WWII Ban on Japanese Students
“In view of the present uncertain military status of the southern Indiana geographical zone in which Indiana University is located, the trustees of this University have decided that Japanese students should not be admitted to Indiana University at the present time.” (letter dated June 12, 1942)
In the wake of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were subject to forced relocation and internment. In addition to this and other forms of discrimination enacted against them, Indiana University was one of many institutions that banned the admittance of Japanese American students from 1942-1945. Unfortunately, this meant that at least twelve students: William Suyemoto, Robert Omata, Sumiko Itoi, Richard H. Iwata, Tadashi Ochiai, Richard Doi, and Donald Yamashiro, along with at least five additional unnamed applicants, were denied admission during this period.
In 2020 alumnus Eric Langowski, a descendant of Japanese American internees, and associate professor Ellen Wu wrote a letter to then IU President Michael A. McRobbie, formally urging the university to redress the injustice of the ban. In November of 2020 IU unveiled a memorial, located just outside Wells Library, and a scholarship, named for notable alumnus Masuji Miyakawa.
Read more:
Education Denied: Indiana University’s Japanese American Ban
“Can’t be done–This is war!”: The Admission of Japanese Students During World War II
New scholarship, memorial honors Japanese American students denied admission during World War II
The Slaying of Won-Joon Yoon
On July 4, 1999, incoming Economics graduate student Won-Joon Yoon was senselessly gunned down while walking to services at the Korean United Methodist Church near the IU campus in Bloomington. His murder was part of a spree of hate crimes committed by across Illinois and Indiana, and deeply impacted the IU community. He was also memorialized by the creation of the Won-Joon Yoon Memorial Scholarship, which supports “students who promote tolerance and understanding across racial and religious lines through service, personal commitment, academic achievement and future potential.”
Read more:
Won-Joon Yoon Remembered - Department of Economics
Confronting Racism Today: #stopAAPIhate
Although anti-Asian racism has persisted throughout the course of US history, the Covid-19 pandemic saw a surge of anti-Asian rhetoric and bias. According to a 2023 study by the Pew Research Center:
Unfortunately, IU and Bloomington also saw a similar surge in anti-Asian bias and hate crimes, as illustrated in the below linked articles from the Indiana Daily Student and the Herald-Times. Local student groups and the Asian Culture Center responded to these incidents with demonstrations, educational events, and by providing other kinds of resources for support and solidarity. Reflecting on IU’s AAPI history is an important part of working towards a more inclusive, safer community for Asian, Asian America, and Pacific Islander students.
Read More:
Discrimination Experiences Shape Most Asian Americans’ Lives
Asian Culture Center: Indiana University Bloomington
Hoosier Asian American Power: HAAP
'I'm sure I will experience this again': IU students recount experiences of anti-Asian racism
Trial scheduled for Billie Davis hate crime IU student stabbing