Pace University yesterday unveiled a mural in the Kessel Student Center to commemorate the memory of Danroy "DJ" Henry Jr., a Pace student-athlete who was shot and killed by a police officer 11 years ago.

The mural unveiling effectively kicks-off Pace University's Second Annual Social Justice Week, which runs from October 24 to October 29 and includes a wide range of events, lectures, and original programming to engage the campus community about issues of equity, justice, and racism. Pace University is committed to being an anti-racist institution and Social Justice Week helps foster education and advocacy to its students, faculty and staff.

In remarks at the mural unveiling, President Marvin Krislov thanked students who led this project for their hard work, their dedication to DJ Henry’s legacy, and their commitment to the Pace community.

“What happened to DJ Henry was an unforgettable, unforgivable tragedy. But his legacy lives on,” said President Krislov. “It lives on in his legacy of kindness and commitment. It lives on in the efforts of our students to ensure he is commemorated. It lives on our important Social Justice Week of programming. It lives on in our commitment to justice, progress, and anti-racism. And lives on in this beautiful mural.”

This initiative was primarily student-driven, from advocating for the mural, selecting the artist, securing funding from Student Government Association, and contributing ideas for the artwork. The 12 foot by 8 width mural was painted by Brittney S. Price, a Los Angeles-based artist who specializes in powerful visual commentary on current events. She's recently worked on campaigns for Black Lives Matter, Change.org, Paint the City Peaceful, We Rise LA, and LA Commons.

For Irach’e “Shea” Teague and Ja’Rette Mungin – Pace University students who helped conceive and advocate for the mural – the art in the student center is a fitting tribute and constant reminder of Henry’s legacy.

"A mural in honor of Danroy ‘DJ’ Henry is important for the entire Pace community because it shows what we can accomplish together as a community,” said Teague, a senior English major from Long Island. “Equity and accountability is the only way we can achieve justice and that is the start to greater change. I’m excited to help continue DJ’s legacy.”

Mungin, a graduate student from Bronx, N.Y., added: "The mural in honor of Danroy ‘DJ’ Henry is important because it helps to promote social awareness and to spread positivity. It is necessary to be consistently socially aware so that we can protect and nurture our students of color. DJs legacy lives on through them.”

"DJ’s mural is a lasting legacy that represents not only him, but the countless amount of black people who have lost their lives through police brutality over the years,” said Student Government Association President Kimberly Mars, a junior from Jersey City, N.J. “DJ’s story acts as a reminder of the work that we have to do in this country and the commitment that we all should make to continue to push for social justice. The fight for equality is not over but this is a reminder that we are making progress toward change.”

During Pace’s inaugural Social Justice Week last year, there was a screening and discussion of the 48 Hours segment, “The Story of DJ Henry” as well as a campus rally on October 29—DJ Henry’s birthday. Pace also retired his No. 12 jersey and the clock tower at Goldstein Fitness Center is named for Henry. View the full schedule of this year’s Social Justice Week events.

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About Pace University

Since 1906, Pace University has educated thinking professionals by providing high quality education for the professions on a firm base of liberal learning amid the advantages of the New York metropolitan area. A private university, Pace has campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York, enrolling nearly 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in its Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Lubin School of Business, College of Health Professions, School of Education, School of Law, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

Tell us a bit about your background.

I was born and raised in Ukraine. During my childhood and teenage years, I used to play soccer professionally for soccer clubs Shakhtar Donetsk and Metallurg Donetsk. I came to the United States when I was 17 to go to college in New York. I lived with my older sister for a while until I decided to join the military. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, I graduated from Pace University in New York City and started at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in Fall 2021. My parents still live in Ukraine. My father is an electrical engineer, and my mother is a college professor. My sister continues to live in New York and works as a tax lawyer for a large international law firm.

What inspired you to pursue a career in law?

My sister was an original source of inspiration for me because she told me about her law school experience and some of the cases that she had worked on early in her legal career that had a real impact on other people’s lives. While she currently works as a corporate tax lawyer, she also does a significant amount of pro bono work for clients in need of immigration, tax and other advice. Similar to her, I want to be able to help immigrants obtain legal status in the US, as well as help people in need have proper representation in courts. Eventually joining efforts with my sister would be an added bonus!

What activities are you involved in as a student?

I have been involved in Pace Veterans Association since my undergraduate years at Pace University. As a member of this organization, I have participated in numerous events throughout the years, such as Veterans Day parades, 9/11 events, job fairs, and speaking panels with military leaders. Being involved in Pace Veterans Association has been an extremely positive experience for me because I got a chance to be a part of a really dynamic veterans’ community and became friends with lots of other student veterans. Throughout our undergraduate years, we have supported each other on both academic and personal fronts. At Haub Law, I have joined the Military Law and Veterans’ Society and am looking forward to meeting my fellow veteran law students there. I have also recently become involved in the Sports, Entertainment, and Arts Law Society and the Criminal Justice Society at the Law School.

Thank you for your service. Can you speak about that experience?

The years I spent in the military have been life-changing for me. Completing boot camp in Parris Island was a very tough experience, which taught me to persevere and withstand any challenges. After completing the boot camp, I went to Marine Combat Training in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and then Supply School (Logistics) in Camp Johnson, North Carolina. Subsequently, I was assigned to 3^rd Battalion, 1^st Marines (Infantry Battalion) aboard Camp Pendleton, California. In Camp Pendleton, I had two jobs –Supply Administration and Combat Marksmanship Coach. As part of the Supply Administration job, I had to account for the property of my Battalion, as well as place requisitions for the items that we were deficient on. I also had to oversee and manage the budget that my Battalion could spend on various items. As the Combat Marksmanship Coach, I had to supervise Marines on the shooting ranges, make sure that they adhere to the safety procedures, and correct their shooting positions so they could become more proficient in their shooting skills.

During my service, I have been deployed to Okinawa, Japan for 7 months. I also received a number of awards from the military, including three Certificates of Commendation for exemplary performance and Certificates of Recognition for volunteer services. As part of such volunteer services, I, among other things, helped US veterans who were homeless, displaced or disabled to find shelter, search for jobs, and prepare for job interviews.

What does it mean to you to be a veteran?

Being a veteran is of great importance to me. While serving in the Marine Corps, I have experienced a unique sense of comradery, friendship and support for each other. Every year when I march with Pace University in the Veterans Parade on November 11^th, I experience very special moments of pride, joy and happiness. Military service has also had an impact on my law school experience. Mainly, it taught me mental and physical discipline, which I regularly incorporate into my law school life.

What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

I love to play soccer, run and exercise at the gym – I find that regular physical activities help me stay focused in school. I also like to spend time with my family and friends and read about sports.

What advice would you give a new or prospective law student?

Attending law school is a challenging, but very interesting path. Be ready to work hard and put in the hours and I am sure your efforts will pay off in the future.