Student Union
'I really just want them to run away': Kana's Story Part 2
Earlier today we shared an email from Japanese student Kana Igarashi, who attends Santa Monica College in California. She told us about her mother, who is in Fukushima Prefecture, one of the areas hit hard by the earthquake and tsunami, and the site of the nuclear plants that are in danger. Kana's father, grandparents and sisters are also there.
Kana says her family lives about 80km from the nuclear plants. Currently those within 30km have been told to evacuate or stay inside, but the U.S. embassy has advised Americans to stay at least 80km from the plants.
I spoke to her on the phone this morning to find out more.
On how she heard about the earthquake. I only know me from Fukushima, and my friends know that I’m the only one from Fukushima in this college. Many of my friends called me to call to Japan because they found out that the earthquake hit my area – my prefecture and then the next prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture.
On the first 24 hours and hearing news from her family. I actually was really really worried about it – worried about them. I couldn’t go to sleep. I was just watching the NHK news on the internet. And then I really got scared because my prefecture is really in countryside and I didn’t really expect that many cities I know and then my city is on TV. And then seeing those disasters on TV all the time and then I wasn’t able to talk to my family.
In the daytime everyone tried to call to their family in the north and then the connection is really packed. But still there is some way to contact with them. So what my parents did was woke up like 2 in the morning to call me.”
On her family staying in Fukushima. I talked to my mom yesterday too, actually, last night. She also told me how many victims are trying to save other victims and then people in Fukushima are trying to stay in Fukushima to help those people who are in worse areas. And my parents are even donating stuff like blankets and stuff because it’s really really cold over there.
So I really really am proud of my family, but at the same time I really just want them to run away from prefecture because it’s already the nuclear radiation.
On what happens next. I was hoping that I can go back to Japan after graduation, which is around July this year. But the thing is, my mom also said I should be here, probably. ‘You should change your plan,’ that’s what my mom said.
It’s really sad to think about, but my family are thinking that Fukushima the city might not be able to be the place to live anymore for probably 10 more years since the radiation is all around. And the water probably people cannot grow anything. People cannot survive in Fukushima. My mom thought that it might be a good idea that I am here, then they might be able to come here. They might have to come here to be with me if that’s possible.
On watching the news. It’s actually too difficult to watch. I don’t want to really feel depressed all day. I know what my parents would want me to do is go to school normally and study so that I can be successful in the future and I can support them probably.
So I know that many other Japanese students are not coming to school and are crying and watching TV all day, but I am more like those people who are trying to move on and I try to be positive. I don’t want to watch those TVs which show still earthquakes are hitting Japan and radiation exploded again.
On the support of her classmates. People are starting to donate money to Japan and Red Cross are trying to collect money for Japan. My college also are supporting Japanese students right now. They also emailed me, ‘how’s everything.’
I feel like I’m not alone and I feel like I’m really happy that I was Japanese. People are helping Japanese people right now.
We closed the phone call by saying that we'll talk again once her family is out of danger, and we can have a happy conversation. I hope that time will come very soon.
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US reviews Columbia University contracts, grants over antisemitism allegations
The administration of President Donald Trump said on Monday it will review Columbia University's federal contracts and grants over allegations of antisemitism, which it says the educational institution has shown inaction in tackling.
Rights advocates note rising antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias since U.S. ally Israel's devastating military assault on Gaza began after Palestinian Hamas militants' deadly October 2023 attack.
The Justice Department said a month ago it formed a task force to fight antisemitism. The U.S. Departments of Health and Education and the General Services Administration jointly made the review announcement on Monday.
"The Federal Government's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is considering Stop Work Orders for $51.4 million in contracts between Columbia University and the Federal Government," the joint statement said.
The agencies said no contracting actions had been taken yet.
"The task force will also conduct a comprehensive review of the more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments to Columbia University."
The agencies did not respond to requests for comment on whether there were similar reviews over allegations of Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias.
Columbia had no immediate comment. It previously said it made efforts to tackle antisemitism.
College protests
Trump has signed an executive order to combat antisemitism and pledged to deport non-citizen college students and others who took part in pro-Palestinian protests.
Columbia was at the center of college protests in which demonstrators demanded an end to U.S. support for Israel due to the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's assault on Gaza. There were allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in protests and counter-protests.
During last summer's demonstrations around the country, classes were canceled, some university administrators resigned and student protesters were suspended and arrested.
While the intensity of protests has decreased in recent months, there were some demonstrations last week in New York after the expulsion of two students at Columbia University-affiliated Barnard College and after New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the removal of a Palestinian studies job listing at Hunter College.
A third student at Barnard College has since been expelled, this one related to the occupation of the Hamilton Hall building at Columbia last year.
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Trump administration opens antisemitism inquiries at 5 colleges, including Columbia and Berkeley
The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday.
It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses.
In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints.
Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable.
"Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.
The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik.
An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation."
House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students."
Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws.
Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech.
The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.
"The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools."
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China unveils plan to build 'strong education nation' by 2035
China issued its first national action plan to build a "strong education nation" by 2035, which it said would help coordinate its education development, improve efficiencies in innovation and build a "strong country."
The plan, issued Sunday by the Communist Party's central committee and the State Council, aims to establish a "high quality education system" with accessibility and quality "among the best in the world."
The announcement was made after data on Friday showed China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, with the number of deaths outpacing a slight increase in births, and experts cautioning that the downturn will worsen in the coming years.
High childcare and education costs have been a key factor for many young Chinese opting out of having children, at a time when many face uncertainty over their job prospects amid sluggish economic growth.
"By 2035, an education power will be built," the official Xinhua news agency said, adding that China would explore gradually expanding the scope of free education, increase "high-quality" undergraduate enrolment, expand postgraduate education, and raise the proportion of doctoral students.
The plan aims to promote "healthy growth and all-round development of students," making sure primary and secondary school students have at least two hours of physical activity daily, to effectively control the myopia, or nearsightedness, and obesity rates.
"Popularizing" mental health education and establishing a national student mental health monitoring and early warning system would also be implemented, it said.
It also aims to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas to improve the operating conditions of small-scale rural schools and improve the care system for children with disabilities and those belonging to agricultural migrant populations.
The plan also aims to steadily increase the supply of kindergarten places and the accessibility of preschool education.
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