By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, June 2: As the commencement day of University California, San Diego (UCSD) draws near, a Chinese students’ group organized an event in opposition against the university’s decision to invite the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama as commencement speaker.
“We want people to hear the other side of the story about the Dalai Lama. We got a different perspective in our education than you do in the U.S. We want to share a different perspective,” said Chinese Student and Scholar Association (CSSA) Chair Mark Ji during the event at UCSD Library Walk.
Not everyone present at the event agreed with the argument presented during the event with many western students countering their statements with questions regarding China’s brutalities over the Tibetan people and genocide in Tibet.
With numerous protests carried out by Chinese students over the university’s decision, Josh Beneventi, a socio-cultural anthropology major of US asked, “But is this a Chinese university or an American university?”
“We care about logic and facts. This is an institution of learning. Maybe they could learn something too,” he said expressing his displeasure towards the CSSA and its presenters, as he hasn’t seen any evidence of wrong doing by the Dalai Lama.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is scheduled to speak at commencement on June 17 and the night before at a public event at UC San Diego’s RIMAC Field.
Earlier this year in March, the Chinese students’ association openly admitted to be working directly under the influence and guidance of the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles with matters pertaining to opposing the Dalai Lama’s invite.
