It is of great hope that the need to stand up for basic human rights is something all of UW-La Crosse can agree on. But, for those who have personally been affected by human rights abuses, the need to fight for what is just is that much more real. This is the reason UW-L senior, Tenzin Kunor, started a chapter of Students for a Free Tibet on our campus.

Kunor, along with four other UW-L Tibetan students, have lived their entire lives in exile, as a consequence of the Chinese occupation of Tibet.  For hundreds of years, Tibet, located in the southwest region of China, was a sovereign nation with its own language, culture and political system. Then in 1949 and 1950, China invaded Tibet. Since then, Tibet has been drained of its rich natural resources and has been hurdled into oppression as a result of the Chinese occupation.

Today, having a Tibetan flag or simply uttering the words "Free Tibet" can result in imprisonment and torture. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, has been forced to live in exile, along with scores of other Tibetans, like Kunor. They do not have the choice to even visit their home. For many, this has meant being split up from their family, friends, and the only life they have ever known. On top of that, as information flow out of Tibet is extremely limited and controlled, with communication to the inside near impossible, it is no wonder so many of us are not even aware this is going on.

China's role as a global superpower largely contributes to the global community turning a blind eye to this desperate situation. And desperation is the point to which Tibetans inside Tibet truly are at. Since March 2011, 16 monks and nuns have self-immolated, sacrificing their lives in a cry for global attention. SFT, which has over thirty active members, is passionate to help achieve the global attention that is long overdue.

The facts are frightening, but in the face of such a complex global issue, many wonder what they could ever do to make a difference. As SFT president Kunor put it, "What people can do is to stand up for injustices that occur in the world when they can. That might mean creating awareness, signing a petition, launching a campaign, or meeting with your representatives to advocate for issues you find important." Most importantly, educate yourself about what is going on! An easy way to stop living in the dark is to attend educational programs here on campus. In fact, SFT is hosting Kalaya'an Mendoza, from Amnesty International this coming Monday, February 13th (see side panel), which would certainly be a convenient, not to mention incredibly valuable, way to gain more insight on this pressing issue.

Cultural murder, religious intolerance and economic marginalization all contribute to the oppression Tibetans inside Tibet continue to live under. However, through their endless campaign to bring awareness and education to the Tibetan movement, Students for a Free Tibet is confident that positive change will be realized in their struggle to help regain independence and freedom. With this, hopefully someday our fellow students can return home.