Students and faculty voice opinions on use of undesignated funds
Funding makes improvements to housing, student life, and academics plausible
DeOrdio, Cameron
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: Features
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This past fiscal year, the Bonaventure Fund raised $2,212,837. For those keeping score at home, that raises Capitol Campaign total to $81.3 million, bringing the fund closer to the goal of $90 million.
Fundraising money has been used for the Reilly Center's basketball court renovation into the Bob Lanier Court, $2.5 million has been contributed to the rare books section of the library and the Walsh Science Center is in the final stages of construction.
Andrea Trisciuzzi, associate vice president for development and campaign director, said the Bonaventure Fund is an "undesignated fund," meaning that donors to the fund did not specifically assign a use for their contribution. These donations are mostly made in small amounts, usually during the Bonathon.
The Bonathon is an annual phone campaign that solicits donations from alumni and friends of the university.
There is a degree freedom implied by a large undesignated fund, and members of the St. Bonaventure community expressed how they believe the $2.2 million should be spent.
Many feel that the money should go toward improving student life.
Breea Willingham, a visiting professor of journalism and mass communications, said, "Spend the money on students. Students always complain about not having enough things to do on campus, so maybe they can find what the students want and put their resources into that."
St. Laurent, a freshman journalism and mass communications major, also wants the money to be spent on student life: "I think they should put in a recording studio," he said.
Some students believe the undesignated funds should be used to improve the housing conditions at St. Bonaventure.
Senior journalism and mass communications major Stephanie Nikolaou said the money should be spent on housing.
"I lived in the Garden apartments last year," Nikolaou said, "and they're disgusting. They need to be renovated. Those shag carpets must go."
According to Andy Rayer, a freshman Biology major, the money should be put into better food in the Hickey Dining Hall and a disc golf course. He also suggested that Robinson and Falconio halls be outfitted with kitchenettes and dishwashers, which would allow the students to prepare their own food, circumventing the meals Rayer considers to be sub-par.
Fundraising money has been used for the Reilly Center's basketball court renovation into the Bob Lanier Court, $2.5 million has been contributed to the rare books section of the library and the Walsh Science Center is in the final stages of construction.
Andrea Trisciuzzi, associate vice president for development and campaign director, said the Bonaventure Fund is an "undesignated fund," meaning that donors to the fund did not specifically assign a use for their contribution. These donations are mostly made in small amounts, usually during the Bonathon.
The Bonathon is an annual phone campaign that solicits donations from alumni and friends of the university.
There is a degree freedom implied by a large undesignated fund, and members of the St. Bonaventure community expressed how they believe the $2.2 million should be spent.
Many feel that the money should go toward improving student life.
Breea Willingham, a visiting professor of journalism and mass communications, said, "Spend the money on students. Students always complain about not having enough things to do on campus, so maybe they can find what the students want and put their resources into that."
St. Laurent, a freshman journalism and mass communications major, also wants the money to be spent on student life: "I think they should put in a recording studio," he said.
Some students believe the undesignated funds should be used to improve the housing conditions at St. Bonaventure.
Senior journalism and mass communications major Stephanie Nikolaou said the money should be spent on housing.
"I lived in the Garden apartments last year," Nikolaou said, "and they're disgusting. They need to be renovated. Those shag carpets must go."
According to Andy Rayer, a freshman Biology major, the money should be put into better food in the Hickey Dining Hall and a disc golf course. He also suggested that Robinson and Falconio halls be outfitted with kitchenettes and dishwashers, which would allow the students to prepare their own food, circumventing the meals Rayer considers to be sub-par.
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