A day after the Berkeley tragedy that claimed the lives of six Irish students, an article appeared on The New York Times covering the issue, as in thousands of other media outlets across the world.
However, on this occassion, the usually well-respected newspaper has used the article to resurrect old and negative views on the J1 visa scheme for students, going as far as saying that such scheme has become “a source of embarrassment for Ireland.”
The article brings up past issues of students causing damage to property during drunken partying, noise pollution, and other issues affecting residents.
A paragraph on the article says “…the work-visa program that allowed for the exchanges has in recent years become not just a source of aspiration, but also a source of embarrassment for Ireland, marked by a series of high-profile episodes involving drunken partying and the wrecking of apartments in places like San Francisco and Santa Barbara.”
There has been a general negative backlash about the suggestions made by such article, and here junior minister Aodhan Ó Ríordáin has gone on record to say that the report is “a disgrace” and is asking the newspaper to apologise.
Irish flags are flying at half mast today as a sign of respect for the victims of the tragedy, and it is understood that the Government is considering dispatching a jet to repatriate the bodies of the deceased students.