For one Chinese Duke student, Wednesday's pro-Tibet and pro-China protests did not end when the participants went home.
Since her appearance in front of the Chapel, the student, who requested anonymity because she fears retaliation, has found herself the target of a wave of threatening messages from individuals who believe she advocated for Tibetan independence.
After the protests, the student's personal information, including her name, phone number and Chinese identity number were posted to the Duke Chinese Scholars and Students Association Web site, according to documents obtained by The Chronicle. Photographs and a video of the student from the rally have also been posted on several popular Chinese-language forums.
"I received all kinds of weird e-mails and phone calls," she said. "I think it is all thanks to the DCSSA, who released all kinds of information."
DCSSA President Zhizhong Li, a third-year graduate student in molecular cancer biology, denied DCSSA involvement in publicizing the student's information but acknowledged that messages containing the information had been sent over the group's open e-mail listserv. The messages have since been deleted to protect the student, he said.
"I do not think they are from our organization," Li said. "We definitely don't support [the threats]."
The student said she has received some messages calling for her to be burned alive with oil.
She said she filed a report with the Duke University Police Department Friday.
"I think this is not the time to die for my country," the student said. "I love my life."
DUPD has increased patrols around the student's dormitory and has offered her personal protection, which she declined, said DUPD Maj. Gloria Graham.
"She did report to us that there were some general threats made to her, or things she perceived to be threats," Graham said. "We take harassing phone call and e-mail cases all the time. I think we are all a little bit more alarmed about this case."
Though the student said she realized the dangers of participating in the rally, she said she felt strongly about being involved.
"I think this is one of the turning points of Chinese history, and I want to be part of it," she said, emphasizing that she does not support Tibetan independence.
The student said there have also been consequences for her actions in China.
"I know that I am on the Chinese government blacklist because of this," she said, explaining that she had been informed of this by sources she declined to name. "It just means I can never go back to China if I care about my security. If I go back I might end up in jail forever."
But Li dismissed the student's concerns about not being allowed back into China.
"People talk about that all the time and no matter," he said.
The student's parents have also been targeted. Their contact information was posted on several popular Chinese-language Internet forums. Some Internet sources said their home was attacked, though the student said she has been unable to confirm this with her parents, who declined to discuss the issue when she contacted them via e-mail.
At Duke, the leaders of several student organizations-including College Republicans, the Duke Conservative Union, Duke Democrats, Students for Academic Freedom, Duke Human Rights Coalition, Duke Students for an Ethical Duke and the Duke-Israel Public Affairs Committee-have come together to condemn the threats against the Chinese student, according to a statement. They have blamed the threats on DCSSA and called for an investigation of the group and a revocation of its student group status.
"[DCSSA] on their official Web site put up her... information for no other reason than to make sure that there would be retributive action in China," said junior Daniel Cordero, vice president of College Republicans and organizer of the coalition to condemn intimidation tactics.
Li said he would like to discuss the issue with the organizations calling to disband DCSSA and said he hoped the threats toward the student would stop.
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