By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, May 5: University of Massachusetts Amherst has decided not to allow the Tibetan national flag from the official procession of Flag Bearers at the university’s Commencement on May 12.
A request from Kalsang Nangpa, a Tibetan student graduating from the university, to carry the Tibetan national flag during the commencement ceremony was met with rejection from the authorities stating ‘Tibet is not recognized as a county according to the US Department of State’.
“What is the point of this flag ceremony? I thought it was to celebrate the diversity of the graduates,” the 22-year-old graduating with a bachelor’s degree in public health told Boston Globe.
“I want to carry the flag during the ceremony. That is symbolic,” said the student whose brother was met with the same rejection two years ago at UMass.
She also citied many examples her Tibetan friends in the past who have met with the same response from the university. Disappointed with the decision of the university, she said, “I’m frustrated and it’s kind of insulting. I feel like I’m being denied of my own identity. I’m very disappointed because I call UMass my second home. I’ve been here since my freshman year. I am very upset.”
Kalsang, with Student for a Free Tibet, has started an online campaign asking supporters to call and email the UMass Vice Chancellor and Senator Elizabeth Warren to voice concerns regarding the issue.
In UMass’ defence, Campus Spokesperson Ed Blaguszewski said that the university does not want to be in a position of determining status of a nation and has to follow according to the list of the State Department.
“While we understand and appreciate the disappointment of students who wish to carry flags representing their ethnic, cultural and national identities that are not on this list, we feel that the standard we apply to determine inclusion in our procession of flags is reasonable and equitable,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement.
