Lounge on the second floor of Plassmann Hall
Morgan Kilger/The Bona Venture
BY: MORGAN KILGER, NEWS EDITOR
With the spring 2024 semester, a new Plassmann Hall welcomed students and faculty with a fresh face.
“It’s beautiful, it’s beautiful, it’s beautiful,” said Dr. Lauren Matz, an English and women’s studies professor.
The completion of these floors made the School of Arts and Sciences professors able to move their offices back into Plassmann. Many of the professors enjoy being in the same building again after being scattered across SBU’s campus.
Matz enjoys that she can visit her colleagues regularly.
“It is lovely,” said Matz. “People are always stopping by to visit and I’m walking around visiting people too. It is nice”.
Matz was relocated to Francis Hall in 2022, when the renovations on Plassmann first began. She had three offices in the basement of Plassmann over the course of 34 years. The relocation, however, was not a major inconvenience to her.
“There was nothing tough about crawling out of the basement,” said Matz.
Matz said she had a 10-minute commute, which wasn’t ideal for her schedule.
“I had these wonderful dreams of striding along the trail with my backpack on my back to teach, but I actually drove from Francis every day,” said Matz. “It was fine being in Francis, but it’s very convenient to be here [in Plassmann]”.
With a shorter commute, Matz said she spends more time preparing for her classes.
“Now I can spend those last minutes before class going over my notes and making sure I’ve got everything lined up for class,” said Matz. “Minutes can count, especially if something goes wrong.”
Dr. Andrew Belfield, a theology professor, also moved to Plassmann. Belfield’s previous office was located on the second floor of Murphy Hall.
Belfield’s previous office was in Murphy since the start of his career at Bonaventure in 2021. Like Matz, Belfield enjoys being with the rest of the liberal arts department.
One of Belfield’s favorite aspects of the new offices is the break room the faculty members received on the second and third floors.
“I’m really grateful to be back with these [liberal arts] faculty and to have some sort of shared space, like a break room, to get to know each other a little better,” said Belfield.
Faculty are not the only ones enjoying the renovated Plassmann — students enjoy it as well. The renovations provide study spaces for students including a full lounge on the second floor.
Amanda Ippolito, a sophomore education major, appreciates the lounge but doesn’t see herself utilizing it.
“I don’t have any classes on the second floor,” said Ippolito. “I would not go there in my free time.”
Even though Ippolito wouldn’t use the study space, she said she thinks it’s a good alternative study space for those who don’t enjoy going to the library.
John Sharp, a sophomore psychology major, agrees with Ippolito that the lounge is a good alternative study space with his living situation this year.
Currently, Sharp lives in Francis Hall and does not have a vehicle on campus. He prefers the study spaces in Plassmann.
“I would use the space in-between classes instead of going back to my room,” said Sharp.
Belfield hopes that students and faculty collaborate to use the study space.
“Whether that’s group projects or meeting together [to study] during midterms and finals,” said Belfield. “I’m especially excited to see students make use of the space”.
kilgermi22@bonaventure.edu
