By Jillian Hammell
Contributing Writer
Imagine walking to class and hearing someone yell your name. You turn around, and the person is none other than your sibling who spent countless years caring, looking out for and, of course, embarrassing you.
Julia and Carter Anderson know exactly how that feels. Julia, a junior sports studies major, and Carter, a freshman business major, quickly learned high school habits may transfer over to college.
“In high school, I was the embarrassing older sister who would yell her brother’s name across the hall,” Julia said.
Carter agreed.
“I feared (St. Bonaventure) would be the same as high school. She would shout my name,” Carter said with a smile.
The siblings, from Binghamton N.Y., enjoyed their first week together as Bonnies. They both work at the Richter Center and continue to keep up their close-knit relationship.
“Julia and I are close,” Carter said. “If I ever need some space I can go to my sister’s townhouse. I’m familiar with her roommates. I can get a good dinner. It is a reminder of home.”
Other students have similar situations this year. As the only children in the family, freshman Ben and junior Steve Marcus always attended the same school up until two years ago when Steve left for Bonaventure.
Even though Ben has only been a Bonnie for one week, the brothers already made plans to play basketball intramurals together.
“I’m pumped to show him off to my friends,” Steve said (finishing with a fist bump to his younger brother).
Ben, an undecided business major chose St. Bonaventure after traveling to the NCAA Basketball Championships with his brother this year.
“Ben came down with my parents and met many St. Bonaventure alumni,” Steve said. “He was able to experience the camaraderie as well.”
The Massachusetts natives are best friends who now share the bond of both being Bonnies.
“I feel like I have my family here,” Ben said.
Siblings are not the only family connection Bonaventure students have. Many students also have alumni ties.
Alex Ross, a junior journalism and mass communication major from Rochester N.Y., said her parents, Rob and Martha Ross, graduated from the university in 1982. In addition, Ross’s brother graduated last semester as an accounting major.
Ross’ parents happened to meet at St. Bonaventure as friends. Once they graduated college, they started to date.
Ross’ family had always talked about her attending St. Bonaventure, but the choice ultimately came down to Ross herself.
“They encouraged me to make my own decision,” she said.
Ross’ parents love visiting the university whenever they can. Ross said her parents and brother attended basketball games in Rochester when Bonaventure played
“My whole family went to the game. My parents sat in the alumni section, and my brother and I sat in the student section,” she said. “It is pretty common to find current students with alum (connections). St. Bonaventure is a family-based school.”
With more than 2,000 students strolling around campus, many Bonnies either see a sibling on a daily basis or are reminded their parents, grandparents or even great grandparents have left a legacy.
hammelljl12@bonaventure.edu
