| International Relations Takes a Bite Out of PBA Programming
Dear readers of the What's New,
The 2025-2026 school year was set to begin in an exciting way. After a four-year near-blackout of our Ryukoku Sogo Gakuen Study Abroad Program (RSG SAP) due to COVID-19 and the weak yen – in its heyday the RSG SAP brought 20 Japanese high school students from member schools of the Ryukoku Sogo Gakuen, the federation of Shin Buddhist schools of which PBA is the sole non-Japanese member – PBA was set to welcome 14 exchange students to spend the first six weeks of the 25-26 school year at PBA.
But when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed all embassy and consulate offices to halt scheduling new visa interviews pending guidance for expanded vetting of the social media accounts of prospective international students in early June, we feared PBA’s exchange program goose was cooked.
| We were right. The weeks-long delay in re-opening offices for interviews all but killed the program for this year. PBA is rolling with the punches – we have offered our RSG cousins the opportunity for late fall/early winter programs – but we doubt many Japanese students will be able to take advantage of the program, as our usual first six weeks schedule takes place during the Japanese students’ summer holidays. More challenging, perhaps, is the heightened scrutiny of social media vetting to take place. International student visa applicants must | | now make all their social media accounts public. I’m not sure how that will go over with prospective international students, but I can easily imagine how American high school students would respond if I called them to my office and told them they needed to make all their social media accounts public for my review.
I think it might be a good time to post a letter to the U.S. State Department.
One upside of this year’s political excitement is the increased civic engagement I see from our teens. They may not always know how to respond to things, but they do pay attention. | | 
| Earlier this summer, I was made aware of a parent concerned that his PBA daughter had written an email to whitehouse.gov challenging our president to a gymnastics contest, the winner empowered to determine tax policy for the nation. The student’s father was understandably concerned his daughter’s gambit could bring trouble, but I thought the gauntlet a brilliant stratagem.
The same student was chided by peers the following week for claiming that an effective way to take on the ICE immigration raids was girl teen glitz and glamor sass. “Not realistic,” | her classmates claimed.
Perhaps not, I will acknowledge, but I’ve been stopped in my tracks more than once by girl teen glitz and glamor sass. And anyway, who says we can’t leaven our urgent acts of civil disobedience with sharp wit.
Don’t get me wrong. My student was deadly serious about the gymnastics challenge. I don’t see why it shouldn’t be taken seriously. Our dear leader recently announced he will schedule an MMA competition at the White House. Perhaps he would enjoy witnessing or participating in a few rounds of competitive tumbling.
Better we question our dearth of courage in these trying times. I was pleased to receive photos from some of you participating in the No Kings rallies. Now that’s doing something.
But how do we plan to carry on the struggle? They just signed the Big Beautiful Bill. It’s brought back memories for me of the times when my mom went to apply for food stamps at the unemployment office, what seemed like hours of waiting for the appointment, the disinterested, routinized questions and answers as mother and officer worked on the form, my confusion about why the application process upset her.
| That’s the point of what will be the new requirements, of course, not overly dissimilar from what will be the process of achieving an international student visa: discourage participation.
I do not believe it is appropriate for me to express my political leanings regularly. I feel that it’s my job to guide my students to determining their political leanings, and from there, to learn and practice how to express those ideas ethically and persuasively. Too much of me can get in the way of that. | | But I will express disappointment that my government has elected to make the first experience of prospective guests to our country one of dominion. Whereas previously, international students might have looked forward to the opportunity of liberty in the United States – freedom of dress, freedom of expression, the home of the brave one that can tolerate the plenitude of countless ideas in contest with each other, improved by their jostling – the first message we transmit instead to prospective guests is that they will defer and should not expect to enjoy the same freedoms while in our house the citizens enjoy.
All is not lost. We will find a way to bring the RSG Study Abroad Program back. The simplest thing to do will be to start the application process months earlier and hope that Japanese high school students are not as loathe to make public their social media accounts as I expect American high school students are. The opportunity to study in the U.S. is a powerful motivator – speaking of girl teen glitter, more than one Japanese exchange student has told me what she enjoyed most about studying at PBA was our free dress policy. That and our shave ice.
