My Time at Bonaventure as a History Major: Maria Swieciki

My senior year of high school, my guidance counselor wanted to kill me. You see, I did the one thing every guidance counselor/college advisor warns against: I applied to only one school—Saint Bonaventure University. Although she nagged me relentlessly to apply elsewhere, I refused. With a decades long family connection to SBU, I knew I didn’t want to go to college anywhere else and so I figured why waste the time and money applying to schools I have no interest in attending? As my frowned upon actions clearly suggest, my desire to be a Bonnie was unwavering.

However, once a freshman at SBU, I did not maintain the same kind of conviction when it came to declaring a major. In fact, my degree options were all over the place. I was considering Art, Spanish, Psychology, History, etc. I had such a wide range of interests, it was hard for me to settle on only one major. After taking a number of History courses and after taking into consideration the lifelong interest and passion I’d had for the subject, I decided to declare as a History major at the beginning of my sophomore year.

Now, as a second semester senior, that decision was over two years ago and I haven’t regretted it once. Not only have I had the opportunity to take many different kinds of History classes, such as Middle Eastern history and Latin American history, but also I’ve had the opportunity to be under the guidance and instruction of great professors. For me, my history professors are the reason why I’ve had such an excellent experience pursuing this degree. Although they all have different personal backgrounds and different areas of focus, they all share a passion for the study of history and a strong commitment to their students.

My Time at Bonaventure as a History Major (Colin O'Donnell)

My first day at Saint Bonaventure University was memorable to say the least. It was ‘Spring Into Bonas’ in the spring of 2009, and, as a future History major, I sat down in a classroom for a brief orientation. Dr. Joel Horowitz spent a brief twenty minutes discussing the history of the entire world. It was an informal lecture but very much informative. I answered my first question at Saint Bonaventure incorrectly and thus, off to a great start.

            Almost four years later, I remember that day in that classroom, and how it mirrored days to come. I could talk to Dr. Horowitz like a friend, and he never hesitated when it came to answering a question that I, or any other student, had. I soon discovered that just about every other History professor was exactly like that. Their interpersonal tact, and the way they drove us to ask questions, all of it made me realize not why the world and its people are here, but how we got here.

My Time at Bona’s as a History Major (Bella Quijano)

When I first arrived at St. Bonaventure, I had no clue what I wanted to study.  I was one of the  "undecided" students.  My first semester was full of new and wonderful experiences. I was not very concerned about picking a major. I just figured it would come to me at some point, and it did! I did not want to remain undecided for long, so I thought about what I truly enjoyed about learning and what exactly fascinated me. History fit the bill.

              The main reason I came to St. Bonaventure was because of its size.  In a small school I knew that I would have a better relationship with my teachers. Before deciding on any major, I really wanted to connect with my professors. I instantly connected with all of my history professors. All my history professors have been wonderful. In every history class I have taken, all my history professors have created an environment where everyone, not just history buffs, thrives and contributes to the discussion.

Gabriel over the White House

I've been owing the History blog an entry for some time so it seems appropriate to mention Gabriel over the White House. We are teaching the film in History 429: 20th Century America in Film and History. The 1933 film appeared just after Franklin Roosevelt's Inauguration (March 1933) and is a call for a fascist style dictatorship that would push aside the inefficiencies of democracy to fix the nation's woes.

Attention SBU Students: Call for Papers to Present at a Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference

CALL FOR PAPERS!

Phi Alpha Theta, National History Honor Society <www.phialphatheta.org>

NORTHEAST REGIONAL CONFERENCE, Saturday, April 20, 2013

RAMAPO COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY <www.ramapo.edu>

History Convening Group, Salemeno School of American and International Studies

All undergraduate students are encouraged to submit an abstract of original historical research to present at the Northeast regional meeting of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society. History paper topics may include any time period, theme, or region. You do not need to be a history major or member of Phi Alpha Theta to submit or present at the regional conference. Members do qualify for special awards and distinctions.

This is a wonderful opportunity to present your research, to meet interested scholars and other talented students from around the region. Participating in the conference is a great way to build career skills and resumes.

SBU HISTORY NEWSLETTER YEAR 18, NO. 3 31 OCTOBER 2012

SBU  HISTORY  NEWSLETTER

YEAR 18,  NO. 3    31 OCTOBER 2012

BY DR. THOMAS J. SCHAEPER

 

St. Bonaventure and the World Series

　John McGraw

         The recent success of the San Francisco Giants in the World Series reminded me that at one time St. Bonaventure had a close connection with both the Giants and the World Series. Did you know that a former Bona student once cancelled the World Series? The man who did this was John McGraw. The first World Series took place in 1903. Since that time there have been only two years when it was not held. The second cancellation came in 1994, when the players were on strike. The first cancellation occurred in 1904. John McGraw was the manager of the National League champion New York Giants. (The Giants moved to San Francisco in 1957). The National League was the older of the two leagues. The American League had started only in 1901, and McGraw hated the idea of giving the new, rival league publicity and respect by having the two leagues play in a World Series. So he refused to let his Giants play the American League champion Boston Pilgrims (later the Red Sox).

History Newsletter 9 October 2012

SBU HISTORY NEWSLETTER
YEAR 18, NO. 2 9 OCTOBER 2012
BY DR. THOMAS J. SCHAEPER

St. Bonaventure Cemetery

As everyone knows, St. Bonaventure has its own cemetery. I recommend it to students who need to escape from campus and get some fresh air and exercise. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place for contemplation about the meaning of life (and death). It’s also a place where one can find the graves of many persons who were extremely important in the history of our institution. Fr. Thomas Plassmann was the longest serving president in our history (1920-1949). Fr. Irenaeus Herscher served as library director and archivist for about a half century. It is fitting that our main classroom building and our mountain retreat are named after these two men.

New Member of the Department

Many of you have noticed that there is a new face in the Department of History this year. Mr. Christopher Dalton is a specialist in Chinese and East Asian History. He received his BA at the University of Florida and currently is completing his PhD dissertation for the University of Arizona. He has taught at several American universities and has also spent much time teaching and doing research in China. Mr. Dalton and his family live in Olean. I hope that everyone on campus makes him feel at home here.