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Elizabeth Warren Coordinated Response to Tibetan Student With UMass Admin

Tibetan-American student felt discriminated against, asked for Warren's help

Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Sen. Elizabeth Warren / Getty Images
May 27, 2017

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) coordinated with the University of Massachusetts Amherst to respond to a student who had pleaded for the senator's help after having her request to carry the Tibetan flag to a commencement ceremony rejected by the school, according to emails obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

Tibetan-American student Kalsang Nangpa was barred by UMass from carrying Tibet's flag during the university's annual "Parade of Nations." The administration told Nangpa that because the U.S. State Department does not recognize Tibet as a sovereign nation, her request to carry its flag would be denied.

"This response I got from the school—their decision to not allow me to carry my own flag—is unacceptable and it's a form of discrimination, I feel like," Nangpa, who was born in Tibet, told New England Public Radio. "I feel like the same thing that's happening in Tibet is happening in my own school."

Nangpa sought out the help of Warren, who was the university's scheduled commencement speaker.

Email records show, however, that Warren's office consulted with the UMass administration before making a statement to the press on Nangpa's plea or responding to Nangpa.

"A graduating senior at UMass is asking Senator Warren to urge the University to allow her to carry the Tibetan flag during the commencement ceremony," wrote NEPR's Nancy Cohen in an email to a Warren press staffer.

"The student, Kalsang Nangpa, has not heard back from the senator yet," Cohen wrote. "I'm writing to ask how the senator plans to respond to the student's request."

The request was forwarded to the university's director of public relations by the staffer, who floated a response that Warren's office was considering.

"Wanted to flag this request we received from Nancy over at NEPR," wrote the staffer. "We've blown past her deadline, but are considering a response along the lines of, 'We support peaceful advocacy of Tibet, but as a UMass guest, respect the current policy."

The staffer asked the UMass administration executive to let them know if he had "any concerns with that framework."

"Thank you, that looks terrific," wrote UMass in response. "Thanks for the support."

The comment that Warren's office eventually sent to NEPR expanded on the message that was floated by UMass.

"Senator Warren respects UMass Amherst’s application of university policy in this matter," read the statement sent to NEPR. "The senator also supports the religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage of the Tibetan people. She is proud of her constituents, including students, who peacefully advocate for the fundamental human rights of all Tibetans."

Warren's press secretary told the Washington Free Beacon that "our office told UMass how we intended to respond to media inquiries as a courtesy."

She declined to comment further on the UMass decision to reject Nangpa's request.

In 2013, Warren signed a letter along with 20 other senators urging then-Secretary of State John Kerry to "press for meaningful improvements in the conditions in Tibet."

Nangpa appears to have defied the administration's wishes, bringing her Tibetan flag to both the Parade of Nations and while receiving her degree, according to video captured by Students for a Free Tibet, a group of which she was the chapter leader at UMass.

"Thank you Kalsang Nangpa for proving that nothing can stop a determined Tibetan from embracing her nation, and we will not stop until Tibet is free," wrote the group.

Neither UMass nor NEPR's Cohen responded to requests for comment. Attempts to reach Nangpa were unsuccessful.

Published under: Elizabeth Warren