Latest news with #Jiang
News18
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
As Chinese Harvard Student Says ‘Humanity Rises, Falls As One'. Two Men Fight In Background
Last Updated: In her speech, Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang talked about how international students help build a world connected through diversity and shared progress. Yurong 'Luanna" Jiang, the first Chinese woman chosen as Harvard's student speaker, caught the world's attention with her emotional graduation speech. She spoke about the importance of 'shared humanity" and called for global unity. Her message struck a chord, especially amid growing tensions around international students from China following the Trump administration's tough visa policies. After delivering her speech, Jiang gave an interview to the Associated Press (AP) where she expressed her thoughts more deeply. 'The message itself, if I have to put it into one sentence, will be that humanity rises and falls as one. We are living in a very difficult time. There are a lot of divisions in terms of ideas, ethnicities, and identities. This is a time where we can use a little bit more moral imagination and imagine ourselves being connected with one another," Jiang told AP. But what happened during that interview unexpectedly stole the show. While Jiang was giving her interview, two men were seen fighting in the background. Just as she said, 'Humanity rises and falls as one," the men behind her suddenly fell to the ground fighting. After they got up, they continued their argument. The video clip of this strange scene sparked interest across social media with many seeing it as a powerful metaphor for the divisions Jiang spoke about. One user sharing the video on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, 'During an interview with the 25-year-old Chinese student who was Harvard's valedictorian, two old American men were fighting behind her – it was like some kind of metaphor. You cannot make satirical sitcoms in the US these days because real life can look like this." In the comments, social media users shared their reactions to the unexpected fight happening during such a serious interview. One user commented, 'Priceless!! It's just like an old Charlie Chaplin movie!!!" Another added, 'That hardcut from the wrestling match to the clapping has me dead." 'Hilarious. She said 'humanity rises and falls as one' and down the guys behind her went…" while another added, 'Oh boy, this is so well timed," someone else said. An individual called it 'simultaneously hilarious and depressing." Other remarks included, 'My first belly laugh of the day," 'Absolute cinema" and 'America in a nutshell." In her speech, Jiang talked about how international students help build a world connected through diversity and shared progress. But she warned that this connected world was now being replaced by fear, division and conflict. 'Humanity rises and falls as one. But today … we're starting to believe that people who think differently, vote differently, or pray differently – whether they're across the ocean or sitting right next to us – are not just wrong. We mistakenly see them as evil. But it doesn't have to be this way," she said. 'If we still believe in a shared future, let us not forget: those we label as enemies – they, too, are human. In seeing their humanity, we find our own. In the end, we don't rise by proving each other wrong. We rise by refusing to let one another go. We are bound by something deeper than belief: our shared humanity," she added. Even though Jiang didn't mention the Trump administration's immigration policies in her speech, she told AP that the recent threats to arrest or send international students back home have made her and her classmates feel worried and unsure about their future in the US. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Harvard has over 10,000 international students right now. That's about 30% of all students with roughly 2,000 coming from China. This week, the Trump administration asked government agencies to cancel contracts worth around $100 million with Harvard. Before that, it had already stopped more than $2.6 billion in research funding, tried to block Harvard from accepting international students and even threatened to take away the university's tax-exempt status. The government also widened its efforts by pausing visa applications worldwide and warning that thousands of Chinese students could lose their US visas. Watch CNN-News18 here. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Harvard student viral news Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: June 02, 2025, 15:16 IST News viral As Chinese Harvard Student Says 'Humanity Rises, Falls As One'. Two Men Fight In Background
India Today
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
The irony. As Harvard graduate speaks about unity, a brawl in the background
A Harvard graduate was delivering a message on compassion and unity when the moment became rather chaotic - not because of her words but two men who began fighting just behind her during her a striking twist of irony, Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang was speaking about empathy during her interview with The Associated Press when the scuffle broke out in the video of the moment has now gone viral on social media, with several users saying, 'You cannot make satirical sitcoms in the US these days because real life can look like this.' Filmed in what appeared to be an open-air restaurant, the video showed two men shoving each other. One was knocked to the ground before both men got up and walked away.'The message itself, if I have to put it into one sentence, will be humanity rises and falls as one. We are living in a very difficult time. There's a lot of divisions in terms of ideas, ethnicities, identities. This is a time where we can use a little bit more moral imagination and imagine ourselves being connected with one another,' Jiang told The Associated Press, unaware of the brawl unfolding behind an interview with the 25-year-old Chinese student who was Harvard's valedictorian, two old American men were fighting behind her - it was like some kind of cannot make satirical sitcoms in the US these days because real life can look like this. ShanghaiPanda (@thinking_panda) June 1, 2025advertisementYurong 'Luanna' Jiang is the first Chinese woman who has been selected as the student speaker at a Harvard graduation ceremony. Her graduation speech at Harvard University, calling for shared humanity and global unity, had gone viral.
