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Spaces with stories: MCCFM115
By Kelly Haberstroh
Features Editor
T he recently established McGin-
ley-Carney Center for Francis-
can Ministry is the home to many of-
fices, including one belonging to Fr.
Francis Di Spigno, O.F.M., executive
director of University Ministries. When
he relocated to his new office, he had to
decide what items to bring.
His fish tank, not pictured, was one
of the first things that came to mind
when decorating his office, since he had
a tank in his former office that he dis-
mantled when he moved out. Di Spigno
put it back together in his new office,
and the large tank placed on the wall
right past the entrance is home to a va-
riety of fish.
“I love it,” he said. “It’s very peace-
ful and calming.”
Di Spigno put his first set of fish
back into the tank in September when
he reassembled it. After they continued
to survive, he added more in and has
reached the peak threshold of number
of fish for the tank. Di Spigno will get
more fish depending on the current
ones’ lifespans.
In moving out of his office, Di Spig-
no had to move his new items in and,
for a long time, a lot of his items were
kept in boxes. Unsure of where to put
each item, as everything in his office
holds significance to him, he took his
time carefully arranging everything.
1) Above the fish tank are four pic-
tures, each representing the four sea-
sons, given to him by a friend over 20
years ago. They not only hold a connec-
tion to the friar, but also signify his ap-
preciation for being able to experience
all four seasons.
“I could never see myself as a per-
son who lives in Florida,” Di Spigno
said. “Despite the fact that I’m the mi-
nority, I do like the snow.”
2) Like the four seasons, a picture
Designers prepare for Trashion Fashion
Quick Center hosts “Bona’s Gets Trashy” with party’s past theme
By Jenna Cosentino
Staff Writer
T he sixth annual Trashion Fash-
ion: Bona’s Gets Trashy 2018
Runway Experience Show is only one
week away. The Regina A. Quick Center
for the Arts will be turned into one big
runway.
Trashion Fashion came from a re-
cycling incentive here on campus. Sean
Conklin, assistant curator at the Quick
Center, thought “Bona’s Gets Trashy” is
a fun, playful way to get people to think
and talk about recycling.
Walking out on the runway and
strutting your stuff, “gives a level of
confidence,” Conklin explained. “I tell
them, you are walking out in literal gar-
bage. Go out there and act like you are
wearing major designers.”
The rules for the show are the piec-
es that the designers make need to be
95 percent post-consumer material.
Conklin goes around on random de-
signer check-ins to make sure everyone
is on the right track.
Running the show for the sixth
year, Conklin explained how each year
he likes to add something new and con-
tinue it the following year.
“From different awards to inviting
high school students from surrounding
areas to be involved, it brings students
DePerro to give next Agape Latte talk
By Faith Topolski
Staff Writer
A gape Latte is a chance for stu-
dents on-campus students to
engage in open and meaningful conver-
sation. The event is faith-based and the
conversation is lead by a central guest
speaker. Topics are diverse and hard-
hitting, with past themes being anxiety,
family and marriage, coming out and
living out faith. There are many possi-
bilities as to what theme will be at the
next Agape Latte.
The guest speaker for this session
is university President Dennis DePerro.
The topic he will be discussing is not
yet clear; however, those organizing the
event are eager to find out and are con-
fident his theme “will be great no matter
what,” as senior accounting major Nata-
lie Wasek, one of the organizers, put it.
“He could talk about the experiences he
has had so far being the new president,
or something closer to his personal be-
liefs. What he talks about will offer a
closer look at who he is as a person and
who he will be as the president.”
“Personally, I’m very excited to be
welcoming Dr. DePerro into the lineup
of our guest speakers,” said Kyra Bur-
gess, freshman Spanish major and one
of the other event organizers. “Given
that he has recently assumed his posi-
The Bona Venture / April 13, 2018
MCCFM115 - After the McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministry’s
renovations were finished, Di Spigno reestablished the vibrant presence
in his office. The plethora of pictures hanging on his walls emphasize the
importance of faith and God in his life.
of intricate detail and design hangs on
the back wall above the couch. This
piece is meant to represent the cycle
of life that happens and is a tribute to
music, according to Di Spigno, as it’s
based off the ceiling of the Opéra Gar-
nier house in Paris.
“I love the colors and I love how it
worked together,” Di Spigno said as he
admired the piece.
3) On the walls surrounding his
desk, he has Franciscan artwork, in
addition to ones from Assisi, as a col-
lection of what he calls “tourist-type
pieces.” Among those pieces is a picture
TRASHION FASHION - The sixth annual runway show in the Quick Cen-
ter pushes people to think creatively about recycling, while also boosting
confidence levels of models.
to Bonaventure to show that Bonaven-
ture supports creativity, interests and
activities,” said Conklin. “Also adding
different elements to the show. For
example, last year we invited the on-
campus step team to perform. It brings
outside connections to the show.”
Amelia Bailey, a junior strategic
communication and digital media major
“The wonderful thing
about Agape Latte is
that it creates a plat-
form where there is no
longer a divide between
professor and student,
where everyone is on
equal footing.”
