March 06, 2012
On
Friday, February 24 the Office of Community Relations of St. John’s
University hosted State Senator Tony Avella (D), 11th
Senate District, for a breakfast meeting and campus tour on the
Queens campus with representatives from various departments as well
as Student Government. During the 90 minute meeting the Senator and
administrators discussed various matters pertaining to the
University and the surrounding community, in addition to his
reflections on issues concerning the state and federal
government.
Joseph Sciame, Vice President for Community Relations, welcomed
Senator Avella to St. John's University and extended appreciation
for the opportunity to have an open and informal dialogue with the
Senator, and to further reinforce the University’s unique place as
a community contributor. The Senator commended the University for
all of its outreach efforts to the various neighborhoods
surrounding the campus and thanked everyone in attendance for their
responsiveness and sensitivity to all of its neighbors. Senator
Avella also provided updates on the proposed redistricting of
Senate District 11 as well as the various election year issues, in
particular his stance against hydraulic fracturing. The Senator was
then was taken on a Campus tour where he marveled at size and
layout of the campus, the design of the various buildings and was
most impressed with the D’Angelo Center as the hub of all student
activity.
Tony Avella’s distinguished public service career began over 20
years ago as an aide to the New York City Council President, and
served on numerous volunteer capacities as a civic activist and was
a member of Queens Community Board #7. Awarded New York State’s
Community Service Award for his numerous volunteer and civic
endeavors on behalf of all New Yorkers, he won election to the New
York City Council in the 19th District - Northeast Queens, and was
reelected with an overwhelming majority in both the 2003 and 2005
elections. Senator Avella was also the founder and chair of the
first Italian-American Caucus of the City Council, whereby he
promoted Italian culture and heritage through an annual celebration
at City Hall each October and fought against negative stereotyping
of Italian Americans. Since 2011, Mr. Avella has served as
the State Senator representing the 11th District of Queens.
For more information call Paul Lazauskas, University Office of
Community Relations at (718) 990-1912.