Five years in the making, the Dalai Lama to speak at UB
by JILL SCHMELZER Reporter

It's been five years of collaboration and hard work to get the 14th Dalai Lama to lecture at the University at Buffalo.

The Tibetan spiritual leader will visit the Amherst

''university from Sept. 18 through 20, kicking off the 2006-07 Distinguished Speakers Series at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19 in Alumni Arena.

The Dalai Lama chooses to visit two universities in the United States each year, promoting peace across borders through education.

About five years ago, Stephen Dunnett, vice provost for international education at the university, and Bill Regan, director of special events, played key parts in influencing the Nobel Peace Prize recipient to speak at the university.

Dunnett extended an invitation to the Dalai Lama's staff at the Office of Tibet in New York City, the unofficial embassy for Tibet, three years ago, he said.

UB needed to stand out from the other American universities competing for the distinguished visitor. The school has the highest percentage of international students of all public research universities in the United States, Dunnett said.

When the Dalai Lama speaks at UB he will be speaking not only to Americans, but to people from 102 different countries. Also, 70 percent of UB international students are from Asia. Because Tibet was conquered by China in 1959 and the Dalai Lama was exiled, he tries to get the message of the Tibetan people to others from the Eastern hemisphere, Dunnett added.

The university has also collaborated with the Fulbright Program, offering scholarships to Tibetan students studying at UB, Dunnett stated. Currently, the higher education facility is home to five Tibetan graduate students, including Kunchok Youdon, who worked for the Dalai Lama.

Two years ago, Dunnett met the Dalai Lama in Toronto where the Tibetan Buddhist accepted the university's invitation.

Once the dates were established, committees made up of people at the university and in the community began making arrangements and planning events in preparation for the visit.

"Having the Dalai Lama (come to UB) is equivalent to a visit by the pope," said Dunnett, noting that the man is revered by Buddhists but admired by people from every walk of life.

Classes will be suspended Sept. 19, and the Dalai Lama will address 30,000 people who will be attending the various events from across the nation. The day will be dedicated as a "day of learning," and will host lectures, panels and workshops all related to Tibet, its history, the language, culture and Buddhism.

When former President Bill Clinton visited the university in 2002, he spoke on a Saturday, so classes were not disturbed.

The leader in exile could not visit on the weekend because he will be in Denver, Colo., the week prior to the events. He and the rest of the Nobel Peace Prize laureates will be celebrating the birthday of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is also a recipient of the honor. While there, the Dalai Lama will be attending other conferences as well, Dunnett said.

People are interested in the spiritual leader because of his dynamic personality, Dunnett said. Many people have read his books, making the Dalai Lama a popular public figure.

"He is a wonderful writer and great philosopher," Dunnett said, adding that the Dalai Lama resonates well with young people.

Buddhists are open to all religions and do not try to convert anyone, the vice provost said. He said the Dalai Lama is a great man of peace who advocates nonviolent conflict resolutions.

The visit gives the university international visibility, Dunnett said. The news outlets in Asia follow where the Buddhist leaders go just as people in the west follow where the pope goes, said Dunnett.

"We got a lot of e-mails from alumni in Asia who are thrilled we are hosting the Dalai Lama," Dunnett added, noting that the university's Web site has received thousands of hits since the announcement of the visit.

"It adds to the prestige and reputation of UB, and it reflects well on the City of Buffalo," said Dunnett.