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Chinese student struck a chord emphasizing humanity during Harvard commencement speech
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) -- A day after her emotional speech at Harvard University's commencement, Yurong "Luanna" Jiang kept running into classmates who praised her message that people should see everyone's common humanity rather than demonize others for their differences. "We're starting to believe those who think differently, vote differently or pray differently -- whether they're across the ocean or sitting right next to us -- are not just wrong. We mistakenly see them as evil. But it doesn't have to be this way," she said in her address, which drew wide applause. "The message itself, if I have to put it into one sentence, will be humanity rises and falls as one," Jiang told The Associated Press on Friday. "We are living in a very difficult time. There's a lot of divisions in terms of ideas, ethnicities, identities. This is a time where we can use a little bit more moral imagination and imagine ourselves being connected with one another." The 25-year-old Jiang's speech never directly mentioned the Trump administration nor its multi-pronged attack on the nation's oldest and richest university. But she said the turmoil beyond their campus and its impact on her classmates was on her mind as she delivered her speech. "Students can be very emotionally charged because they care deeply about a lot of issues," said Jiang, who comes from China and graduated with a masters degree in public administration in international development. "When you are emotionally charged and activated, it's very easy to demonize another person." She said the relentless attacks from the Trump administration on the school's funding and threats to detain and deport people studying in the U.S. on student visas have left her unsettled, adding huge uncertainty to her future plans. "In terms of the plan going forward, I would say everything is up in the air at this point," Jiang said, who had hoped to remain in the United States for a few years but now is open to working in international development overseas. "At this point, it's difficult to say what will happen." This week, the Trump administration asked federal agencies to cancel about $100 million in contracts with the university. The government already canceled more than $2.6 billion in federal research grants, moved to cut off Harvard's enrollment of international students and threatened its tax-exempt status. Then it widened the pressure campaign, suspending visa applications worldwide and threatening to deny U.S. visas to thousands of Chinese students nationwide. These actions resonate with Jiang and her classmates -- about 30% of Harvard's students are international, and China has among the highest numbers. "The anxiety is real," said Jiang, who knows two international students from China who are weighing whether to travel for work in Kenya and Rwanda. "Because of the uncertainty of their visas, they are facing a very tricky situation," she said. "They can either go abroad, go to Kenya and Rwanda to do their internship and work on poverty alleviation and public health but risking not being able to make it back to campus safely. Or they can stay on campus and do their internships remote." "It's pretty heartbreaking," she continued"They wanted to help humanity and, to see them entangled in politics they didn't choose, is hard." Jiang, who went to high school in the United Kingdom and earned her undergraduate degree at Duke University, said there should be more, not fewer, academic exchanges between China and the United States. "Humanity is facing a lot of crisis," she said. "There are conflicts. There is climate. There are a lot things that not only one country can tackle. China and the U.S. are the two most powerful economies or countries in the world. They have to work with each other to be able to combat the problems or the issues that affect every single human being." Jiang also defended the importance of international students at Harvard, recalling how 60% of the students stood up at the Kennedy School of Government commencement when the dean, Jeremy Weinstein, asked how many came from outside the United States. Then he asked if they had learned something from their international classmates, and most everyone stood. "A lot of us clapped and cheered. A lot of us were in tears," she said, as Weinstein told them to "look around, this is your school." Without international students, it would be a challenge for Harvard to achieve its mission, Jiang said. Campus culture depends on its globally diverse student body, studying and hanging out together. "Harvard wants its students to go and change the world and you can't change the world without understanding the world," she said. "You can't understand the world without truly having a personal connection with people from all sorts of countries."
