The Brown & White

As the Dalai Lama's visit to Lehigh is approaching, the increasingly tumultuous relationship between China and Tibet has brought up questions of security and safety.

"I expect it to be an enjoyable experience for all who attend and I really don't expect any problems," said Edward Shupp, chief of police. "We're trained to handle anything that may occur."

Although Shupp asserts security issues during the visit will not be a problem, he explained the matter will continue to be looked at as the dates approach.

"In three and a half months we will reevaluate the situation for safety issues," Shupp said. "But for the most part we rely on intelligence from the state and rely on their expertise."

The Dalai Lama's security is being handled mostly by the Pennsylvania state department while in the U.S., as well as the FBI, the police department and the fire department, Shupp said.

Some of the Lehigh police have been further trained for dignitary protection, which is similar to secret service training for high profile individuals, Shupp said.

There will also be a bomb dog sweep and a hazardous material sweep, and everyone who attends the lectures will go through metal detectors. There will be no bags, cameras, etc. allowed into Stabler Arena, Shupp said.

"We are preparing for the safety of all the patrons attending the events, not only the Dalai Lama," Shupp said. "We hope for a safe and enjoyable experience for all who attend."

The Dalai Lama's visit is scheduled for July 10 to 15, and includes a series of teachings and a public lecture at Stabler Arena. Tickets for the lecture have already sold out.

According to Joshua W.C. Cutler, executive director of the Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center, which is co-sponsoring the Dalai Lama's visit, recent world events won't affect the Dalai Lama's visit.

"The Chinese are protesting every time he moves," Cutler said. "They don't want him to go anywhere, don't want anybody to recognize him. They are very out of touch with who he is; there wouldn't be anybody else that would protest besides the Chinese government, but it's so tired by now that no one bothers to listen."

Cutler said the Dalai Lama will not discuss current events in China and Tibet during his lectures, but will most likely take questions during a press conference.

"He's got a heightened concern for what's going on there [in the east]," Cutler said, "It's very hard on him, he feels like each person is his child and has a tremendous amount of compassion for others."

Despite his concerns, Cutler said the Dalai Lama won't be focusing his visit on current events. Rather he will discuss generating a good heart and teaching the text of Tsong-kha-pa's "Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment."

"It's a tradition that he's transmitting," Cutler said, "this whole idea of explanation being handed down through many generations of teachers. It's a very formal, traditional way of understanding a text, so that's his responsibility when he accepts to teach, and current events won't affect his commitment to do that."

Constance Cook, director of Lehigh's Asian studies program, said the problems between Tibet and China have been brewing for a long time.

Cook said the situation is a double-edged sword because even though the Chinese have improved some aspects of the overall lifestyle in Tibet, Chinese education teaches that Tibetan culture was backwards and in need of liberation.

"The Chinese are rapidly sending in more and more of their own ethnic group to colonize," Cook said, "so that Tibetans over time have become an underclass."

Economic benefits generally went to the Han ethnicity. The riots according to government-controlled Chinese media are a barbaric attack against innocent merchants, Cook said.

She said many Chinese also feel the Western media is biased against them. Now, just as the Olympic torch is being passed around the world, people in the West express concern for issues like freedom of speech, religion and lifestyle.

As the 2008 Olympics are to be held in Beijing, China, declining participation or attendance at the opening ceremonies has become a form of Western protest, Cook said.

Cook said the rise of simultaneous riots all over the world has led the Chinese government to accuse the Dalai Lama of criminal agitation, a charge he vehemently denies.

"I personally suspect that the Dalai Lama at this stage in his life just wants peace and he's hoping for the best for his people and all people," she said. "He feels the Tibetan people need him, but he also recognizes his role as a world spiritual leader."

Meredith Aach, '08 and vice president of the Global Union, said she doesn't think the Dalai Lama's visit posed a security threat despite what is going on worldwide.

"Obviously the U.S. is going to make sure nothing happens to the Dalai Lama," Aach said.

Aach said the Dalai Lama is a very important leader worldwide.

"Understanding his spiritual guidance and political motivations will help Lehigh students and members of the community to become leaders in their own local communities," she said.