Twenty-five years ago, the United States was changed forever by the events of September 11. In honor of those who lost their lives that day and the years that followed, St. Joseph’s University, New York hosted several events across its Brooklyn and Long Island Campuses.
Organized by the Office of Military and Veteran Services, the goal was not only to commemorate that fateful day in American history, but to educate students on the hope, bravery and resilience demonstrated by individuals during one of our country’s darkest hours.
Remembrance Ceremonies
On Sept. 10 and Sept. 14, SJNY hosted remembrance ceremonies on the Long Island and Brooklyn campuses, respectively.
Long Island
Held in front of O’Connor Hall on the Patchogue Campus, the Long Island event featured guest speakers including Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Jason Ostrowe, Ph.D. — who at the time of the attacks served as a New York City police officer in Manhattan — and Chief of the South Country Ambulance Company Gregory C. Miglino Jr.
As the events of September 11 grow farther from the present day, Dr. Ostrowe emphasized the importance of keeping younger generations connected to the date in a post-COVID society.
“How does one teach 9/11?” Dr. Ostrowe posed. “Many faculty may not face that task as it falls outside of their curriculum. That is not the case for me. Teaching criminal justice, I confront this challenge every fall … With the beginning of a new semester, this date moves farther in our rearview mirror.”
He discussed teaching 9/11 to his criminal justice students, many of whom were not yet born, and how the day’s events continue to shape the society they now experience. “One cannot understand public safety and criminal justice in the 21st century with an emphasis on militarization, technology, security and restrictions on movement without understanding what came before,” he continued.
Following Dr. Ostrowe was Gregory C. Miglino Jr., who before leading the South Country Ambulance Company in Bellport, New York, served more than 20 years in the United States Marine Corps, retiring at the rank of captain. Miglino recounted his harrowing experience of being called to provide aid that morning. He stated how his time in the Marines prepared him to make the difficult choice in deciding which members of his team would go with him and who would stay behind.
“At that point I didn’t know what would be asked of us, but as a leader, my responsibilities were clear … As we moved into downtown Manhattan, one of the first things I remembered was the smoke, then something I would remember for the next 25 years…the silence,” Miglino shared.
Brooklyn
On the Brooklyn Campus, the remembrance ceremony held in the St. Angela Hall Courtyard was an opportunity to honor those lost while providing hope for the future through the support of students attending SJNY.
During the ceremony, SJNY President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., gave an insightful and instructive speech on how the events of 9/11 not only made him think about current events, but also about their connections to the past.
President Boomgaarden noted that “there was something else that died on 9/11, and what died on 9/11, for the nation, was a feeling of invulnerability. Suddenly, we saw that the United States was, in fact, very vulnerable, that perhaps we were not so mighty, that perhaps we did not have the power that we thought we had.”
This year, the University unveiled the Jennifer Lynn Mazzotta ’00 Scholarship, which was established by friends, family and classmates of Jennifer in memory of her time at St. Joseph’s, noting her warmth, humor and interest in business. The new scholarship supports undergraduate students on the Brooklyn Campus with financial need and an interest in working in business, finance or human resources.
Assistant Vice President for Development and Engagement Flavio Bollag recognized the scholarship’s inaugural recipients: Jason Alexander and Xiner Huang.
This year’s 9/11 ceremony also included an additional ringing of the bell, which represented the sacrifice of all the first responders, recovery workers and those who lived in the Lower Manhattan community who died due to illnesses related to the events of 9/11.
Prayer Service and Ringing of the Bell
On Friday, Sept.11, both campuses held prayer services, led by their Directors of Campus Ministry S. Marie Mackey and Jonathan Galo. Services were held in the Sisters of St. Joseph Chapel on the Long Island Campus and the Kennedy Chapel on the Brooklyn Campus.
More Events to Come
Although the anniversary has passed, additional events are planned for September and October to commemorate 9/11.
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, Dr. Ostrowe will be delivering a presentation in the Shea Conference Center in O’Connor Hall on the Patchogue Campus. The common hour event (12:40–2:30 p.m.) will include a brief examination of the events leading to September 11, 2001, including the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, followed by a screening of Twin Towers.
An open discussion will consider the human impact and enduring consequences of 9/11—and why the event remains essential to understanding criminal justice, public safety, national security, and American civic life 25 years later.
For those interested, members from the SJNY community will be participating in the Tunnels to Towers Foundation: 5K Run and Walk New York on Sunday, Sept. 27. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to contact Director of the Office of Military and Veteran Services Steven Fuchs, Ph.D., or Assistant Dean, Preceptor and Military Advisor Angela Diaz for more information.
Lastly, the University is planning a trip to the 9/11 Museum & Memorial on Friday, Oct. 2, led by Dr. Fuchs and Chairperson of the Criminal Justice Department Joseph Pascarella, Ph.D. Dr. Fuchs can again be contacted for more information.