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Chinese student struck a chord emphasizing humanity during Harvard commencement speech
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A day after her emotional speech at Harvard University's commencement, Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang kept running into classmates who praised her message that people should see everyone's common humanity rather than demonize others for their differences. 'We're starting to believe those who think differently, vote differently or pray differently — whether they're across the ocean or sitting right next to us — are not just wrong. We mistakenly see them as evil. But it doesn't have to be this way,' she said in her address, which drew wide applause. 'The message itself, if I have to put it into one sentence, will be humanity rises and falls as one,' Jiang told The Associated Press on Friday. 'We are living in a very difficult time. There's a lot of divisions in terms of ideas, ethnicities, identities. This is a time where we can use a little bit more moral imagination and imagine ourselves being connected with one another.' The 25-year-old Jiang's speech never directly mentioned the Trump administration nor its multi-pronged attack on the nation's oldest and richest university. But she said the turmoil beyond their campus and its impact on her classmates was on her mind as she delivered her speech. 'Students can be very emotionally charged because they care deeply about a lot of issues,' said Jiang, who comes from China and graduated with a masters degree in public administration in international development. 'When you are emotionally charged and activated, it's very easy to demonize another person.' She said the relentless attacks from the Trump administration on the school's funding and threats to detain and deport people studying in the U.S. on student visas have left her unsettled, adding huge uncertainty to her future plans. 'In terms of the plan going forward, I would say everything is up in the air at this point,' Jiang said, who had hoped to remain in the United States for a few years but now is open to working in international development overseas. 'At this point, it's difficult to say what will happen.' This week, the Trump administration asked federal agencies to cancel about $100 million in contracts with the university. The government already canceled more than $2.6 billion in federal research grants, moved to cut off Harvard's enrollment of international students and threatened its tax-exempt status. Then it widened the pressure campaign, suspending visa applications worldwide and threatening to deny U.S. visas to thousands of Chinese students nationwide . These actions resonate with Jiang and her classmates — about 30% of Harvard's students are international, and China has among the highest numbers. 'The anxiety is real,' said Jiang, who knows two international students from China who are weighing whether to travel for work in Kenya and Rwanda. 'Because of the uncertainty of their visas, they are facing a very tricky situation,' she said. 'They can either go abroad, go to Kenya and Rwanda to do their internship and work on poverty alleviation and public health but risking not being able to make it back to campus safely. Or they can stay on campus and do their internships remote.' 'It's pretty heartbreaking,' she continued'They wanted to help humanity and, to see them entangled in politics they didn't choose, is hard.' Jiang, who went to high school in the United Kingdom and earned her undergraduate degree at Duke University, said there should be more, not fewer, academic exchanges between China and the United States. 'Humanity is facing a lot of crisis,' she said. 'There are conflicts. There is climate. There are a lot things that not only one country can tackle. China and the U.S. are the two most powerful economies or countries in the world. They have to work with each other to be able to combat the problems or the issues that affect every single human being.' Jiang also defended the importance of international students at Harvard, recalling how 60% of the students stood up at the Kennedy School of Government commencement when the dean, Jeremy Weinstein, asked how many came from outside the United States. Then he asked if they had learned something from their international classmates, and most everyone stood. 'A lot of us clapped and cheered. A lot of us were in tears,' she said, as Weinstein told them to 'look around, this is your school.' Without international students, it would be a challenge for Harvard to achieve its mission, Jiang said. Campus culture depends on its globally diverse student body, studying and hanging out together. 'Harvard wants its students to go and change the world and you can't change the world without understanding the world,' she said. 'You can't understand the world without truly having a personal connection with people from all sorts of countries.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chinese student struck a chord emphasizing humanity during Harvard commencement speech
