Andy Alfaro / McClatchy Tribune
The California State University Board of Trustees will consider granting hundreds of honorary degrees to former students forced from their academic studies due to the internment of people of Japanese ancestry during World War II, according to a press release from the CSU.
On Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order that allowed military leaders to set up an “exclusion zoneâ€Â which encompassed all of California. More than 120,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese immigrants in this zone were forcibly relocated to camps.
By some historical accounts, nearly 250 Americans of Japanese descent were students attending CSU campuses when the order was issued. Fresno State was among the CSU campuses established by 1942. While records show some students went on to receive a university degree, many did not.
“Hundreds of students were removed from colleges and universities, forced to delay or abandon their dreams based solely on their ancestry,â€Â said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “The internment of Japanese Americans and Japanese immigrants during WWII represents the worst of a nation driven by fear and prejudice. By issuing honorary degrees, we hope to achieve a small right in the face of such grave wrongs.â€Â
The decision will go to a vote on Sept. 23 by the Educational Policy Committee and will then be considered by the full CSU Board of Trustees. All former CSU students whose studies were interrupted due to the internment may be eligible for the honorary degrees. Surviving family members may receive the honorary degree in recognition of a deceased student.
Crystal City • Sep 17, 2009 at 12:17 am
Perhaps you should petition the Chancellor, for you grandfather and others whose lives were interrupted to serve their country!!!!!
Crystal City • Sep 17, 2009 at 7:17 am
Perhaps you should petition the Chancellor, for you grandfather and others whose lives were interrupted to serve their country!!!!!
Erica • Sep 16, 2009 at 10:12 pm
To answer you question Crystal City..NO! My grandfather was drafted during WWII and it interrupted his studies. He came back very ill and suffered rom uch trauma. Did the CSU bother to give him an honorary degree when he returned and was unable to complete his studies? No.
Erica • Sep 17, 2009 at 5:12 am
To answer you question Crystal City..NO! My grandfather was drafted during WWII and it interrupted his studies. He came back very ill and suffered rom uch trauma. Did the CSU bother to give him an honorary degree when he returned and was unable to complete his studies? No.
Marsh Mellow • Sep 16, 2009 at 2:38 pm
This is such crap. So next let’s line up all of those wrongly imprisoned by the war on terror and honor them with degrees. An honorary degree is indended to be bestowed upon a person who made a proactive contribution to a facet of civil or academic society. Being inconvenienced by a system in the middle of a war is sad, but doesn’t really warrant an honor. Our state assembly (caps non needed) should focus on the ills of the state. How they have time to delve into matters like this is beyond me. A Japanese American who never attended college at CSU Fresno but who won a Purple Heart during an American war or battle is more deserving of such an honor. Simply being interned doesn’t make you ‘honorable’ in any way—-
Marsh Mellow • Sep 16, 2009 at 9:38 pm
This is such crap. So next let’s line up all of those wrongly imprisoned by the war on terror and honor them with degrees. An honorary degree is indended to be bestowed upon a person who made a proactive contribution to a facet of civil or academic society. Being inconvenienced by a system in the middle of a war is sad, but doesn’t really warrant an honor. Our state assembly (caps non needed) should focus on the ills of the state. How they have time to delve into matters like this is beyond me. A Japanese American who never attended college at CSU Fresno but who won a Purple Heart during an American war or battle is more deserving of such an honor. Simply being interned doesn’t make you ‘honorable’ in any way—-
Crystal City • Sep 16, 2009 at 9:53 am
Again, I ask the question will the university issue degrees to those soldiers at CSU who had the collegiate studies interrupted during the war?
Crystal City • Sep 16, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Again, I ask the question will the university issue degrees to those soldiers at CSU who had the collegiate studies interrupted during the war?
