Last month, I was forwarded a news article with a title that read, "Dalai Lama to give the commencement address at UC San Diego". I must say I am well read on the 14th Dalai Lama's teachings and beliefs which is depicted within his books, speeches, and conversation. Subsequently following the article sharing the announcement of the Dalai Lam giving the UCSD commencement speech as well as a public event at the institution, I began to read articles on the protests of the selected commencement speaker, stating he is politically polarizing with a divisive rhetoric. The frustration of the UCSD students is apparent, as it stems from the Chinese/Tibetan conflict- I continued to read through the articles, which resulted in a distinct consternation, illustrating the outrage the students experienced.

As a result of the Dalai Lama being a protested speaker at UCSD, I must stress the situation as notably controversial. Removing him as a speaker as requested by a number of UCSD students infringes on both freedom of speech and a healthy discourse consisting of an exchange of ideas and beliefs. We live in a country which values freedom of speech as well as an exchange of ideas and knowledge. It is invaluable to maintain this value, as it allows individuals to develop their own ideas as well as remains vital for society's progression.

Allowing the Dalai Lama to remain a speaker on the UCSD is not an act of any form of hatred toward the students of UCSD. Rather, it is an opportunity for the students to have a terrific opportunity to hear a leader speak and hear his teachings and ideologies first hand, rather than hearing it from potentially one-sided media, propaganda, or excerpts of his teaching. Hearing his ideologies first hand allows students, in support of the Dalai Lama's teachings, against the teachings, or unfamiliar with the teachings, an important step to developing a more informed opinion.

I urge UCSD to host the 14th Dalai Lama as a guest speaker. College institutions should remain a sanctuary consisting of exchanging ideas and knowledge, as students further develop into intellectual, knowledge, open minded, and socially responsible individuals. The Dalai Lama's speech will benefit the school in its entirety. It will allow students to access information to the spiritual leader's ideas and beliefs. Additionally, in a time of divisiveness, the Dalai Lama's discourse on peace and compassion could be beneficial for the school and society alike. As the Dalai Lama states, “Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.”