding travel restrictions and in-person gatherings related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a university News Release. “We thought we could hold the reunion with few restrictions,” said Joe Flanagan, director of Alumni Service. “As we got to…
By Cassidey Kavathas, News Editor Study abroad programs continue to face challenges in planning their trips. Sorrento, Italy and Perugia, Italy both cancelled their 2021 programs but plan to return in 2022. As of now the Francis E. Kelley Oxford program is still planning a 2021 trip and is holding off on cancelling until the…
By Kurt Martone, Contributing Writer St. Bonaventure University’s pool testing compliance rate fell 20%, down to 74% participation from the previous week’s record high of 94%, according to the university’s week 5 COVID update email that was sent out Feb. 26. Despite this falloff in participation, Bonaventure continues to allow students to visit other residence…
By Will Poladian, Contributing Writer With COVID-19 still an issue in the world, St. Bonaventure University decided to change the original spring semester calendar. A press release released on Oct. 15, 2020, by Dr. Dennis DePerro, President of St. Bonaventure University, addressed the change. “Because of the need to control travel again to mitigate the…
Tucker Reilly, News Editor St. Bonaventure University suspended 21 students for attending parties held in the village of Allegany over the weekend, in violation of COVID-19 health and safety policies and the university’s Community Compact. Students had to sign the compact upon arriving at the university last month. In the second major wave of disciplinary…