Bona's forum discusses teachers to textbooks
Emilee Lindner
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Features
By Emilee Lindner
Staff Writer
Have you ever wondered why there was not a place for St. Bonaventure students to express ideas, trade textbooks or simply talk about campus issues? Paul Hakel, administer of the SBU Forum, thought the same thing.
The SBU Forum is "for discussion among SBU students about campus living, personal growth, reflections, brainstorms, networking and dialogue about anything SBU-related."
Paul Hakel, a junior philosophy major, created the site with senior Mike Unti on the basis of a forum "for the students, by the students."
"We wanted to solve problems that weren't being addressed," said Hakel. "We didn't want to do it through the university because they would have too much say in the topics."
Hakel said he saw lack of communication as a major reason for starting the forum.
"I don't think people are talking at all," Hakel said. "You hear a lot of people complaining around here, so let's get people to do something about it. I think we should challenge these things instead of being a disempowered individual."
Kevin Kirby, a junior history major, said he likes the idea of a common place for Bonaventure students to share ideas.
"It allows people to talk about things that may not be discussed on campus, like rampant underage drinking or lack of intellectual pursuits," Kirby said.
Monica Anda, a junior theology and women's studies major, blamed the lack of communication on the Student Government Association.
"Senators claim that they bring issues to the attention of the senate, but it rarely happens. Many senators do not show up for these boards that were supposed to revolutionize the school," Anda wrote in an e-mail.
"So the forum allows students who are more capable but who do not do things in sanitized formal settings to change Bona's."
Hakel said he agreed and sees the forum as an independent student government.
However, the forum is not all serious; students can post poetry, set up activities and trade textbooks.
Staff Writer
Have you ever wondered why there was not a place for St. Bonaventure students to express ideas, trade textbooks or simply talk about campus issues? Paul Hakel, administer of the SBU Forum, thought the same thing.
The SBU Forum is "for discussion among SBU students about campus living, personal growth, reflections, brainstorms, networking and dialogue about anything SBU-related."
Paul Hakel, a junior philosophy major, created the site with senior Mike Unti on the basis of a forum "for the students, by the students."
"We wanted to solve problems that weren't being addressed," said Hakel. "We didn't want to do it through the university because they would have too much say in the topics."
Hakel said he saw lack of communication as a major reason for starting the forum.
"I don't think people are talking at all," Hakel said. "You hear a lot of people complaining around here, so let's get people to do something about it. I think we should challenge these things instead of being a disempowered individual."
Kevin Kirby, a junior history major, said he likes the idea of a common place for Bonaventure students to share ideas.
"It allows people to talk about things that may not be discussed on campus, like rampant underage drinking or lack of intellectual pursuits," Kirby said.
Monica Anda, a junior theology and women's studies major, blamed the lack of communication on the Student Government Association.
"Senators claim that they bring issues to the attention of the senate, but it rarely happens. Many senators do not show up for these boards that were supposed to revolutionize the school," Anda wrote in an e-mail.
"So the forum allows students who are more capable but who do not do things in sanitized formal settings to change Bona's."
Hakel said he agreed and sees the forum as an independent student government.
However, the forum is not all serious; students can post poetry, set up activities and trade textbooks.
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