THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF THE JACL Sept. 27-Oct. 10, 2019 CELEBRATING 9 0 YEARS » PAGE 5 2019 JACL NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS This year’s award recipients are proving that the future is indeed bright. PHOTO: FREEPIK.COM #3351 / VOL. 169, No. 6 ISSN: 0030-8579 WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG 2 Sept. 27-Oct. 10, 2019 SCHOLARSHIP ISSUE HOW TO REACH US THE 2019 JACL NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Email: [email protected] he JACL National Scholarship critical to JACL’s long-term viability serving as selection committee mem- Online: www.pacificcitizen.org I am thrilled that the JACL Scho- Tel: (213) 620-1767 Program has had another and relevance. bers who reviewed and rated the larship Program continues with a Mail: 123 Ellison S. Onizuka St., Suite 313 fantastic year! In this special On behalf of National JACL, freshman applications are NCWNP tradition of success and prosperity. Los Angeles, CA 90012 Tissue of the Pacific Citizen, the JACL I would like to express my deepest members Sharon Uyeda (chair), Dar- We will soon begin the 2020 appli- STAFF is delighted to announce awards appreciation for the team of dedi- lene Sakata-Bagshaw and Nick Hori. cation process to recognize the next Executive Editor totaling $66,500 to 26 deserving cated individuals who ensure the Those who served on the under- group of outstanding student leaders. Allison Haramoto student scholars. With so many im- scholarship program continues to graduate, graduate, law, arts and Senior Editor As we wrap up the 2019 scholarship Digital & Social Media pressive and accomplished students, be a huge success. First, Regional student-aid selection committee from season, please join me in congratu- George Johnston the future of JACL is bright! Director Patty Wada, who serves MDC include Betsy Sato (chair), Judy lating all of our award recipients. Business Manager This year, the student applicants as the program manager and ensures Tanaka and Kurt Miyazaki. Susan Yokoyama were asked to write a statement on its successful implementation. She In addition, David and Carol Kawa- Respectfully, Production Artist the following essay prompt, which coordinates the two scholarship moto, who once headed the program, Marie Samonte was provided by the JACL National committees, communicates with the continue to play an integral role Circulation Matthew Farrells, Eva Ting Youth/Student Council: “The JACL applicants and keeps the program in the scholarship application and JACL National VP Planning & strives to stand in solidarity with running on track. award process, and I’d also like to Development The Pacific Citizen newspaper other entities and individuals advo- I’d also like to thank the two acknowledge Membership Assistant (ISSN: 0030-8579) is published semi-monthly (except once in cating for marginalized communities. National JACL Scholarship Com- Tomiko Ismail, who runs a check on December and January) by the Pick an organization that the JACL mittees. These committees, each the membership of our applicants. Japanese American Citizens could partner with and detail, in from a distinct JACL district, work On behalf of the JACL National League, Pacific Citizen, 123 Ellison S. Onizuka St., Suite 313 whatever framework you see fit, diligently to review freshman and Board, we thank these committed Los Angeles, CA 90012 what that collaboration might look undergraduate, graduate, law, arts and individuals on a job well-done. Periodical postage paid at L.A., CA like. What might be the benefits and student-aid applications. This year’s We are very appreciative of the POSTMASTER: Send address changes to National JACL, 1765 challenges of this collaboration?” committees come from the Northern diligent work and great care that goes Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115 As you read their responses on the California-Western Nevada-Pacific into reviewing all of the scholarship JACL President: Jeffrey Moy following pages, I hope you are as District Council (NCWNP) and the applications and the ongoing JACL Executive Director: David Inoue inspired and proud of these young Midwest District Council (MDC), tradition of acknowledging our young P.C. EDITORIAL BOARD community leaders and scholars as respectively. leaders and scholars with financial Rob Buscher, chairperson; Ron I am. Their vision for the future is Those dedicated individuals support for higher education. Kuramoto, MDC; Marcia Chung, CCDC; Nancy Ukai, NCWNPDC; Sheldon Arakaki, PNWDC; Kayla Watanabe, IDC; John Saito Jr., PSWDC; Juli Yoshinaga, Youth Rep. SUBSCRIBE Get a one-year subscription of the Pacific Citizen newspaper at: www.pacificcitizen.org or call (213) 620-1767 ADVERTISE To advertise in the Pacific Citizen, call (213) 620-1767 or e-mail: [email protected] LEGAL No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express permission of the Pacific Citizen. Editorials, letters, news and the opinions expressed by columnists other