Chiaki Ota (F'07, L'13) introduces Dean of Students Mitch Bailin at the April 7 tree-planting ceremony.

On April 7, members of Japan Relief Action Network, a student organization formed to support victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, led the Law Center in an interfaith service and the planting of a cherry tree on the Tower Green. The network has already raised more than $4,800 for the victims.

“It’s a sunny spring day, and as we each go about our work and our studies it can be a little too easy to forget the unfathomable suffering Japan has endured and continues to endure,” said Dean of Students Mitch Bailin. “I hope [this tree] will serve as a lasting symbol of our strong commitment to and solidarity with the people of Japan.”

The service was conducted by Catholic chaplains Sister Dorinda Young and Father Alexei Michalenko, Jewish chaplain Michael Goldman (L’69), Ed Mitchell (L’12) of the Muslim Law Student Alliance, Washington-area Shinto practitioner Shiro Shintaku, and Reverend Kaz Nakata of the Ekoji Buddhist Temple in Fairfax. Student participants included Doug MacLean (L’12), the lead organizer of Japan Relief Action Network, Chiaki Ota (F’07, L’13), Eiji Yanagawa (LL.M.’11), Akiko Utsumi (LL.M.’11) and Saeko Obu (LL.M.’11).

April 18, 2011