Students organize concert to benefit Tibetan freedom, raise JMU awareness

By Maury Sugarman
contributing writer

Monday, April 20, 1998

JMU Students for a Free Tibet will attempt to educate students about injustices in Tibet at a benefit concert it is sponsoring April 26 on the commons.

JMU Students for a Free Tibet want to use the concert to educate students and Harrisonburg residents about the Chinese government's illegal occupation of Tibet and the results of its action, said freshman Mark Sullivan, president of JMU Students for a Free Tibet.

The group hopes "to drum up interest for the cause of Tibet and [the club], which is only a month old," he said. "Once people really know what's happening in Tibet, many will be happy to help out. It's not a matter of not caring, but a matter of education on the issue."

The JMU event is one of 60 that will take place April 24 to 26. During that weekend, schools in the United States, Great Britain and Canada will also hold events aimed at freeing Tibet and the Panchen Lama.

The Panchen Lama, the second-highest religious figure in Tibetan Buddhism, is also the world's youngest political prisoner. He is nine years old.

The concert will run from noon until 9:00 p.m.

Five Virginia bands, an internationally recognized Tibetan singer, Karma Gyaltsen, and four guest speakers are scheduled to appear.

Bhuchung Tsering, director of the International Campaign for Tibet in Washington, D.C., is also scheduled to speak.

Monolith, a rock band, will open the event, What If…?, a Christian rock band mixing mainstream rock, funk, country, jazz and blues, will follow. The Unity Project and Carbon Leaf will also perform at the concert.

Each band is performing for free because they have an interest in the cause, Sullivan said.

"We definitely don't agree with the social pressures being exerted by the Chinese [government] against the Tibetan [people]…especially the oppression of religious rights," said Josh Mullenix, band member of What If…?

Several speakers will talk about Chinese occupation of Tibet. The event will conclude with a candlelight vigil.

Daniel Perdue, assistant professor of philosophy and religion, partially inspired the formation of JMU Students for a Free Tibet, and will give the evening's final speech.

Sophomore Christina Chang, co-founder of the organization, said Perdue's Religion 101 class is responsible for raising her awareness of the Tibetan Situation.

"[When I heard about the occupation of Tibet], I thought, 'If I didn't know, who else doesn't know?' It's another case of ignorance making bliss," Chang said.