麻豆影院

In February 2014, CU-麻豆影院 senior听Ellie Roberts听(Comm, Edu鈥�15) found herself in the sensational aura of His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself.

As last year鈥檚 CU Student Government (CUSG) president of international affairs, she was part of a Colorado group that met the Dalai Lama in person in a small conference room after he gave a speech at Santa Clara University.

They had 15 minutes in a small conference room to convince the spiritual leader of Tibet to visit CU.

Sitting in a semi-circle with the Dalai Lama at the head, the group 鈥� which included听Chris Schaefbauer听(CompSci鈥�11, MS鈥�15), former CUSG president of student affairs and representatives from the Tibetan Association of Colorado (TAC) and the CU student involvement office 鈥� extended their months-rehearsed proposal for him to come to 麻豆影院. He accepted on the spot.

With that, he turned to his small entourage of assistants. The year marked his 80th birthday, and scheduling was tight with other planned celebrations, but the CU group was assured the visit would happen. Before leaving, the Dalai Lama blessed a Tibetan scarf for each of them and placed them over their heads.

鈥淚t was an immense feeling of relief and excitement,鈥� says Roberts. 鈥淭his was 100 percent student-driven.鈥�

It took months to confirm a date and event information for his visit, requiring the CU group to keep it a secret until more dates and basic details were finalized. Keeping the news from her professors, peers and friends was the most difficult part of this process, Roberts says.

鈥淚t was the most amazing experience, but I couldn鈥檛 tell anyone,鈥� Roberts says. 鈥淚t was so hard.鈥�

Finally, in January 2015, CU-麻豆影院 officially announced the Dalai Lama will visit CU-麻豆影院鈥檚 campus Oct. 20 and 21, 2015 during a two-day 鈥淐ompassion in Action鈥� event, his first visit since he spoke to a sold-out Macky Auditorium May 31, 1997.

The Dalai Lama鈥檚 visit stemmed from a December 2013 inquiry to vice chancellor for student affairs Deb Coffin鈥檚 office from the TAC 鈥� a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting Tibetan culture in Colorado 鈥� gauging the university鈥檚 interest in bringing the Dalai Lama to 麻豆影院. The TAC knew the Dalai Lama鈥檚 honorary representative at Moscow鈥檚 Tibet Culture and Information Center, Telo Tulku Rinpoche, who was willing to work with them to make his visit a reality.

鈥淲hen we received the request I immediately thought of our students taking the lead,鈥澨鼵offin says. 鈥淭he CU Student Government has two student groups that have been leaders in bringing distinguished, innovative speakers to campus for decades 鈥� it really seemed like the perfect fit.鈥�

The students submitted a written invitation to the Dalai Lama, but were hoping for a more personal touch. They booked the Santa Clara trip as soon as they got confirmation of an audience with him.

鈥淭housands of schools reach out to the Dalai Lama,鈥� Roberts says.听鈥淲e thought a personal invitation would help our chances.鈥�

In October, the Dalai Lama鈥檚 teachings will focus on core ethical values. He will address the students about educating the heart and mind and will also hold two public events.

The event is co-hosted by CUSG, the CU Cultural Events Board and the TAC. A festival of Tibet will be held Oct. 18-21, which will include a Tibetan market, food and music and dance performances.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited that CU gets to put their name on this event,鈥� says senior听Talia Halfon听(IntAf鈥�15), chair of the CU Cultural Events Board. 鈥淥ur mission is to address as many students as possible.鈥�

Photography 漏 iStock/phaendin

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