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A day after her emotional speech at Harvard University's commencement, Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang kept running into classmates who praised her message that people should see everyone's common humanity rather than demonize others for their differences. 'We're starting to believe those who think differently, vote differently or pray differently — whether they're across the ocean or sitting right next to us — are not just wrong. We mistakenly see them as evil. But it doesn't have to be this way,' she said in her address, which drew wide applause. 'The message itself, if I have to put it into one sentence, will be humanity rises and falls as one,' Jiang told The Associated Press on Friday. 'We are living in a very difficult time. There's a lot of divisions in terms of ideas, ethnicities, identities. This is a time where we can use a little bit more moral imagination and imagine ourselves being connected with one another.' The 25-year-old Jiang's speech never directly mentioned the Trump administration nor its multi-pronged attack on the nation's oldest and richest university. But she said the turmoil beyond their campus and its impact on her classmates was on her mind as she delivered her speech. 'Students can be very emotionally charged because they care deeply about a lot of issues,' said Jiang, who comes from China and graduated with a masters degree in public administration in international development. 'When you are emotionally charged and activated, it's very easy to demonize another person." She said the relentless attacks from the Trump administration on the school's funding and threats to detain and deport people studying in the U.S. on student visas have left her unsettled, adding huge uncertainty to her future plans. 'In terms of the plan going forward, I would say everything is up in the air at this point,' Jiang said, who had hoped to remain in the United States for a few years but now is open to working in international development overseas. 'At this point, it's difficult to say what will happen." This week, the Trump administration asked federal agencies to cancel about $100 million in contracts with the university. The government already canceled more than $2.6 billion in federal research grants, moved to cut off Harvard's enrollment of international students and threatened its tax-exempt status. Then it widened the pressure campaign, suspending visa applications worldwide and threatening to deny U.S. visas to thousands of Chinese students nationwide. These actions resonate with Jiang and her classmates — about 30% of Harvard's students are international, and China has among the highest numbers. 'The anxiety is real,' said Jiang, who knows two international students from China who are weighing whether to travel for work in Kenya and Rwanda. 'Because of the uncertainty of their visas, they are facing a very tricky situation,' she said. 'They can either go abroad, go to Kenya and Rwanda to do their internship and work on poverty alleviation and public health but risking not being able to make it back to campus safely. Or they can stay on campus and do their internships remote." 'It's pretty heartbreaking," she continued'They wanted to help humanity and, to see them entangled in politics they didn't choose, is hard." Jiang, who went to high school in the United Kingdom and earned her undergraduate degree at Duke University, said there should be more, not fewer, academic exchanges between China and the United States. 'Humanity is facing a lot of crisis,' she said. 'There are conflicts. There is climate. There are a lot things that not only one country can tackle. China and the U.S. are the two most powerful economies or countries in the world. They have to work with each other to be able to combat the problems or the issues that affect every single human being.' Jiang also defended the importance of international students at Harvard, recalling how 60% of the students stood up at the Kennedy School of Government commencement when the dean, Jeremy Weinstein, asked how many came from outside the United States. Then he asked if they had learned something from their international classmates, and most everyone stood. 'A lot of us clapped and cheered. A lot of us were in tears,' she said, as Weinstein told them to 'look around, this is your school.' Without international students, it would be a challenge for Harvard to achieve its mission, Jiang said. Campus culture depends on its globally diverse student body, studying and hanging out together. 'Harvard wants its students to go and change the world and you can't change the world without understanding the world,' she said. 'You can't understand the world without truly having a personal connection with people from all sorts of countries."
