“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” Of all the words Saint Francis uttered, those might be his most inspirational.
Heaven knows, 2020 was filled with darkness, at times feeling like a never-ending solar eclipse. But our chronic obsession with fixating on all that’s wrong often blots out the reality that so much good is going on around us.
Yes, this was a semester like none other in Bonaventure history, one we will likely need to repeat in the spring until a COVID-19 vaccine is readily available. All of us, alumni and university employees, empathized with the plight of our students, having to endure a litany of restrictions and safety protocols that would drastically alter the sense of community that makes Bona’s so special.
But candles that have burned here forever illuminated the lives of students just grateful to be able to step into a classroom when so many of their friends at home were robbed of the opportunity. Approximately 90% of classes were held in person before the university transitioned to all-remote instruction on Nov. 23.
“Being willing to hold classes in person in the midst of a global pandemic really shows how dedicated the professors were to creating an effective learning environment,” said Elizabeth Egan, a freshman from Fairport.
Lindsey Lytle, a junior on the Bonnies cross country team from Fairfield, Pennsylvania, agreed.
“Professors have been so understanding of students’ struggles, and their compassion to help us get through the semester really showed the Bonaventure spirit of community,” said Lytle, who called her experience working at the Warming House a “huge blessing” to allow her to keep her perspective on true suffering.
The academic challenge was immense and had a withering effect on faculty and students as the semester moved along.
“But I give our instructors credit,” said Dr. David Hilmey, dean of SBU’s School of Arts & Sciences. “I saw many examples where integrity and rigor were maintained when it was very easy to throw in the towel and water classes down. That’s to the benefit of our students and they will be better off for the challenges they faced this fall.”
The university was creative, taking large non-academic spaces — art galleries (above), RC Hall of Fame, theaters, aerobic rooms, conference center, ministries Great Room — and converting them to classrooms to promote distancing.
Dan Schiffhauer, a freshman from Elma, said he knew the semester would be a challenge, but was pleasantly surprised at how much he was able to do. He often took advantage of activities held inside the huge activity tent Student Affairs erected next to the Richter Center.
“Special care was taken so that not just our academic needs were met, but our social and psychological needs, too,” Schiffhauer said. “SBU took every opportunity it could to provide its students with social activities and events whenever it was safe to do so. That just shows the willingness of people here to bring a sense of community and normalcy to this unusual school year.”
Erin Brege, a sophomore from Orchard Park, was glad she chose to live on campus again.
“At move-in day, I was greeted by so many people smiling and making me feel like things weren’t quite as different as I had expected,” Brege said. “Even through the masks, I can always tell that the people at Bonaventure are smiling at each other, holding the doors for each other, and helping each other whenever they can.”
Efforts to support hospital staff in China in pandemic’s early days reciprocated as virus spread in New York state
Dr. Xiaoning Zhang, professor of biology and director of St. Bonaventure’s biochemistry program, was troubled by reports in January and February 2020 of how the coronavirus was ravaging her native China.
“I and several others felt very strongly about the urgency in supporting them from this side of the globe. We started a fundraiser to support hospital staff in Wuhan, China, the COVID epicenter at the time,” she said.
Born in Tianjin, China, Zhang came to the U.S. in 2002 and has been at St. Bonaventure since 2009. Her connections back home include her parents, her sister’s family, and many childhood and college friends.
Response to the fundraiser was stronger than organizers had expected.
“Many people from different walks of life extended helping hands, either by donating their time or providing financial support. I was very touched,” she said. “Funds raised locally and online were used by the American Chinese Culture and Education Foundation to purchase necessary supplies to send to medical staff in Wuhan.”
When New York City became an epicenter of the growing pandemic in March, Zhang and other SBU faculty members started advocating, via published letters in the Olean Times Herald and social media posts, for people to wear face coverings.
“We connected with different groups of locals to start sewing cotton masks and donating them, despite all the doubts about masks floating in the air at the time,” said Zhang.
By April, masks were available in China but in short supply in the U.S. Zhang’s friends in China were delighted to be able to return the kindness extended them from across the sea. They sent back a shipment of surgical masks, which Zhang donated to Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, where one of her former students, Rijo Maracheril, is an emergency medicine resident. (See related story, page 12.)
“I was glad to be able to support Rijo and his hospital,” said Zhang. “I am very proud of Rijo and happy to see his personal and professional growth in the past few years.”
Local efforts to combat the pandemic do not end at masks, said Zhang. A volunteer group, Shield Warriors, started making 3D-printed face shields in March and have so far donated about 1,300 to hospitals, nursing homes, small businesses, schools, labs and individuals in need.
Additionally, the biology and chemistry departments at SBU helped county emergency preparedness officials supply front-line workers with N95 masks, goggles, gloves and other personal protective equipment.
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