Observing the 24th Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks
Dear Members of the NJCU Family,
On this day, 24 years ago — September 11, 2001 — our nation endured an unimaginable tragedy that forever changed the course of history. Today, we gather once again as a campus community to honor the 2,977 Americans who lost their lives, including three NJCU faculty members: Kevin Donnelly, Thomas Gardner, and Kalyan Sarkar. As we pause in remembrance, we reaffirm that even in our darkest moments, the strength of our shared humanity prevails. Love will always triumph over hatred, and unity will always overcome division.
Yet as we commemorate this solemn anniversary, our hearts are also heavy with the tragic events that unfolded yesterday, when political violence once again shattered our national discourse. The assassination of a prominent political figure reminds us that we cannot allow our disagreements—no matter how passionate—to spiral into acts of violence. Our democracy depends on our ability to engage in respectful debate, to listen to opposing viewpoints, and to resolve our differences through dialogue rather than destruction. When we lose the capacity for civil discourse, we lose the very foundation upon which our republic stands.
Today, more than ever, we must recommit ourselves to the values that emerged from the ashes of September 11th: service to others, solidarity in times of struggle, and love that conquers fear. Let us honor both the memory of those we lost 24 years ago and the urgent need for healing in our present moment by choosing hope over despair, understanding over hatred, and peaceful engagement over violence. As we move forward together, may we be guided by the conviction that our differences make us stronger, not weaker, when we approach them with respect, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our shared democratic ideals.
Yours in service, solidarity and love.
Andrés Acebo
President
New Jersey City University