It wasn't her choice to leave, but after surviving an earthquake, tsunami and threat from the failing nuclear reactor, Ball State did not give her a choice. Octavia Clairmont is leaving Japan, along with three other students studying in the country.
Ball State has asked students to return to Indiana because of concerns for their safety as conditions in the country worsen following the country's most devastating earthquake on record.
Students were asked to make arrangements to leave immediately. Clairmont said, though it was not her wish, there is absolutely nothing she can do about it.
"I did receive an email about returning home and I'm sad that I have to leave, but God has given me peace about it," she said. "I know I'll come back to Japan. I believe this is when He wants me to come back. If it wasn't, then He would have made a way for me to stay. So I'm OK."
Last week, Scott Combs, a Ball State student currently studying in Japan, told the Daily News he had no interest in leaving the country.
"No, I plan to continue my studies as well as my adventures over here in Japan," he said.
Combs is located in the southern part of Japan, far away from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant.
However, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning on March 18. Now there is a concern about radioactive contamination reaching greater distances from the stricken nuclear power plant in Dai-Ichi and the threat of additional strong earthquakes, according to an email sent by Marilyn Buck, associate provost and dean of the University College.
"Ball State University is temporarily cancelling the Japan portion of our exchange agreement and is requiring that you return to Ball State to continue your studies," the email said. "We are asking you to make immediate plans to leave Japan."
A university committee is writing a policy to handle situations like this, a school spokesman said. It would require international programs to be suspended in areas that are subject to a formal travel warning from the State Department.
Although students were able to send a written statement to the university if they were going to choose to stay, the email stated they would need to understand that if they stay, their schedule for Spring Semester 2011 would be dropped and there could be financial aid issues they could incur as a result and with which the university would not be able to assist them.
The Associated Press reported that officials are still struggling to stabilize the nuclear plant, which on Wednesday belched black smoke from Unit 3 and forced the evacuation of workers, further delaying attempts to make needed repairs. The plant, 140 miles north of Tokyo, has been leaking radiation since the quake and tsunami knocked out its crucial cooling systems.
With the risk of danger, many students are still eager to stay and learn, but this time they will just have to finish the semester back at Ball State.
Copy of email from Ball State student Scott Combs, who is studying in Japan
Dear Scott,
As your health and safety is our major concern, we have been monitoring the conditions in Japan on a daily basis. Last week you received an email from Ball State University highly recommending that you leave Japan due to the conditions caused by the earthquake on March 11, 2011. At the time of our email communication to you the U.S. State Department had issued a travel advisory. On March 18, 2011, the travel advisory was raised to a TRAVEL WARNING and was further updated by the State Department on March 21, 2011.
Given the State Department Travel Warning for the entire country of Japan, the uncertainty related to radioactive materials reaching greater distances from the stricken nuclear power plant in Fukushima Dai-Ichi, the threat of additional strong earthquakes and aftershocks and tsunamis, and other severe difficulties resulting from the disaster, Ball State University is temporarily cancelling the Japan portion of our exchange agreement and is requiring that you return to Ball State to continue your studies. We are asking you to make immediate plans to leave Japan.
We have made arrangements ... to assist you with travel arrangements if needed. The University will help you with travel expenses related to your return to the campus. We recognize that change fees may be imposed due to changing your original flight arrangements. Please keep any receipts for your travel expenses to be submitted upon your return.
Additional courses will be available for you to take upon your return so your progress toward graduation will not be impeded. Arrangements for those courses will be made upon your return. In addition, communication has been made with your Japanese institution so you will not incur any financial obligations for leaving Japan earlier than planned. If you have financial aid or a scholarship, we have had conversations with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid regarding this situation. We will be able to make the necessary adjustments so you will not be penalized for returning to campus at this time.
Upon your return to campus, please meet immediately with Jim Coffin in the Rinker Center for International Programs and he and his staff will help you with all the necessary arrangements.
If you choose to remain in Japan, you must send a written statement that you are going to stay. Within the statement indicate that it is your choice to remain in Japan and that you understand the risks that you are taking. Also be aware that if you stay, your schedule for spring semester 2011 will be dropped and there may be financial aid issues that you could incur as a result and for which we will not be able to assist you with if you choose to stay. Ball State will not be under any obligation to assist you with expenses to return if you choose not to leave at this time.
We send our sympathies and concern for Japan and everyone who is in the country and regret that we must call for your return at this time. The country and its people have suffered greatly and will continue to do so for some time from this horrible natural disaster. We understand that you have probably developed a closeness to the people given your time in Japan, but our primary concern in taking this action is for your health and safety. This is why we are temporarily cancelling the program and requiring you to leave Japan.
We look forward to seeing you upon your return.
Sincerely,
Marilyn M. Buck
Associate Provost and Dean, University College
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