- Kyra Burgess
tion, not many students or faculty have
had the opportunity to get to know him
outside of his position as the president
of the university.”
Before DePerro speaks, the first
portion of the event will be encourag-
ing those in attendance to begin con-
versation over refreshments. In the
past, these have included things like
cookies or small brownies, and drinks
have included: tea, hot chocolate, and,
of course, coffee.
While guests are enjoying their
Kelly Haberstroh / The Bona Venture
of the top of the Doyle chapel with the
words “GOOD HOLY and BLESSED,”
next to it, which a student gave to him.
The words held significance for her too,
as she used the words to decorate her
graduation cap.
“We are all good, holy and blessed,”
he said. “She made that for me, so that’s
got a prominent spot on the wall.”
4) A portrait depicting the parable
“The Prodigal Son” also hangs on his
wall, which tells the story of Jesus’ image
of who God is, according to Di Spigno.
“God is a merciful God and loving
father,” he said. “Even towards a son
Image courtesy of Enchanted Mountains
at Bona’s, is a designer for the show. This
is her first year designing, and she said
she’s excited to see the other designers’
creations.
“So far, it’s been a lot of fun,” Bai-
ley said. “The design process started
out simple – I started with the basics,
and I gathered materials that were
around me. Now I just keep adding mi-
snacks, drinks and budding discus-
sion, they are able to take in some
live entertainment. In the past there
have been pianists who performed,
and one time the campus poetry club,
Chattertons, was invited and held a
short poetry slam. The entertainment
further encourages students to en-
gage with those around them become
comfortable in the setting and pre-
pare for the speaker.
When the speaker has concluded
his or her story, the speaker has the op-
tion to open up the conversation into
a question and answer style discus-
sion. The main point is that students
who attend are encouraged to continue
the dialogue, not only in the setting of
Agape Latte, but beyond that into the
time following the initial speech.
“The wonderful thing about Agape
Latte is that it creates a platform
where there is no longer a divide be-
tween professor and student, where
everyone is on equal footing,” Burgess
said. “It’s a space that encourages an
open dialogue between the speaker
and those in attendance.”
The conversations that are in-
spired by the speaker can open new
doors for people to experience and un-
derstand new issues and perspectives.
“So, I’ve been helping with Agape
Latte for the past two years now and
5
who has walked away, and he comes
back with sorrow in his heart for mak-
ing a mistake, and a loving God just
embraces him and welcomes him back.”
Di Spigno loves how the story shows
a great image of God, but it also shows a
great image of humankind. In the paint-
ing, the other son is separated from his
brother and father behind a wall.
“He’s the one who does everything
right and who’s really mad at the fa-
ther,” he said. “And we’re both of them,
because we think if we do it right, we’re
in, but we miss the mark. But some-
times we make mistakes, and all we
have to do is come back.”
5) Di Spigno said this piece serves
to remind visitors that everyone is
good, holy and blessed. On his wall, he
also has a strip of paper with the acro-
nym, “URGHB!” He refers to it when
talking to people, but he also has it to
further the significance of the mantra
in his life.
6) Right next to it is a circle with a
red slash through it that reads, “I Don’t
Know…,” which Di Spigno has hanging
up as it a reminder that the phrase is
not allowed in his office.
“You have to stop, and you have to
think,” he said. “You can’t say ‘I don’t
know.’ That usually gets people to
think. It’s just to remind people, ‘wait,
stop.’ And then you can speak.”
To Di Spigno, everything in his
office has a little piece of his history,
including random collections of fig-
ures from his travels to Bolivia, Rus-
sia and Vietnam.
7) On the top shelf of his bookcase
to the right of his desk, sits Matryoshka
nesting dolls from Russia, along with
two items in the middle from Bolivia
and two black statues on the end from
Vietnam, as mementos of his trips.
habersk15@bonaventure.edu
nor details that I think will make the
look stand out.”
Bailey discussed one of the pieces
she is designing. “Ghost of Party’s Past”
is the theme of the first item.
“It’s a vest made out of pizza boxes
ranging from DiGiorno’s, Pizza Rolls,
Dominos and Napoli’s, including a
crown crafted from an old deck of cards
and red Solo cups,” Bailey said.
She said her theme is meant to em-
phasize how much students waste each
weekend when they go out.
“I am looking forward to the re-
action of the crowd,” she said. “I hope
the designs we present will open a few
eyes when it comes to our campus be-
ing more environmentally aware.”
Chernice Miller, a graduate stu-
dent, has been one of the models for
Trashion Fashion many years. Howev-
er, this year she is going to be a judge.
“I am looking forward to seeing the
cool pieces,” Miller said. “But I am go-
ing to miss modeling and getting ready
with everyone.”
Students are encouraged to check
out this year’s Trashion Fashion Show
and watch “Bonas Get Trashy” on
Wednesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. in the
Quick Center.
cosentjr15@bonaventure.edu
Image courtesy of sbu.edu
have fallen in love with it,” Wasek said.
“I love how it draws students closer to-
gether over such incredible topics.”
The upcoming discussion is sched-
uled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the Reilly
Center Café.
topolsfl17@bonaventure.edu