The APU community was deeply saddened to learn that Dr. Satya Bhushan Verma, Visiting Professor of the Ritsumeikan Center for Asia Pacific Studies, passed away following a heart attack at around 9:00 a.m. (local time) on Thursday, January 13, 2005. Dr. Verma had been the principal figure in APU's student recruitment activities in India since the opening of the university.

A telegram of condolence to has been sent to the bereaved in the names of the following Ritsumeikan executives: Monte CASSIM, APU President; SAKAMOTO Kazuichi, Ritsumeikan Trust Vice Chancellor and Vice President of Ritsumeikan University (also former APU President); JIDO Yuji, Ritsumeikan Trustee responsible for Academic Affairs (also former APU Vice President).