Today, Sept. 11, is the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, the morning terrorists hijacked four American airplanes resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people, including fifteen alumni.

Falvey Library honors the Villanovans, all those who lost their lives, and the first responders, by displaying a tribute each year to mark the tragic anniversary. The display, located in the lobby, lists the names of the Villanovans killed on 9/11 and is juxtaposed against flag designs and vases containing red, white, and blue flowers.

Sunday, Sept. 11, is the 21st anniversary of 9/11, the morning terrorists hijacked four American airplanes resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. Villanova University lost fifteen alumni that day. Falvey Memorial Library honors the Villanovans and all those who lost their lives, displaying a tribute each year to mark the tragic anniversary. The display, located in Access Services, lists the names of the Villanovans killed on 9/11 and is juxtaposed against flag designs and vases containing red, white, and blue flowers.

Photo courtesy of Joanne Quinn, Director of Communication and Marketing. Display curated by Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS.

By Ethan Shea

To honor the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Villanova University has dedicated two separate displays to those who lost their lives in the unprecedented attacks. These displays are open for viewing on the first floor of Falvey Memorial Library and in the Presidents’ Lounge between Sept. 8 and Sept. 10.

9/11 Display in Presidents’ Lounge

9/11 Display in Presidents’ Lounge

9/11 Display in Falvey Memorial Library

9/11 Display in Falvey Memorial Library

Ethan Shea is a first-year English Graduate Student at Villanova University and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Memorial Library.

Happy Friday, Wildcats! After a year off, Falvey Memorial Library is bringing back Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Jenna, a Graduate Assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. 

Tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 11, marks the 20th anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people. Below are resources to help you reflect on and explore the legacy of the events of 9/11 whether you have 3 minutes or a whole day.  

If you have 4 minutes… listen to the Oral History of Bruno Dellinger, a 9/11 survivor, compiled by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Would you rather read than listen? View the full transcript here. 

If you have 30 minutes… Explore the 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s interactive timeline of the events of 9/11. 

Content warning: The timelines contain some graphic images and sensitive content due to the explicit nature of events surrounding the 9/11 attacks. 

If you have 7 hours…  borrow Reluctant Hero by Michael Benfante through the Falvey website. Belefante recounts his experience as a 9/11 survivor and the wrenching personal challenges of critical emotional and psychological depth.  

Michael Benfante is speaking at the Riley Ellipse at 3 p.m. today, Sept. 10. Refreshments will follow. 

If you have the whole day… consider attending one of these Philly-area commemoration events listed in this Philadelphia Inquirer article. 

Jenna Renaud is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Memorial Library.

By Ethan Shea

In honor of the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, Villanova University will be hosting several events to promote solemn reflection and conversation on the topic of 9/11. The keynote speaker of this series of events will be Michael Benfante, a 9/11 survivor and author of the book Reluctant Hero.

In the midst of the attacks, Benfante and a co-worker carried a woman in a wheelchair down 68 flights of stairs in the North Tower, a 96-minute process that allowed the three to escape just minutes before the building collapsed. Benfante was immediately greeted by cameras as he exited the building, and before long, he was speaking with Oprah Winfrey on national television. Reluctant Hero details not only his act of heroism, but the emotional turmoil Benfante faced in the aftermath of the attacks.

Falvey Memorial Library welcomes you to borrow this captivating book here. Reluctant Hero has recently been purchased by Falvey, and will soon be available in our own collection as well as through InterLibrary Loan. The book is currently on display on the first floor of the Library, along with several other books and newspaper clips regarding the 9/11 attacks. Feel free to visit this display at your leisure.

Villanova invites you to come listen to Michael Benfante speak at the Riley Ellipse at 3 p.m. on Sept. 10. Refreshments will follow. If it is to rain, the event will be held in the Villanova Room, Connelly Center.

In addition to Benfante’s speech, the following events will be taking place during the days leading up to the 20th anniversary of 9/11:

Interdisciplinary Panel Discussion

On Sept. 8, Tuan Samahon, JD, Catherine Warrick, PhD, and Joe Evans, a doctoral student of Theology, will take part in a discussion moderated by Tim Horner, DPhil. This event will take place from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Attend via this Zoom link.

“9/11 Human Library”: Firsthand Stories and Reflections

In a series of 15-minute, small-group conversations, attendees will have the opportunity to hear fellow Villanovans share personal experiences regarding 9/11. This event will be carried out in the President’s Lounge at the Connelly Center at 4 p.m. on Sept. 9.

Interfaith Vigil

After Mr. Benfante’s speech, at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 10, there will be a candlelight procession as well as readings and music from different faith traditions on the Rowen Campus Green. In the case of rain, this event will be held in the Villanova Room, Connelly Center.

9/11 Memorial Display

Almost 3,000 people, including 15 Villanova alumni were killed during the attacks. Fourteen Villanovans were in the World Trade Center and one was working as a flight attendant on Flight 175. In the Presidents’ Lounge, between Sept. 8 and Sept. 10, there will be a memorial display to honor these victims. Additionally, the stained glass window in Corr Hall Chapel, which is dedicated to these 15 victims, is a permanent reminder of the lives tragically lost on this fateful day.

Additionally, Falvey Memorial Library has created a display on the first floor to remember those lost that day, including those from our own community.

Ethan Shea is a first-year English Graduate Student at Villanova University and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Memorial Library.

Word of the Week: 積ん読, Tsundoku  

There’s a handful of words from other languages that should probably be adopted into the English language. One Japanese word, “tsundoku,” will most likely strike a chord with most book lovers. 

Tsundoku literally means “reading pile” and refers to the pile of books that you have next your bed that you meant to read, but still haven’t. How many books are in your tsundoku right now? 

This Week at Falvey  

Wednesday, Sept. 8 

Fall 2021 Falvey Forum Workshop Series: Introduction to Google My Maps / 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. / ZOOM / Register Here 

Friday, Sept. 10 

Villanova Gaming Society Meeting / 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. / Speakers’ Corner / Free & Open to the Public 

This Week in History 

September 11, 2001 – 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks 

Villanova University is hosting a variety of events for everyone on campus to learn about, remember and explore the legacy of the tragic September 11 terrorist attacks. The attacks claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people, including 15 alumni.  

To find a full list of events going on, starting September 8, visit the Villanova Remembers 9/11 page. In addition, stop by Falvey to view the 9/11 display.  

Today, Friday, Sept. 11, is the nineteenth anniversary of 9/11, the morning terrorists hijacked four American airplanes resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. Villanova University lost fifteen alumni that day. Falvey Memorial Library honors the Villanovans and all those who lost their lives, displaying a tribute each year to mark the tragic anniversary.

The picture above is from Sept. 11, 2019. The display, located in Access Services, listed the names of the Villanovans killed on 9/11 and was juxtaposed against flag designs and vases containing red and white roses. The stained glass window in Corr Hall Chapel, installed November 2006, which was designed by the late Rev. Richard G. Cannuli, OSA, ’73, who was an artist, professor, and Director of the University Art Gallery, was also featured in the library’s tribute.

Due to COVID-19 guidelines, there will be no physical tribute to receive Falvey Memorial Library visitors; still the Villanova community honors and remembers all those whose lives were lost.