By 
By: CHRISTINA CLARK
Staff Writer
Clark66@umail.iu.edu
Students at IU South Bend may recognize the name Yatish J. Joshi as one half of the names that grace a performance hall in Northside Hall. The Louise E. Addicott and Yatish J. Joshi Performance Hall bears the name of the couple who donated $1.2 million from the foundation they started in honor of their daughter, the Georgina Joshi Foundation.
Now, students may also recognize it from their commute to campus, when they might see billboards outlining some of Joshi’s platform as a candidate in the Democratic primary election to represent Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District.
Joshi has been in the South Bend community for over 40 years. He and his late wife, Louise, owned two businesses in the area, GTA Containers and Dearborn Crane. Joshi’s daughter attended Adams High School, across the street from campus.
“Georgina performed at IU South Bend while a student at Adams High School, as well as took higher-level classes in math and science,” Joshi said of his daughter.
She would go on to complete her bachelor’s degree at the Royal College of Music in London, but returned for a master’s degree to IU Bloomington.
“The opportunities and relationships Georgina developed with IU faculty provided her with the nurturing and mentoring that allowed her to thrive and prosper as an artist,” he said.
The family, including Georgina’s two brothers, would attend youth symphony concerts and performances IUSB piano students. Georgina was initially inspired to become a professional musician by attending those performances, according to a South Bend Tribune story by Howard Dukes from 2014.
In his run to represent Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, Joshi said he looks to fight for the American dream.
“We want this community to be its best,” he said.
Joshi was disappointed with the 2016 election, in both the “lies and deceit of the GOP as well as the Democrats’ failure to stand up and fight back,” he said.
Joshi said he wants more people to become involved in the democratic process.
“We must work to make our communities and country great again. We must exercise our right to vote. We must also engage in dialogue with people who disagree with us,” he said.
Joshi said he wants to compromise to get the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people.
He also encourages students to become involved in politics, seeking elected office at local, regional, state, and national levels.
“They will bring the new ideas and new energy we need to confront our most daunting challenges,” he said.
Joshi said he believes in holistic education, meaning “arts, music, languages and other disciplines to develop well-rounded people as well as provide the skills and training to help students develop their unique gifts and talents,” according to Joshi, as well as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, vocational, and other training.
Joshi sees free education from preschool through college/university level “without prejudice with regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, and religion” as very important,” he said. “We need to commit to making this important investment in America for the benefit of all—to prepare students to be engaged citizens, contribute to a diverse global economy, become self-sufficient, and fulfill their human potential.”
With his work with the community and with IU South Bend on the Performance Hall, Joshi has come to foster an “excellent relationship with the Dean and Chancellor,” at the university, he said. “I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to achieve the American dream. Everyone deserves a fair chance at happiness, success and fulfillment.”
Those interested in hearing more from Yatish Joshi can attend a “Meet the Candidates” forum at IU South Bend in the Education and Arts Building, in Room 1011 on February 27 from 6-7:30 p.m. All three democratic congressional candidates, Pat Hackett, Mel Hall, and Yatish Joshi, have confirmed their attendance, according to WVPE.org.
IU South Bend will host a Democratic Primary Debate for Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District on March 27, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in room 1011 in the Education and Arts Building, as well as another April 10, 2018 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the IU Elkhart Center.
