By Matthew Laurrie
Features Editor
The legacies of Bonaventure simply cannot be contained within the pages of a magazine, but one campus publication is doing its best to showcase all the extraordinary things the school has to offer.
Beth Eberth is the editor of Bonaventure magazine, the official magazine of St. Bonaventure University. She explained the publication had formerly been printed in tabloid format on newsprint for decades. However, when the 150th anniversary of St. Bonaventure rolled around in 2008, Eberth was tasked with revamping the publication. The Board of Trustees and University Cabinet saw the anniversary as a perfect opportunity to launch the new format.
“It was very well-read and the writing was great, but since I came here in 2001 – part of my job was to make over that publication to have a true university magazine,” said Eberth, director of university communications.
Eberth has been overseeing Bonaventure magazine ever since. The publication is published biannually and is distributed to approximately 30,000 members of the campus community – including alumni, students and friends of the university. The new edition of the magazine was released just last week.
Peppered throughout the magazine are photographs that alumni send in. The pictures showcase the lasting relationships they share with friends from Bona’s.
“Our alums love to send in pictures of themselves when they get together,” Eberth said. “It’s wonderful, because it’s such a testament to our alums and their lasting friendships and love for the university.”
The publication typically includes a letter from Sister Margaret Carney, O.S.F., university president, as well as a letter from the editor which Eberth constructs for each issue. According to Eberth, two notable standing columns, titled “Franciscan Minute” and “Off the Shelf,” appear in every edition. The “Franciscan Minute” is a commentary on a topic in modern day that embodies Franciscan values, and is usually written by a religious figure. “Off the Shelf” highlights books and music released by members of the campus community.
Other columns include campus news, information on fundraising and scholarship initiatives, features articles and updates on former Bonaventure classes.
When the publication transformed into its new format, Eberth said an editorial board was established to help oversee the magazine. Members of the board include alumni and representatives from campus, who work together to organize each publication.
“The editorial board will get together to look at the previous issue and evaluate it and then set the editorial agenda for upcoming editions,” she said. “There’s input from a lot of different constituencies.”
Joe Flanagan, ‘74, director of Alumni Services, serves on the editorial board and said Bonaventure magazine provides an outlet for the university to maintain a connection with alumni after they have graduated.
“It gives us an opportunity to highlight many of the exciting programs not only taking place on campus, but also gives alumni the chance to see what their classmates and friends are doing. It also helps us update our records,” he said.
Tom Donahue, ‘76, director of print and electronic publications, writes a feature article for each publication and usually aids in the editing process. He said it’s always interesting to see who reaches out to him after a new edition of the magazine is distributed.
“It never fails: within a day or two of distribution of the latest issue, I get a call or an email from a former classmate of mine, or an alum who just got the magazine in the mail and wants to offer a comment about a story or an update on a fellow alum,” Donahue said. “So the magazine is another link in the chain that keeps us all connected.”
While Bonaventure magazine is mainly intended for alumni, Eberth said the publication has something for everyone who loves Bona’s to enjoy.
“I like the connections that we’re able to make with our alums, friends of the university and folks who maybe haven’t been back to campus in years, and they still feel connected to this institution that they love,” she said.
Bonaventure magazine helps Bonnies retain a relationship with the university, no matter when they called Bona’s home.
