BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, MANAGING EDITOR Falen Whipple started her business journey when the world faced a time of uncertainty. Firefly Bagels opened May 7, 2021 inside the Park N Shop on West State Street in Olean. “When I moved back to Olean due to COVID-19, I noticed there were no fresh bagels. So I made…
BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, MANAGING EDITOR Sydney Fox, who began her first year of college at St. Bonaventure University in the fall 2020 semester, sat in her freshman dorm lounge with a group of friends. The group met to watch a Buffalo Bills game together. Resident assistants interrupted the group to inform them that someone would…
BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, MANAGING EDITOR Masks will no longer be required in St. Bonaventure University classrooms as of Monday, March 14. The Wellness Center will be the only on-campus facility that still requires masks. “We’ve been really kind of in lockstep with following both federal and state guidance, CDC guidance suggested masks weren’t necessary anymore,”…
BY TUCKER REILLY, EDITOR IN CHIEF In the wake of St. Bonaventure University lifting its mask mandate last Friday, some are asking questions about the future of the policy. The current mandate, which requires masks only in classrooms and the university’s Wellness Center, aligns with New York State’s own mandate expiration last week. Tom Missel,…
BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, MANAGING EDITOR Students at St. Bonaventure University are required to get booster shots by Feb. 1, if they are eligible for one. The university strongly recommended receiving a booster vaccine before returning to campus. On Jan. 21, the Center for Student Wellness, in partnership with the Cattaraugus County Health Department hosted a…
BY KURT MARTONE, NEWS EDITOR hree weeks into the spring 2022 semester at St. Bonaventure University and, as of Wednesday, the school has had 67 COVID-19 cases since Dec. 27. Last semester, St. Bonaventure only reported 79 COVID-19 cases over a six month period. “It’s a little unsettling to see,” said Tom Missel, co-chair of…
BY KURT MARTONE, NEWS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Omicron, the new COVID-19 variant, is in New York State. St. Bonaventure University is monitoring the variant as it progresses throughout winter break, to determine policy for next semester. “It’s just a little bit too early to tell what we should do at this point,” said Tom Missel, the…
BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, NEWS EDITOR As a result of the HERO Act activated on Sept. 7 by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, St. Bonaventure University has implemented two new COVID-19 protocols Monday. Students, faculty, staff and visitors regardless of vaccination status are required to wear masks inside all campus facilities. There are a few exceptions…
By Kelsey Purcell, Staff Writer It has been an atypical first year at St. Bonaventure University for the freshmen class of 2024. The pandemic led to safety restrictions which created an unusual first year experience. Masks are to be worn everywhere except for in dorm rooms, showers or in the dining halls when sitting and…
By a Bonnie, Advice Columnist The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on many individuals worldwide. As the warmer weather and summer months approach, it is crucial for people to reinvent what their summer could look like while remaining mindful that the pandemic is still very alive in the U.S. In the U.S., there have…
By Kurt Martone, Contributing Writer St. Bonaventure University’s pool testing compliance rate fell 20%, down to 74% participation from the previous week’s record high of 94%, according to the university’s week 5 COVID update email that was sent out Feb. 26. Despite this falloff in participation, Bonaventure continues to allow students to visit other residence…
By Will Poladian, Staff Writer Even though COVID-19 is still affecting the world, St. Bonaventure University has felt that campus participation in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 has been good enough to start lifting restrictions that were put in place at the beginning of the semester. This change comes after the percentage of…