Post by oleanron on Dec 1, 2006 11:58:09 GMT -5
I...AM...SO...PISSED OFF...RIGHT NOW!!!!
www.thebv.org/media/storage/paper1111/news/2006/12/01/News/Campus.Updates.Will.Be.Dedicated.To.Wickenheiser-2516198.shtml?norewrite200612011156&sourcedomain=www.thebv.org&mkey=2424106
Campus updates will be dedicated to Wickenheiser
Tom Shortell
Posted: 12/1/06
Cosmetic upgrades along the university's central entrance will be dedicated in the name of Robert Wickenheiser, St. Bonaventure University's controversial 19th president.
Bill Richter, a former trustee, said his company, Richter Investment Corporation, donated $75,000 to the university to beautify the campus. After the construction of the Richter Center, the area around it looked plain, he said.
"You need to dress it up," he said.
The donation went towards adding brick siding to some sidewalks, benches, new street lamps and landscaping around the Richter Center, Devereux Hall and Hopkins Hall. Richter donated $3 million to the recreation center, which bares his and his wife's name.
The university recently built a small garden between Devereux and Hopkins. Richter said there are plans to add landscaping all along Devereux's front lawn, blocking the view of Route 417.
"It's a campus for God's sake, not a highway," he said. Shrubs will be added along the garden's edge to give it a secluded atmosphere. Shrubs will also be added along the sides of the road between Devereux and Hopkins.
The landscaping is scheduled for completion this spring. A plaque will be placed in the garden saying all of the cosmetic upgrades were in dedication to Wickenheiser. "He's much vilified," Richter said, "and a lot of people wanted to tar and feather him. The nine years he was there, though, saved St. Bonaventure University."
Richter said the university administration has approved of the plaque.
"Mr. Richter, whose generosity toward this University is so apparent in the magnificent recreation center on campus, simply wanted to acknowledge that it was Dr. Wickenheiser's passion and vision for the university that inspired Mr. Richter to give the gift of the Richter Center," said Brenda Snow, vice president for business and finance, through Media Relations. The modest additional landscaping and upgrades to the entry way to the Center were initially discussed as a part of the plan for construction of the Richter Center. As Mr. Richter has stated many times, if not for Dr. Wickenheiser's efforts working with Mr. Richter it's safe to say that recreation center wouldn't exist today."
Wickenheiser, a former Benedictine monk, was the university's first lay president. He assumed the presidency in 1994 when the university had filed for bankruptcy. During his presidency, the university added Clare College, established the Franciscan Center for Social Concern, and built the Quick Arts Center, according to the Friedsam Memorial Library's Web site. Wickenheiser resigned at the request of the board of trustees in 2003, following the men's basketball scandal. Wickenheiser allowed Jamil Terrel, an ineligible transfer student, to play on the team, violating NCAA policy. Admissions points to the scandal as a reason for the decrease in enrollment the last two years.
When asked for a reaction on the dedication, most students had a hard time placing Wickenheiser. "I hadn't noticed the brick (sidewalks)," said junior Erin Eglinton. "I'm not sure who (Wickenheiser) was to be honest. I've never heard of him."
Neither had senior Matt Corasanti. "Never heard of the name before. (The cosmetic changes) are good."
Professor reactions varied more. "I thought he was fair," said John Hanchette, associate professor of journalism and mass communication. "His downfall was Shakespearean. I don't mind things being named after him."
Father David Blake, assistant professor of sociology, was more guarded. "The events of three years ago were very difficult events in the life of the university. I'm sure he did good things for the university, though I can't name any off the top of my head. I don't know if you can dismiss 10 years on one event."
Roderick Hughes, associate professor of philosophy had a different opinion. "It reminded me of driving a stake into someone's eye."
www.thebv.org/media/storage/paper1111/news/2006/12/01/News/Campus.Updates.Will.Be.Dedicated.To.Wickenheiser-2516198.shtml?norewrite200612011156&sourcedomain=www.thebv.org&mkey=2424106
Campus updates will be dedicated to Wickenheiser
Tom Shortell
Posted: 12/1/06
Cosmetic upgrades along the university's central entrance will be dedicated in the name of Robert Wickenheiser, St. Bonaventure University's controversial 19th president.
Bill Richter, a former trustee, said his company, Richter Investment Corporation, donated $75,000 to the university to beautify the campus. After the construction of the Richter Center, the area around it looked plain, he said.
"You need to dress it up," he said.
The donation went towards adding brick siding to some sidewalks, benches, new street lamps and landscaping around the Richter Center, Devereux Hall and Hopkins Hall. Richter donated $3 million to the recreation center, which bares his and his wife's name.
The university recently built a small garden between Devereux and Hopkins. Richter said there are plans to add landscaping all along Devereux's front lawn, blocking the view of Route 417.
"It's a campus for God's sake, not a highway," he said. Shrubs will be added along the garden's edge to give it a secluded atmosphere. Shrubs will also be added along the sides of the road between Devereux and Hopkins.
The landscaping is scheduled for completion this spring. A plaque will be placed in the garden saying all of the cosmetic upgrades were in dedication to Wickenheiser. "He's much vilified," Richter said, "and a lot of people wanted to tar and feather him. The nine years he was there, though, saved St. Bonaventure University."
Richter said the university administration has approved of the plaque.
"Mr. Richter, whose generosity toward this University is so apparent in the magnificent recreation center on campus, simply wanted to acknowledge that it was Dr. Wickenheiser's passion and vision for the university that inspired Mr. Richter to give the gift of the Richter Center," said Brenda Snow, vice president for business and finance, through Media Relations. The modest additional landscaping and upgrades to the entry way to the Center were initially discussed as a part of the plan for construction of the Richter Center. As Mr. Richter has stated many times, if not for Dr. Wickenheiser's efforts working with Mr. Richter it's safe to say that recreation center wouldn't exist today."
Wickenheiser, a former Benedictine monk, was the university's first lay president. He assumed the presidency in 1994 when the university had filed for bankruptcy. During his presidency, the university added Clare College, established the Franciscan Center for Social Concern, and built the Quick Arts Center, according to the Friedsam Memorial Library's Web site. Wickenheiser resigned at the request of the board of trustees in 2003, following the men's basketball scandal. Wickenheiser allowed Jamil Terrel, an ineligible transfer student, to play on the team, violating NCAA policy. Admissions points to the scandal as a reason for the decrease in enrollment the last two years.
When asked for a reaction on the dedication, most students had a hard time placing Wickenheiser. "I hadn't noticed the brick (sidewalks)," said junior Erin Eglinton. "I'm not sure who (Wickenheiser) was to be honest. I've never heard of him."
Neither had senior Matt Corasanti. "Never heard of the name before. (The cosmetic changes) are good."
Professor reactions varied more. "I thought he was fair," said John Hanchette, associate professor of journalism and mass communication. "His downfall was Shakespearean. I don't mind things being named after him."
Father David Blake, assistant professor of sociology, was more guarded. "The events of three years ago were very difficult events in the life of the university. I'm sure he did good things for the university, though I can't name any off the top of my head. I don't know if you can dismiss 10 years on one event."
Roderick Hughes, associate professor of philosophy had a different opinion. "It reminded me of driving a stake into someone's eye."
