NEWS
November 18, 2011
Panel discusses the selhimmolation of Tibetan monks
FACULTY AND STUDENTS GATHER IN THE LEAK
ROOM NOVEMBER 9TH TO LEARN ABOUT THE RISE
OF RITUAL SUICIDES OCCURRING DURING RECENT
PROTESTS IN TIBET
By Rory Molleda
Staff Writer
It starts with a some gasoline and a single match, but it
goes far beyond that.
On Nov. 9, students packed into the Leak Room listened
to a faculty panel entitled "To Burn Oneself in Protest" that
discussed the recent protests and self-immolation of monks
and nuns in Tibet.
Self-immolation is a deliberate and willing sacrifice of
oneself by fire.
"A lot of people don't understand how someone can
withstand sitting in a position while they're being engulfed
in flames," said Bryan Brendley, assistant professor of
biology. "But with self-immolation, most scientists have
reached a consensus that the nerves are so damaged that
you cease to feel anything."
Although Brendley described himself as the odd man
out in the panel, he provided valuable information about
the forensics of self-immolation. Brendley said that when
someone sets themselves on fire, the cause of death is
from inhaling carbon monoxide and other fumes from the
flames, which causes heart and lung failure.
The panel also discussed China and the history of their
conflict with Tibet.
Zhihong Chen, assistant professor of history, believes
that part of the problem is that there is an assumption
among the Chinese people that modern China should
inherit the properties of the old Chinese dynasties. This is
also why the government of China has tried to keep Tibet
under their control.
"When Mao Zedong established the People's Republic
of China, he felt that other countries would step in if they
did not take control of Tibet," said Chen. "The reason the
Chinese government felt it needed to assert its claim to
Tibet is because foreign powers have been involved in the
region since the beginning of the twentieth century and
they wanted to avoid that happening again."
George Guo, associate professor of political science,
discussed the political climate of China in the last 50
years. China refused a liberal democracy for a system that
emphasizes community welfare over individual rights, but
the people of Tibet believe they should not be forced to be
a part of that state.
Almost every protest or act of self-immolation in Tibet
has to do with political and religious freedom, according to
Guo. Guo said that when Mao Zedong came to power, his
first goal was to gain complete control of the country and
all of its peoples.
"Under Mao, there was no space or freedom for religion,"
said Guo. "He believed people should convert their beliefs
to support communism."
Eric Mortensen, assistant professor of religious studies.
agreed with Guo and said that this oppression of religious
beliefs in China is what forced the Dalai Lama to leave
Tibet in 1959 and is the same reason he will not be
returning anytime soon.
Mortensen said that self-immolation is a form of protest
that has never been seen in Tibet until recently.
"The monks say that there's nothing left for them to
do, and, out of desperation, they call for the Dalai Lama
to return to Tibet right before they kill themselves," said
Mortensen.
Although many people might believe that China is
completely to blame for the oppression and its poor
relationship with Tibet, former Professor of History Dottie
Borei believes it is not so one-sided.
Borei said that both China and Tibet have falsified
documents in an attempt to change history and prove their
respective agendas. Although she acknowledged that Tibet
has been oppressed by China, Borei does not believe the
autonomous region will receive freedom anytime soon.
"More than anything, China wants to have stability,"
said Borei. "And the Chinese government won't give up
land any more than the United States will give up land
stolen from Native Americans."
The panel gave a thorough overview of Tibetan history
and its relationship with China while also highlighting
the importance of the Tibetan monks and nuns that have
sacrificed themselves trying to change the current situation.
"Tibetans have given up the ability to achieve political
freedom," said Mortensen. "What they want now is the
ability to practice their own religion."
Major changes for in-state tnition aid
By Casey Morgan
Staff Writer
Beginning next fall, Guilford students
who live in North Carolina will face
considerable changes to their financial
aid packages. The N.C. General Assembly
recently cut several state-based financial
grants.
Budget pressures have led to the
discontinuation of the N.C. Legislative
Tuition Grant , N.C. Contractual
Scholarship Funds, and the N.C. Lottery
Scholarship.
The most widely awarded financial
aid of the three, the NCLTG, has been
around for over 35 years and is not need-
based. Recent budget shortfalls have led
the General Assembly to make cuts. In
the 2008-2009 academic year, NCLTG
appropriated nearly 60 million dollars to
eligible students.
To put that number in perspective,
one academic year at Guilford costs
approximately $43,000. The total funds
awarded in 2008 could have provided one
Guilford student with enough money to
attend school for 1,395 years.
These former scholarships and grants
are being replaced by a single need-based
scholarship that has yet to be named.
According to the Guilford Beacon, the
budget for this is limited, and, as such,
awards will be appropriated on a first-
come, first-served basis.
Junior Cody Sblendorio currently
receives the NCLTG, and believes the
move by the General Assembly to cut
funding for the grant goes against a
national emphasis on education.
"Although the deficit is high and we
need to concentrate on fixing our economy,
it's important that we don't do it at the
expense of education," Sblendorio said.
"The loss (of the grants) could jeopardize
students' ability to come here. Guilford is
an expensive school."
Deborah Stephens, CCE SGA secretary,
is worried about the lack of publicity and
the effect it could have on CCE students,
in particular.
"We're almost like transients ... we
come and we go and we're not necessarily
connected," Stephens said. "It's important
to me to make sure that all the CCE
students file their FAFSA as soon as they
can on Jan. 1, 2012 in order to qualify for
any financial aid.
"One of the incentives to go to this
college has been the NCLTG for CCE
students because it actually almost covers
the cost of one whole class. With a couple
hundred more dollars, we're able to have
at least one class paid for, and then maybe
through Pell Grants or additional loans,
we're able to attend college here. So losing
that kind of money out of our financial
aid package is really critical to whether
we're going to be able to continue or not."
Students who wish to receive funds
from the yet-to-be-named scholarship are
advised to fill out a FAFSA form after Jan.
1, as the scholarship is limited. Financial
aid counselors are available in New
Garden Hall.
Guilford's stance towards financial aid
is available on its website: "We make every
effort, within the limits of our available
financial aid resources, to assure that
no qualified student will be denied the
opportunity to attend Guilford College
simply because they lack adequate funds."
According to Student Financial
Services, approximately 92 percent of all
Guilford students are receiving financial
assistance. Of those, approximately
58 percent are receiving aid based on
financial need.
Robbie
Perkins, Mayor
Marikay
Abuzuaiter, City
Council, At-Large
Yvonne
Johnson, City
Council,At-Large
Nancy
Vaughan, City
Counci!,At-Large
T. Dianne
Bellamy-Small
City Council,
District I
Jim Kee,
City Council,
District 2
Zack
Matheny,
City Council,
District 3
Nancy
Hoffman,
City Council,
District 4
Trudy Wade,
City Council,
District 5