St. Bonaventure Bonnies History

St. Bonaventure University is a university in the Catholic and Franciscan traditions. Located in Southwestern New York state, SBU is three hours from Toronto, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh; and less than two hours from Buffalo and Rochester.

St. Bonaventure offers undergraduate majors in four schools: Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, and the Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Graduate degrees are also offered in Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, and Franciscan Studies.

The Mascot and School Colors

St. Bonaventure University has used three different mascots and numerous athletic symbols and names over the years. One consistent theme has been the brown and white colors that have marked the school. In the earliest days of athletics, the teams were often called the "Brownies". They were also called the "Alleganies" after the region the school is located in. More recently the name "Bonnies" has stuck. For generations the Brown Indian was the mascot of the University until recent politically correct times forced the school to move from that symbol to the Bona Fanatic. The move to the Bona Fanatic seemed to be a hasty leap and many of the school's alumni could not relate to something that was, to say the least, funny looking. The Bona Fanatic was quickly ousted and the Bona Wolf was chosen to be the next leader on and off the court.

The Brown Indian

The Brown Indian represented St. Bonaventure University athletics from Fall 1927, its earliest mention in The Laurel, to 1994. The mascot was a source of pride not only for students and alumni but for many members of the Seneca Nation that is located down the road from the University.

It should be noted that throughout the history of the Brown Indian there was controversy as to its appropriateness at the university. In a 1972 Bona Venture news paper article entitled "Brown Indian Name Always Respectable," reporter Greg Johnson interviewed Fr. Cornelius A. Welch, chairman of the Board of Athletics and Executive Vice President. In his interview Welch helps to explain why the Indian was chosen and states, " Since Bonaventure has always respected the Senecas on the Seneca reservation in Salamanca, and have used the symbol for such a long time, we have not had any difficulty." At basketball games the Indian was not used in any sense as a derogatory symbol, for this would not only reflect poorly on the basketball team but also the people who helped to build the school. Fr. Welch explained, "When the buildings were constructed, many of the steel workers were from the Seneca reservation, and, as a result many of the Friars developed friendships with the workers. Fr. Timothy Quinn has a parish in the reservation, which also is a reason for the friendly relations between Bonaventure and the Indians." From this interview one can see that a great deal of respect from the school was shown by using the Indian as the mascot. The thinking of many was that it was a way to show respect and gratitude towards the Seneca people. Fr. Welch adds, "The main use of the Indian at Bonaventure has always been as a team name,..." For many it was considered a privilege to be the school mascot.

In 1991 the University had local artist Carson Waterman, a member of the Seneca nation, paint a more accurate version of the Indian logo. The previous center court image had actually been representative of the Plains Indians, rather than the woodland tribes which the Seneca belong to. "We wanted to avoid things unauthentic or out of character," according to President Neil O'Connell.

As time passed the Brown Indian became a symbol of concern for those at the upper administrative levels of the University. As the 1990's ushered in a new era of cultural times it also brought with it the idea of "Political correctness." Even though the students, alumni, and many of the Senecas understood the Brown Indian and had respected its use at the school, some could not help but ponder what those in the rest of the sporting world were thinking about a school that used such a mascot. Not wanting to bring slander to the school's name, and, even more importantly, hurt the reputation and feelings of the Seneca people, the days of the St. Bonaventure Brown Indian became numbered. After many hard decisions, and long talks with university officials, President Wickenheiser decided to abandon the Indian and create the Bona Fanatic.
 

The Bona Wolf

A committee was formed to determine a replacement for the disastrous Bona Fanatic. The Bona Wolf was conceived and made its first home game appearances during the 1998 season. A front page Inside Bona's article states that the new mascot "Will lend a strong image to the program, something that had been missing in recent years." Furthermore, University President Wickenheiser goes on to say, "The image of a wolf captures a feeling of competitiveness and aggressiveness which are not only appropriate attributes for our mascot, but also speak qualities in our students which suggest achievement and the perseverance to succeed. The new mascot captures this spirit well."

Since the introduction of the Wolf, the general popularity of Bonaventure's school mascot has risen. Students approve of the Wolf and it is much more admired than its retired friend the Bona Fanatic. When creating the idea for a wolf Dr. David Diles, Vice President and Director of Athletics, said that the wolf had qualities that the school wanted to show in its mascot. "Some of the qualities that the committee examined in looking at various mascot possibilities were that it be aggressive, yet friendly; leaner and more athletic than previous representations, and something that would help us develop a great primary trademark and image."

Most likely a result of coincidence, the mascot was found to have ties to the Franciscan tradition that friars of the school live upon. Legend has it that St. Francis of Assisi tamed a fierce wolf at Gubbio, Italy. Thus, this new mascot would also help to represent the religious aspect which is so closely related to St. Bonaventure University itself. When one walks into the admissions building on campus the main staircase is to the right, above that staircase, on the wall, is an engraving of Francis and the wolf that he tamed.

As the tradition of the wolf has grown, it has endured, along with the rest of the school, dark times. But there have been many more bright days and the school mascot is here to stay and grow with the school and student body. The Bona Wolf has gown to stand for much more than a mascot, it has become a symbol of strength for the University and those intertwined with it.
 

The Bonaventure Alma Mater Song

With myrtle wreath we'll deck thy brow,
Bonas, old St. Bonas.
The verdant leaves our love avow,
Bonas, old St. Bonas.
Thy name was ever fair and bright,
We'll keep it thus with memory's light,
And laud thy glorious brown and white,
Bonas, old St. Bonas.