St. John’s — New York’s largest Catholic university — woke up And the Monday holiday will no longer be called “Christopher Columbus Day,” in honor of the explorer who was hailed as a devout Christian.
Some Italian American civic leaders and alumni are now accusing the Catholic Church of disrespecting the famous but controversial Italian explorer.
“It would be insane not to recognize Columbus,” said Angelo Vivolo, president of the Columbus Heritage Coalition. “Of course that's an insult.”
Peter Abbate, a former Brooklyn state assemblyman who graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in history and political science, agreed.
“It's outrageous not to recognize Columbus. It's just ridiculous,” Abate said. “They could call St. John's University John's University. You get an 'F' for trying to look cute.” ”
St. John's University's academic calendar currently describes the holiday as “Fall Mini Vacation – University Holidays.” There are no classes. ”
In doing so, former Mayor Bill de Blasio threw Columbus under the bus during his tenure amid protests over the explorer's enslavement and brutalization of indigenous peoples during his voyages to the New World. He will join the New York City government.
City Sanitation Division issue a notification This year, there will be no garbage, curbside compost or recycling collection on Monday, October 14, which is Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day.
still, fordham universityNew York City's other major Catholic University of New York, states on its calendar that “the university will be closed for Columbus Day.”
Iona College, a Catholic school in Westchester County, also recognizes Columbus Day on its calendar, although it is not a holiday, and “classes are in session.”
Bivolo said she personally complained to St. John's University officials about excluding “Columbus” from the holiday, saying, “My sister graduated from St. John's. My granddaughter is an alumnus. I 's niece is a student.
Vivolo, a former president and chairman of the Columbus Foundation, which organizes the city's annual parade celebrating Italian explorers, said the foundation gives scholarships to Italian-American high school students to attend college. He said many students have enrolled in the university over the years. St. John's.
St. John's University defended removing Columbus from its calendar.
“Given federal holidays, there are only a limited number of days that can be observed on the academic calendar,” said Brian Brown, president of St. John's.
“In 2018, St. John's University chose to observe Veterans Day and celebrate Columbus Day by extending the fall mini-break in early October. The fall mini-break typically coincides with Columbus Day '' Brown said. “St. Johns University community members and alumni regularly volunteer to participate in Columbus Day festivities across New York City, and we plan to do so again this year.”
Such controversies are nothing new for St. John's University. St. John's University changed the name of its sports teams from the Redmen to the Red Storm nearly 30 years ago after critics criticized the image of a Native American as a mascot as derogatory.
Meanwhile, other Catholic universities are also distancing themselves from Columbus.
The University of Notre Dame in Indiana does not recognize Columbus Day at all, and its calendar shows classes being held.
Manhattan College and Niagara University in New York and Seton Hall University in New Jersey said they were on “fall break,” without mentioning Columbus.
St. Francis College in Brooklyn is trying to satisfy both sides of the divide by calling the Oct. 14 holiday “Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day.”
The City University of New York's calendar simply says “University Closed.”
There is no mention of “Columbus Day” on the State University of New York's main campus calendar.
Democratic Queens City Councilman Robert Holden denounced the censorship in Columbus.
“We shouldn't impose 21st century standards on 15th century explorers. That's what woke fanatics are doing through presentism,” Holden said.
“Federal and state law designate this Monday as Columbus Day, and the fact that Eric Adams' continued executive order from Bill de Blasio, the worst mayor in history, is still in effect is a disgrace.”
The health department said it followed a city edict banning Columbus from his vacation.
“Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day is the name of a public holiday in New York City and has been for several years,” said DSNY spokesperson Joshua Goodman.
“The DSNY Columbia Association will be proudly marching in the Columbus Day Parade on Monday. Rest assured, that is the name of the parade and we will be posting about it on social media,” he said.
