Family in US takes in student from Wuhan; global efforts made to quell wider anxiety

A heartwarming tale about a US host family which offered to take in a Chinese student from Wuhan as he underwent a period of self-isolation has been a welcome antidote to general concerns being documented in the industry about Chinese student anxiety in the wake of the coronavirus fallout.

Yidi arrived in the US at the end of January, just as authorities were realising the true global threat posed by the airborne virus.

He was a student enrolling with UTP High Schools and Beth Drake, chief operating officer at UTP, explained to The PIE News that she made the decision to restrict Yidi – along with Bo, his Chinese roommate – to a period of isolation before joining classes with the rest of their group.

“I had the uncomfortable phone call with the host to ask if she would consider hosting this student when he did come from Wuhan, and she would be technically living with him during an incubation period,” Drake explained.

“She embraced the challenge and has been exceptional.”

The students now have the all clear and have rejoined their group in classes at Saint Anthony’s, where 300 international students are within the school as part of their UTP program.

Drake acknowledged that UTP had worked with Saint Anthony’s and their student body of nearly 3,000 high schools students and their parents.

“We have worked in lockstep with our faculty and administrators to make sure our Chinese students feel welcome and safe,” she related. “Across the entire student body we have worked to inform as best as possible during this rapidly evolving situation.”

The story is set against a backdrop of growing concerns over Asian students fearing they may be victims of negative profiling on school campuses.

As concerns over the novel coronavirus continue to mount, education providers have implemented a range of contingency measures to help discourage such instances of racism and xenophobia.

His Asian Canadian friends had been told to move away or cover their mouths.

In the UK, UKCISA’s chief executive, Anne Marie Graham, confirmed that there had been cases of abuse against Chinese students, with the organisation directing students to use their student advice phone line.

At Arizona State University, which counts more than 3,000 people from China among its student body, ASU president Michael Crow told local media there are concerns about students feeling racially profiled as a result of “uninformed behaviour” after one confirmed case of the virus was confirmed there last month.

In Canada, a Chinese-Canadian student at the University of Toronto told the CBC his Asian Canadian friends had been told to move away or cover their mouths. “[It’s] this idea of ‘yellow peril,’ of this Chinese horde coming to destroy Western civilisation,” the student explained.

Universities Canada has asked its members to “remain mindful” that the risk of infection remains relatively low.

“Universities across the country are collaborating with public health agencies and communicating widely with students, staff and faculty to share the most up-to-date information and health advice… while remaining mindful that the risk associated with the virus remains low for Canada and Canadian travellers,” it said in a statement.

In Ireland, Douglas Proctor, director of UCD Globa l at University College Dublin, told The PIE that with 1,200 students in China via their TNE activity, there is “significant engagement” in the country and they had been working with government agencies and partners.