Jared Harper • Sep 16, 2009 at 9:41 am
I choose to not bring myself to the level of the recent comment on this thread. Actually you should think and read before you respond. While we may both know that the push was from a Legislative level, the story at hand only focuses on the CSU and people who represent the CSU. If i must hint it, Charles B. Reed says “By issuing honorary degrees, we hope to achieve a small right in the face of such grave wrongs.â€Â
I couldnt agree more. The CSU does not have to focus on this issue, they can vote it down and choose not to bother with it, the same way they chose not to bother with listening to the voice of students.
Again, its a diversion so that people will think “oh how good of those CSU trustees and chancellor to issue honorary degress” the same way you fell for it Mr. joe
Will they issue the same type of attention to those who are alive and need it? NO! Will they issue that attention to the students that have rising costs on thier slate and have to wait longer to graduate? NO! They refuse to issue a small right for such grave wrongs as we speak now what makes you think this is any different. What next down the line…in 20 years they will issue honorary degrees to those who couldnt fulfill it now in order to right their wrongs?
So next time think before you type. And go ahead make a demeaning comment again. It shows how low some people are.
Jared Harper • Sep 16, 2009 at 4:41 pm
I choose to not bring myself to the level of the recent comment on this thread. Actually you should think and read before you respond. While we may both know that the push was from a Legislative level, the story at hand only focuses on the CSU and people who represent the CSU. If i must hint it, Charles B. Reed says “By issuing honorary degrees, we hope to achieve a small right in the face of such grave wrongs.”
I couldnt agree more. The CSU does not have to focus on this issue, they can vote it down and choose not to bother with it, the same way they chose not to bother with listening to the voice of students.
Again, its a diversion so that people will think “oh how good of those CSU trustees and chancellor to issue honorary degress” the same way you fell for it Mr. joe
Will they issue the same type of attention to those who are alive and need it? NO! Will they issue that attention to the students that have rising costs on thier slate and have to wait longer to graduate? NO! They refuse to issue a small right for such grave wrongs as we speak now what makes you think this is any different. What next down the line…in 20 years they will issue honorary degrees to those who couldnt fulfill it now in order to right their wrongs?
So next time think before you type. And go ahead make a demeaning comment again. It shows how low some people are.
Harden Joe • Sep 16, 2009 at 9:10 am
Actually, you half-whit nimrod, its the result of legislative action and not an atttempt to get it off your mind.
Assemblymember Warren T. Furutani (D-South Los Angeles County) announced that Assembly Bill 37, which would grant honorary degrees to all JAs whose college educations were disrupted by the internment, passed through the California Legislature on a vote of 65 to 0, on Monday.
Think before you type, dumbass.
Harden Joe • Sep 16, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Actually, you half-whit nimrod, its the result of legislative action and not an atttempt to get it off your mind.
Assemblymember Warren T. Furutani (D-South Los Angeles County) announced that Assembly Bill 37, which would grant honorary degrees to all JAs whose college educations were disrupted by the internment, passed through the California Legislature on a vote of 65 to 0, on Monday.
Think before you type, dumbass.
Jared Harper • Sep 15, 2009 at 9:01 pm
WHOOPPEEEE ! this is so nonsense. it may be a much deserved thing that should have happened long ago…but its a diversion…..its a way to keep us from thinking how more important it is to go after the CSU trustees for increasing fees and making it so expensive for education. Dont belive the hype, they are doing this to get the public to thing highly of them. Better education NOW! not a cheaper more expensive one later, (after we are dead).
Jared Harper • Sep 16, 2009 at 4:01 am
WHOOPPEEEE ! this is so nonsense. it may be a much deserved thing that should have happened long ago…but its a diversion…..its a way to keep us from thinking how more important it is to go after the CSU trustees for increasing fees and making it so expensive for education. Dont belive the hype, they are doing this to get the public to thing highly of them. Better education NOW! not a cheaper more expensive one later, (after we are dead).
Crystal City • Sep 14, 2009 at 9:00 am
Do you suppose they will also consider honorary degrees for all the soldiers who fought for their country and had their collegiate studies interrupted?
Crystal City • Sep 14, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Do you suppose they will also consider honorary degrees for all the soldiers who fought for their country and had their collegiate studies interrupted?