By John Pullano, Editor-in-Chief
St. Bonaventure University officials suspended 28 students Sunday following a large scale party at the Garden East Apartment Saturday night.
The suspensions come as the first major violation of Bonaventure’s COVID-19 code of conduct, which students were asked to sign when moving onto campus in August.
The code read, “Behaviors that violate the expectation outlined in the Compact jeopardize health and safety, increase the likelihood of a viral outbreak on our campus or in the greater community, and may result in actual harm to one or more community members. Therefore, failure to comply with the Compact and/or existing behavioral expectations outlined in the Code of Conduct may result in a forfeiture of campus access or removal from University housing, in addition to other disciplinary measures.”
Students at Bonaventure have shared their displeasure with the student’s actions. Many referred to the actions as “unbelievable” and “selfish.”
“I was heartbroken when I heard,” said freshman Cassidey Kavathas. “I knew people would still party but thought there would still be a concern for others around them. Most students on campus are trying their best to follow the rules and stay on campus till November so it hurts that a few bad apples [could] ruin it all.”
The past two weeks Bonaventure’s athletic teams have begun practicing while abiding by COVID-19 policies and procedures according to Bonnies athletics.
Several athletes were shocked and frustrated when they heard the news about the party occurring on campus.
“I was not aware of any party going on,” said junior baseball player and Garden West Apartment resident Danny Manion. “I did not hear anything. When I first heard about it, I was speechless.”
Bonaventure’s men’s and women’s cross country teams began practice Monday however, several athletes on the team feared that the party could result in a suspension of sports to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
“I want to have fun too but 60 people? That is crazy,” said freshman cross country athlete James Sulllivan. “They have got to start using their brain. It makes me angry that they are being selfish as we are trying to get our season going.”
Junior cross country athlete Morgan Brady believed the students involved wanted to have fun but was disgusted by the acts that put her season in jeopardy and pleads students work to follow the rules.
“I know everyone wants to have fun still because I do too,” said Brady. “But we have to be careful and take this seriously. I know me as well as a bunch of my classmates want to stay on campus and take classes for the rest of the semester, so we just have to be careful.”
Those suspended will remain off campus “pending the completion of an investigation and any subsequent judicial process,” according to reporter Mike Hogan, covering the suspensions for TAPinto Greater Olean.
Several students found the suspensions handed down by Bonaventure’s administration to be justified.
“Personally, I feel that the punishment was completely justified,” said Kavathas. “This isn’t just a party bust. With COVID-19 this is a public health crisis and should be handled with the same seriousness.”
Other students on campus felt not all who participated were correctly punished and that some students who were punished may have not been involved.
“Some students definitely may have also just shown up and not known what was going on,” said Sullivan. “So, it does seem kind of unfair to get everyone in trouble.”
Overall, numerous Bonaventure students come from the events of the weekend with greater confidence in their school.
“This makes me feel pretty good about the university,” said freshman Richard Williams. “It’s nice to hear that they are taking our health seriously in terms of keeping the students away from the coronavirus.”
pullanjj18@bonaventure.edu
