Chinese students at UC San Diego opposed the Dalai Lama speaking at commencement.
The Dalai Lama speaks to the crowd at the start of a press conference at the University of California-San Diego, June 16,2017. The Dalai Lama gave a speech titled “Embracing the Beauty of Diversity in Our World.” He is in San Diego to deliver a commencement speech to the university graduates on June 17,2017. (Photo: Bill Wechter, AFP/Getty Images)
This year, the trend of college students protesting against speakers they find to be offensive or oppressive has led to the cancellation of speeches by such figures as alt-right writer Milo Yiannopoulos and pundit Ann Coulter. But even when universities select figures renowned for their dedication to peace, their choices are not exempt from scrutiny.
The 14th Dalai Lama — a 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the spiritual leader of Tibet — is the latest speaker to drive controversy and protest on a college campus. He was invited by the University of California-San Diego to deliver the keynote at this year’s commencement. But not all students have celebrated his visit.
With the announcement of the Dalai Lama’s speech came opposition by many Chinese students, who say he stands for divisiveness with the goal of achieving Tibetan separatism from China. (Many Tibetans view China as an oppressor keeping them from expressing their culture and religion.)
There are about 4,600 international students from China at UCSD, with China sending the most students of any foreign country.
One campus organization, the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) , has been outspoken about its opposition to the Dalai Lama’s presence on campus. In statements made to its WeChat page, the CSSA said it would “resist the university’s unreasonable behavior.”
Indeed, the Dalai Lama’s two talks at UCSD — in a public forum Friday, then at commencement exercises Saturday — focused on themes of diversity and compassion.
«Embracing the Beauty of Diversity in Our World» @DalaiLama #UCSD pic.twitter.com/F4PI7FGuHS
— Diana R Mendioléa (@DianaRoMen) June 17,2017
Thank you @DalaiLama for more of your kind words of wisdom today! #UCSD2017 #tritongrads #WithCompassion #GlobalizingCompassion pic.twitter.com/A6AWUdRNyg
— UC San Diego (@UCSanDiego) June 17,2017
But the university held fast to the position that the Dalai Lama is a figure who represents peace and “global responsibility and service to humanity.”
“These are the ideals we aim to convey and instill in our students and graduates at UC San Diego, ” university spokesperson Christine Clark wrote in an email to USA TODAY College. “Our focus and mission, including climate science and public good, and the messages by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama are aligned.”
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at UCSD speaking on the importance of embracing diversity. pic.twitter.com/zzb4Ja9b4h
— Andrea Lopez V. (@Andrea_LpV) June 16,2017
It’s not the first time the Dalai Lama has been protested by college students. In 2008 Chinese students at the University of Washington protested his visit to Seattle, expressing beliefs that the Dalai Lama himself was behind violence in Tibet.
This time around, Chinese students have used some of the same rhetoric as the Chinese government to oppose the Dalai Lama. The CSSA has ties with the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles to promote “news and messages from the government to our members.”
Not all Chinese students identify with the opposition, however. Jesse Zhou, a Chinese senior graduating from UCSD on Saturday, says he thinks the decision to host the Dalai Lama is a good one, but understands the concerns of some students.
“It’s a bit of a slap to the face to the international students who paid four to five years of tuition money, ” Zhou wrote in a message to USA TODAY College.
On May 30, the CSSA held a demonstration on Library Walk — an area at the center of campus and a free-speech zone — with signs explaining their opposition to the speaker.
A demonstration by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association on May 30,2017, at Library Walk on UCSD’s campus. (Photo: Jesse Zhao)
Ricky Flahive, the UCSD senior chosen to give the student speech at graduation, told USA TODAY College before graduation that this demonstration was one of the only visible forms of opposition from the organization. “Generally, most of the people know about it, but I haven’ t seen it be very active, ” Flahive says of the movement against the Dalai Lama’s speech. “I’ ve heard excitement more than I’ ve heard concern so far.”
And, Flahive says, the university prepared for the possibility of protest at commencement by adding a free-speech zone in the parking lot near the location of the graduation. As the student chosen to give a speech on the same stage following the keynote, Flahive said he was excited that the university was able to bring the Dalai Lama to UCSD. As far as the possibility of protest at commencement, Flahive says it doesn’ t bother him.
“I don’ t really mind, personally, ” Flahive says. “As a political science major, I’ m totally in support of peaceful demonstration.”
. @DalaiLama: “Whether believer or non-believer, we must all focus on deeper value of human kindness and compassion.” #UCSD
— Shawn M. Griffiths (@TheShawnG) June 16,2017
Members of the Tibetan community gathered to meet the Dalai Lama during his public address on Friday morning and at the Saturday morning commencement. Tenzing Dolma, who just graduated from UC Berkeley, is a Tibetan refugee who came to the U. S. with her family when she was two years old. She joined a group of Tibetan students driving to San Diego for the occasion.
“We want to ensure that when he comes on campus that he sees us, and not them and he doesn’ t get disheartened by seeing people protesting his commencement speech, ” Dolma says. “Our issue is not with Chinese students, our issue is not with Chinese people. It’s with the government, it’s with the institution.”
Dolma says much of the information being put forth by students protesting is coming straight from the Chinese government and acts as propaganda, but says she is not opposed to the students protesting because they have a right to do so. And given that the Chinese government promotes a narrative of the Dalai Lama as being divisive, Dolma feels the decision to bring him as a commencement speaker is a symbol of acceptance.
