August 30, 2011

The September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
left a literal hole in downtown Manhattan, and a figurative one in
the lives of all New Yorkers.
Today, 1 World
Trade Center — which will replace the Twin Towers as the city’s
tallest structure — is rising over the Financial District. The
people of New York City and State also have risen above the horror
of that day, coming to terms with loss through courage and
understanding.
St. John’s University is commemorating the tragedy through Remember
9/11 , a semester-long series of art exhibitions, discussions
and a major scholarly conference at all three of our New York City
campuses — Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan.
Our keystone event, “Making Meaning of 9/11: Local Impacts,
Global Implications,” is an interdisciplinary conference with
scholars from across the country and around the world. It will take
place on St. John’s Manhattan campus. Only a few blocks from Ground
Zero, our Manhattan campus served as a respite station for rescue
workers.
“We are a University whose history and character are tied to
that of New York City,” said Provost of St. John’s University Dr.
Julia
A. Upton, RSM . “Our commemoration of 9/11 dramatically
underscores that bond. Through these events, we also bring to life
our distinctively Vincentian heritage, which employs knowledge to
make our world a better place.”
“The conference, in particular, reflects St. John’s identity as
an inextricable part of New York City with a global scholarly
reach,” observed said
Michael Wolfe, Ph.D., Professor of History, Associate Dean of
St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and coordinator of
the conference. “Through scholarly exchange and dialogue, we hope
to strengthen our collective understanding of this tragedy and its
meaning for New Yorkers, Americans and all people.”
The entire St. John’s community invites you to take part in any
or all of these events.
For a full calendar and more information about joining us, please
visit: www.stjohns.edu/remember911