Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 12:18:22 -0400

From: UDCA UDCA@saber.udayton.edu

To: CHINA-NT@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU

Wang Dan Warmly Welcomed at UCLA

May 22, Los Angeles, 1998 Tian-an-men student leader Wang Dan was warmly received by the UCLA Chinese students, scholars and the local community. More than 300 people came to the public meeting with Wang Dan, many late comers could not make into the crowded conference room. After brief welcoming words from meeting organizers, USC-UCLA East Asian Study Dr. James Tong, and The Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars in USA (IFCSS) Chairman Jinghong Li, Wang Dan was introduced to the audience by Ms. Wang Chaohua. One of the two female student leaders on the Chinese government 21 most-wanted list, Ms. Wang is now a Ph.D candidate at UCLA.

In his 2 minute long speech, Wang Dan asked people to remember the many more political prisoners still held in China and called them the real heroes. Wang Dan invited the audience not only to raise questions to him, but give their own opinions and advises, and hoped this meeting tobe a real dialog and exchange of ideas. Many people were happily surprised by Wang Dan's short speech and proceeded with many questions ranging from the his past, current status and thoughts on the future, some even pointed to his romance. In answering these questions, Wang Dan reiterated on his idea of being a real independent intellectual and hoped people not to view him as a leader of some kind.

He stressed that working for a democratic China,there are many roles need many different people to play. He believes he will be able to better serve the cause of freedom and democracy in his way. To a question about rumors on the Internet saying he supported "boycott" products made in China as a way of pressing the Chinese government, Wang Dan said such idea is totally against his very basic principle, as a matter of fact, he told the meeting the T-shirt he wear is made in China. One student, claiming to represent all the male Chinese student at UCLA, asked how does Wang Dan image his campus life will be and, if he meets a girl and fell in love at the first-sight what would he do?

Mr. Wang said he really wanted to be just like all the rest, treated as one of the student and not to be chased everywhere. And, If others can have a girlfriend,he would like to have his own. In case of fell in love at the first-sight, he will probably act like everyone else - don't know what to do. Many students surrounded Wang Dan after the meeting and chatted for along time. One requested him not to refuse to campaign for China's presidency when that day of free election comes.

The leaders of the Chinese student association at UCLA, who initially were not willing to co-sponsor this meeting for worrying the Chinese government's pressure, asked Wang Dan to hold a special dialog meeting with all of its members and were ready to arrange it over night. Wang Dan gladly accepted their invitation.(for more information, contact hq@ifcss.org)