University of San Francisco Awarded Burmese Monks an Honorary Doctorate During Commencement (Dec 14 2007)

During the Dec. 14 commencement ceremony, University of San Francisco honored the Buddhist monks of Burma for their courageous, nonviolent demonstrations against their country's repressive military regime, by collectively awarding them with an honorary doctorate.

In September, thousands of Burmese Buddhist monks demonstrated peacefully and nonviolently against their country's repressive military regime, prompting a brutal response from the government. During and after the demonstrations, according to international media, thousands of monks were arrested, and many were beaten and killed.

Sayadaw U Kovida, a distinguished exiled Burmese monk currently living in a New York monastery, accepted the honorary degree on behalf of the Burmese monks of Burma. Sayadaw U Kovida was himself imprisoned by the Burmese military dictatorship for his participation in the 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations against the government.

"We honor the monks of Burma to help keep the Burmese struggle for democracy in the minds and hearts of those of us who enjoy the freedoms they are struggling to achieve," said USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. "These are extraordinary, modern-day heroes and persons of faith committed to building a better world, even at the risk of arrest, beatings, and death. We celebrate and support their courageous, nonviolent demonstrations, their continuing struggle for a fair and representative government, and the selfless leadership that is giving an entire nation a taste of freedom. These are the kind of people we hope our graduates will be."

The monks exemplify USF's moral commitment to educate minds and hearts to change the world, according to the honorary degree citation. The citation also draws a comparison to the six Jesuits killed in El Salvador (along with their housekeeper and her daughter) 18 years ago for their outspoken criticisms of an equally repressive government.

"As we have honored our Jesuit brothers, this Jesuit university now honors the Burmese monks of Burma for their courage, compassion, and commitment to seeking to protect the human and democratic rights of the Burmese people in the face of a harshly brutal military dictatorship," the citation states.

According to the citation, the monks serve as role models for USF students, embodying the ideals that guide the university's educational efforts.

Ref:
http://www.usfca.edu/usfnews/news_stories/monks1.html