By Jackie Walker
The Chamtse Ling temple dedication at the Tibetan Cultural Center is just two days away, and student and academic groups are busy with last-minute preparations. Professors and students attending the event are also gearing up for what they consider a very significant visit by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso.
IU Students for a Free Tibet is helping with preparations at the Tibetan Cultural Center. In addition, the group has been informing both the campus and community about the visit through fliers and promotions at the Indiana Memorial Union. At the event Sunday, members plan to hand out information on Tibet, stickers and T-shirts.
“This event not only inspires the local Tibet movement, but it also invigorates the Tibet movement on a worldwide scale,” said IUSFT Director Mary-Kate Oreovicz.
The Department of Religious Studies also finds it important to acknowledge the Dalai Lama this weekend. However, because tickets for the event are $75, the department was afraid many students wouldn’t be able to attend. To resolve the issue, they bought two extra tickets and decided to raffle them off to one undergraduate and one graduate religious studies major.
“It has nothing to do with the religious connotation,” said Religious Studies Adviser Caroline Dowd-Higgins. “It has more to do with what’s happening in the world. We wanted to take advantage of the opportunity for both students and faculty to hear this important person.”
Two names were drawn for the raffle Wednesday morning: graduate student Holly Folk and undergraduate student Meagan Haberman-Ducey. These students will go to the actual event, listen to the panel discussion and spend the whole day at the TCC.
Dr. David Haberman, chairperson of the Department of Religious Studies, will accompany the students to the event.
“I’ve met him before and have always been deeply moved being in his presence,” Haberman said. “I’m just looking forward to being with him again. The Dalai Lama has emerged as a global voice for tolerance, and he has spoken of the need to respect and maintain cultural diversity … we, as a department, are involved in the process of promoting tolerance through a greater understanding of religious traditions.”
Associate Professor Steven Weitzman, director of the Jewish Studies Program, also plans to attend to support his wife, Rabbi Mira Wasserman, who will be featured in the day’s events.
“I think it’s a great moment for interesting dialogue,” Weitzman said. “The Dalai Lama has invited a number of religious leaders. … The idea that all of them will be in one room is an exciting opportunity.”
Also in the room, representing IU, will be Patrick O’Meara, dean of international programs. He will be presenting Emeritus Professor Thubten Norbu, the Dalai Lama’s brother, with an award for his contributions to Tibetan studies and the academic community. His Office of International Programs is also involved with a writing competition between four teenagers called “Let Peace Begin with Me.”
O’Meara will make presentations to Muhammad Ali, IU, and the Dalai Lama.
“I think (his visit) is more important than it’s ever been because…his message of peace is so important given the conflict we’re all living through,” O’Meara said. “I’m particularly pleased that the young people will be dealing with this idea of ‘Let Peace Begin with Me’ because I think that’s a very significant message. I don’t think the Dalai Lama’s visit will transform the world automatically but if you can change the way the young people think and believe, you can have a great impact.”
Contact staff writer Jackie Walker at jaclwalk@indiana.edu.
