It starts with a some gasoline and a single match, but it goes far beyond that.

On Nov. 9, students packed into the Leak Room listened to a faculty panel entitled “To Burn Oneself in Protest” that discussed the recent protests and self-immolation of monks and nuns in Tibet.

Self-immolation is a deliberate and willing sacrifice of oneself by fire.

“A lot of people don’t understand how someone can withstand sitting in a position while they’re being engulfed in flames,” said Bryan Brendley, assistant professor of biology. “But with self-immolation, most scientists have reached a consensus that the nerves are so damaged that you cease to feel anything.”

Although Brendley described himself as the odd man out in the panel, he provided valuable information about the forensics of self-immolation. Brendley said that when someone sets themselves on fire, the cause of death is from inhaling carbon monoxide and other fumes from the flames, which causes heart and lung failure.

The panel also discussed China and the history of their conflict with Tibet.

Zhihong Chen, assistant professor of history, believes that part of the problem is that there is an assumption among the Chinese people that modern China should inherit the properties of the old Chinese dynasties. This is also why the government of China has tried to keep Tibet under their control.

“When Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China, he felt that other countries would step in if they did not take control of Tibet,” said Chen. “The reason the Chinese government felt it needed to assert its claim to Tibet is because foreign powers have been involved in the region since the beginning of the twentieth century and they wanted to avoid that happening again.”

George Guo, associate professor of political science, discussed the political climate of China in the last 50 years. China refused a liberal democracy for a system that emphasizes community welfare over individual rights, but the people of Tibet believe they should not be forced to be a part of that state.

Almost every protest or act of self-immolation in Tibet has to do with political and religious freedom, according to Guo. Guo said that when Mao Zedong came to power, his first goal was to gain complete control of the country and all of its peoples.

“Under Mao, there was no space or freedom for religion,” said Guo. “He believed people should convert their beliefs to support communism.”

Eric Mortensen, assistant professor of religious studies, agreed with Guo and said that this oppression of religious beliefs in China is what forced the Dalai Lama to leave Tibet in 1959 and is the same reason he will not be returning anytime soon.

Mortensen said that self-immolation is a form of protest that has never been seen in Tibet until recently.

“The monks say that there’s nothing left for them to do, and, out of desperation, they call for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet right before they kill themselves,” said Mortensen.

Although many people might believe that China is completely to blame for the oppression and its poor relationship with Tibet, former Professor of History Dottie Borei believes it is not so one-sided.

Borei said that both China and Tibet have falsified documents in an attempt to change history and prove their respective agendas. Although she acknowledged that Tibet has been oppressed by China, Borei does not believe the autonomous region will receive freedom anytime soon.

“More than anything, China wants to have stability,” said Borei. “And the Chinese government won’t give up land any more than the United States will give up land stolen from Native Americans.”

The panel gave a thorough overview of Tibetan history and its relationship with China while also highlighting the importance of the Tibetan monks and nuns that have sacrificed themselves trying to change the current situation.

“Tibetans have given up the ability to achieve political freedom,” said Mortensen. “What they want now is the ability to practice their own religion.”