As a student, where was your favorite campus study space? It’s a question we posed to alums. Little did we know that the deck was stacked — as in the bookshelves, or “stacks,” in Friedsam Memorial Library.
It seems many of you preferred the quiet and solitude of being squirreled away in a Friedsam nook or cranny. Here is a look back at your favorite places for cracking the books:
The shrine of Our Lady of Widsom behind Francis Hall.
The stacks of the library
The Grotto
Friedsam Memorial Library reading room in the 1970s.
Friedsam Memorial Library reading room. Photos courtesy of University Archives
FOR THE NEXT EDITION
Who was the mentor that made the biggest impact on your Bonaventure journey?
Tell us in 100 words (and enclose a photo if you have it). We’ll print a collection of responses in the winter issue.
Send submissions to magazine@sbu.edu.
Nature’s niche
Nestled in the woods behind Francis Hall, a statue of the Blessed Mother and a park bench offered a welcoming and prayerful niche, ideal for study. I have two particularly memorable experiences. The first was as a freshman, pen and notebook in hand, crafting a descriptive piece on the wonders of autumn in the Enchanted Mountains for Professor Leo Keenan’s freshman composition course. The following year, the same spot and time offered brilliant-colored solitude for reading “Barchester Towers” for Dr. Michael Hansen’s Victorian Novel course – this time with a friendly Franciscan-brown squirrel perched nearby, offering encouragement.
Harry Colin, ’78
The stacks: I
The only way I could concentrate was getting out of my dorm and going to the library. I always looked for a secluded desk in the book stacks where I wouldn’t be distracted. It worked most of the time.
Rich Bucci, ’76
Friedsam, unstacked
Forty years after leaving St. Bonaventure, I still think about the beautiful and peaceful main room of Friedsam Memorial Library. That was my go-to place to hit the books or put pencil to paper to get a report started. If I lived nearby, I’d bring my laptop there today.
Margaret McCormick, ’81
Clarity in the fog
Sitting on the hill leading to the baseball field was a source of comfort and quiet time for me, especially on overcast days when there was a mist in the air. Seeing the fog draped over the mountains turned my anxiety down a few notches. It gave me the energy to get on with my day and/or study for exams. Once it was time to study, I tended to find an empty classroom in Plassmann (preferably one with windows looking out toward the Reilly Center) and get to work.
Stephon Johnson, ’05
The stacks: III
My favorite study spot was on the upper-floor section of stacks at the library, with a window that looked out over campus. I remember heading there on Sunday mornings before brunch, leaving my stuff in my favorite cubby near friends, and heading to brunch together. It was a cozy spot to focus and since my pals also studied there, we were able to take short quiet breaks together when we needed to laugh.
Judiann (Ferretti) Smith, ’86
A bench? Great idea
My favorite spot on campus (early ’80s) was the river behind the maintenance building. It was so peaceful and quiet and I could be alone. This was long before the walking trail and benches. Great idea – too bad this was not implemented when I was there. I would have avoided all the weeds.
Lisa (Denaro) Gray, ’85
The stacks: IV
My favorite study spot was in the stacks in the library. It provided a spot to hide from the distractions of the dorm.
Dick Dillon, ’70
You still here?
My friends could always find me studying in Café La Verna. I was there so often (in the same spot, too) that we had a running joke of getting a plaque made to attach to the back of that chair.
Katie Reusch, ’12
The stacks: V
This is really going to date my time at Bona’s, but my favorite spot was in the library stacks, as far away from people as possible. The rest of the library was basically a social club, but the stacks were pretty quiet.
Matt Gianiodis, ’92
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