Meanwhile, I do not believe the White House accepted my student’s gymnastics challenge. It’s just as well. She routinely introduces me to newcomers as “the best yoga teacher in the whole world,” to which I respond, “more like the best-looking yoga teacher in the world.” My point being that, while I’m certain she would easily defeat any cabinet officer or elected White House official in a round-by-round competition were it judged fairly, I doubt the competition would be anything but fair.
We don’t do fair in America anymore. We dominate with greatness. Greatness is better than freedom, the thinking goes.
Still, I very much enjoy the image of my PBA student at the tail end of a tumbling run on the White House lawn with her arms in the air, floating, nearly, off the ground, with a twinkle in her eye as our nation’s cabinet chairs looked enviously on.
Thank you for reading my small protest. Now as for protest, let me express my great excitement to share with you a zine publication that was the culmination of a fine arts summer school class led by PBA Advancement Director and an excellent artist in her own right Megan Lee. She was joined in the classroom by guest art teacher Mina Huynh, who, together with the students, created a zine titled if you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.
The zine, as you will see, presents student and teacher perspectives on a variety of social justice issues relevant to our community. The zine speaks to issues as diverse as gentrification, the trans rights debate, healthcare, and immigration, among others. The students were encouraged to participate in the great human tradition of self-publishing, joining theologians and philosophers like Martin Luther and Thomas Paine, punk artists and revolutionaries, and to do it in a language blending text, image, bricolage.
I couldn’t be prouder of the students and teachers at my school for this summer school effort, and I hope you will thrill to read the digital edition of the zine also and join me in paying attention to the thoughts, hopes and aspirations of the young students at Pacific Buddhist Academy. |
Warmly,
Josh Hernandez Morse
Head of School
| Congratulations Otake Sensei! | | 
| PBA congratulates Japanese Teacher and Athletic Director Loren Otake for being featured as one of "three veteran educators who have made significant contribution to their schools"! We couldn't agree more, Otake Sensei is our rock! | PBA welcomed graduates back to campus for its 3rd annual Alumni BBQ on Saturday, bringing together alumni, faculty, and friends. Teachers Mrs. Viloria, Mr. Josh, Mr. Zach, Dr. Ben, and former art teacher Mr. Takazono joined the festivities, making the gathering feel like a true homecoming. “The Alumni BBQ gives me the opportunity to see what’s new at PBA” said James Robinson ’24. “I had a great time flipping through the new yearbook, senior projects, and student newspapers. It reminded me how special this community continues to be.” Beyond reconnecting with friends, the BBQ also sparked fresh interest in what’s happening on campus. After seeing recent photos from the school’s facility rental program, several alumni were inspired to ask about hosting their own events at PBA, showing how meaningful it is for graduates to see the school thriving and evolving. | A highlight of the evening was the introduction of PBA’s new Alumni Committee. The group includes Sheldon Konno from the Class of 2007, Zachary Agcaoili from 2014, Chris Date from 2007, Kaden Ishiara from 2021, and Megan Viloria from 2014. Together, they’ll work to strengthen connections among alumni and create meaningful ways for graduates to stay involved, including through events like Taiko Festival and Lighting Our Way. The program included a heartwarming announcement about the launch of a new Alumni Scholarship. | 
| Funds donated by alumni will go toward supporting a current student who plans to continue their journey at PBA. It’s a collective effort to give back and invest in the next generation of peacebuilders. “I’m very excited alumni leaders proposed the Alumni Scholarship,” said Head of School Mr. Josh. “It is inspiring they want to help other young people benefit from the educational environment of PBA they remember so fondly. We look forward to their continuing success, and thank you, PBA alumni!” With renewed connections, exciting initiatives, and a growing alumni network, this year’s Alumni BBQ reunited the PBA Sangha in a celebration of how far PBA has come, reflecting the bright future that lies ahead. | | OFFICE HOURS
9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.
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