Tibetan activists raise awareness, funds

Taryn Firkser doesn't get discouraged easily. And even the major setback of a planned speaker being unable to make it to Bloomington at the last minute doesn't get her spirits down.\nWhen Firkser found out that the Tibetan nun who was scheduled to speak at Saturday's IU Students for a Free Tibet event was stuck in Washington, D.C., Firkser bet the activist spirit among the IU and Bloomington communities would save the event. She was right.\nTogether with IUSFT President Mary-Kate Oreovicz, Firkser, a graduate student and IUSFT's vice president, watched as more than 50 people filed into the Jordan Hall atrium.\n"It's amazing that no one seems to be leaving when they hear the bad news (that the speaker would not be able to make it)," Firkser said. "When I first learned about the Tibetan cause, my reaction was 'What can I do?' I hope that's how people feel after today."\nThe nun, Ngawang Sangdrol, was supposed to speak about her experience in the Drapchi prison, where she was sentenced to 21 years for organizing a protest against the Chinese rule of Tibet. She is a member of the Drapchi 14, a group of Tibetan nuns who, while still in prison, recorded several songs calling for Tibetan independence. Under international pressure, she and 12 other nuns have been released. One died in prison.\n"Ngawang Sangdrol and the 13 other women represent a victory for grassroots organizations such as ours. We raised awareness and took action through non-violent means," said Oreovicz, a graduate student. "She is proof to us that each petition you sign, each postcard you send and each letter you mail does have an impact in the larger picture."\nBut even without the speaker, Firkser and Oreovicz said the evening was a successful fund-raising campaign for their group. Amid Tibetan prayer flags and information stands, Firkser, Oreovicz and other IUSFT activists sold "Free Tibet" stickers and buttons for $1, and T-shirts for $5. \n But the event had the most success in enticing the stomachs first and the wallets second. The spicy smell of momo -- Tibetan dumplings -- wafted in the air, attracting the majority of the evening's attendees into the buffet line. For a $5 donation, ethnic food fans received a plate of either beef or vegetable momo and noodles and punch or green tea. All donations from the event will go to Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet, an India-based Tibetan ex-political prisoners association, which helps former prisoners with monetary support, clothing, shelter and job training.\nAs Central Eurasian Studies graduate student Domonic Potorti stood in line to try the food donated by Snow Lion and Anyetsang's Little Tibet restaurants, he said his was more than a purely academic interest.\n"I believe very strongly in the cause (of Tibetan freedom)," he said, "and I'm here because one of my friends helped organize this and worked very hard."\nAfter Firkser saw that most attendees had their fill of food, she shepherded about 35 people into an empty classroom. There, viewers were treated to the 2003 documentary "Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion." The film depicts the history of Tibet as well as the present conflict with China and the rest of the world's reaction to it. Oreovicz echoed the filmmakers' take on the current conflict: "Tibet must be free."\n"I feel that as an American who is lucky to live in a comparably less-oppressive society I must use my voice to speak for those Tibetans inside Tibet who are, in a sense, voiceless," Oreovicz said. "I think that it is important to realize that although we may disagree with our government, we have the right to say so, even to protest, and we are lucky to have the basic rights that we enjoy on a daily basis."\n-- Contact Copy Chief Jane \nCharney at echarney@indiana.edu.