than the national JACL president or national director do not necessarily reflect JACL policy. Events and products advertised in the P.C. do not carry the implicit endorsement of the JACL or this publication. We reserve the right to edit articles. © 2019 Periodicals paid at Los Angeles, Calif. and mailing office. JACL MEMBERS Change of Address SPRING The P.C.’s mission is to “educate on the past Japanese American experience and preserve, promote and help the current and future AAPI communities.” If you’ve moved, please send new CAMPAIGN information to: Name : National JACL 1765 Sutter St. Address 1: San Francisco, CA 94115 (415) 921-5225 City : Phone Number : ext. 26 Allow 6 weeks for E-mail : address changes. JACL MEMBER? To avoid interruptions in delivery, PLEASE USE MY CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS: please notify your postmaster to include P.C. Archive Project ______ P.C. Production Costs ______ periodicals in your change of address * Your donations will help build and preserve a cohesive library of the Pacific Citizen to educate future generations.* (USPS Form 3575) COMMENTARY Sept. 27-Oct. 10, 2019 3 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE EDUCATION Obviously, I had the qualities to obtain is affirmative action. And yet, we cannot ignore the impact of admission to Cornell, but interviewing as I The distraction of affirmative action draws race. We cannot ignore the impact of genera- did gave me an advantage over many other attention away from admissions considera- tions of discrimination that have segregated applicants. Impressing the right person set tions such as athletics and legacies, which entire communities of color into underper- By David Inoue, me apart from the many other similarly are given much higher weight than many forming schools. JACL Executive Director qualified students who could just as easily other admissions criteria. Segregation in higher education pre- have been accepted. Even I would not now argue that having vented minorities from enrolling, and those ongratulations to all of our 2019 A few years later, I beat even greater odds a strong hockey team (remember, I was at discriminatory policies are carried on JACL Scholarship recipients. As I in getting into medical school with strong, Cornell in upstate New York) should not be through the legacy preferences today. look at the credentials of the current but not stellar, MCATS and a mediocre-for- a consideration of the admissions process. Admissions officers must be able to take Cclass, I think back to when I applied for a med-school GPA. Again, it was the right Sports are an important part of the college these facts into consideration and balance scholarship through the Cincinnati chapter interview, yielding the right advocate in the experience, both for students and alumni. the value of a legacy admission vs. a family’s almost 30 years ago and realize that I admissions committee’s deliberations. If we can admit that sports are an impor- first college attendee. probably would not be able to get into the Of course, coming from Cornell didn’t hurt tant consideration of the admissions process, Holistic admissions takes into conside- school I did then, nor qualify for a JACL and probably boosted the value of my less- why not also recognize racial and ethnic ration these challenges that a person of scholarship, given the talent of today’s youth. than-spectacular GPA. Obviously, medical diversity as equally important? color has faced that someone else does not. It I was fortunate because I was one of school didn’t pan out, but it does provide Many highly competitive schools have can also consider a student coming from an the few who won the lottery — I attended some valuable insight to the absurdity that is adopted holistic admissions policies, where urban or rural school with fewer opportunities Cornell University, an Ivy League school for now college admissions. all of the traits of the candidate are looked for extracurriculars or AP classes, or one my undergraduate degree, and Ohio State Application numbers now far outshadow at and compared to the rest of the potential who works a job at night to help the fami- for medical school before dropping out and what they were when I went to school. Ac- class. This perspective looks at the needs of ly finances, or one who cares for a family completing a master’s degree. ceptance rates for Cornell were double what the university to create a diverse class, but member at home. Going into Cornell, I thought it was all they are now, and some schools today boast also meet specific needs, such as the starting Our own Asian American community is because of my excellent SAT scores, stellar of acceptance rates of five percent. quarterback for the football team. often held up as the model minority and the high school transcript and abundant leader- The reality is that it is nearly impossible To digest the entire admissions process argument against affirmative action. That ship roles in extracurricular activities.