UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 18, Page 2
February 2, 1995
UD student's family affected

     The Kobe earthquake in Japan had a profound effect on a UD
student on the Newark campus.
     Yumiko Takagi, a senior anthropology major from Kobe, lost her
grandparents in the earthquake, and her family's home was badly
damaged. The cost of rebuilding their home means her parents cannot
pay for Tagaki's last two semesters at the University.
     According to Bruce Walker, associate dean of admissions and
financial aid, it was decided-after a review of Tagaki's academic
record and the extraordinary conditions surrounding her hardship-to
provide an emergency grant that will cover tuition for her final
semesters at Delaware.
     Mark Miller, an assistant professor of languages and literatures
in Kobe during the earthquake directing a Winter Session study group,
talked on his return of the kindnesses and concern demonstrated to the
UD group by residents of the town, who brought food to the visiting UD
group in the hours immediately after the tragedy.
     "This is an extremely unusual circumstance," Walker said. "Ms.
Tagaki is an excellent student. This emergency grant should help her
complete her degree. We feel good about investing in her future.
     "It's also an opportunity for the University of Delaware to repay
the kindnesses shown by residents of Kobe to Prof. Miller and our
students immediately after the earthquake," Walker said.
     After learning that she would receive emergency assistance from
the University, Takagi said, "I am very pleased and grateful that I
will be able to complete my studies at the University of Delaware.
This assistance is very helpful during this extremely difficult time
for me and my family."