(Minghui.org) The first day of the school year at Columbia University in New York was September 2, 2025. The campus was bustling with activity during the first two days, with student groups setting up booths to promote themselves and welcome students to join.

The Falun Dafa Club was invited to participate in the Religious Life Activities Fair on September 3, 2025, hosted by the university’s religious life office.

Members of Falun Dafa Club take a group photo.

The Religious Life Activities Fair was part of Columbia University’s Welcome Home fall semester event, allowing students to learn about the various religious organizations on campus. According to Columbia University’s Office of Religious Life website, the university has dozens of religious student organizations, including the Falun Dafa Club.

Students learn about Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong).

Falun Dafa Club members distributed leaflets about Falun Dafa and small lotus flower keepsakes, and demonstrated the exercises. Their eye-catching poster included information about Falun Dafa—a spiritual practice that originated in China, rooted in ancient traditions. Free classes and exercise instruction was offered, along with free online books and videos. Practitioners have experienced significant health benefits and spiritual enrichment from the practice.

A student talks with a practitioner to learn more information.

Students of various ethnicities came to the Falun Dafa Club stand, where they received leaflets and information. Some expressed interest in learning more, and left their contact information.

A Chinese student named Ming accepted an introductory leaflet. After a practitioner told him about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) brutal persecution in China and its attempts to conduct transnational repression abroad, he said he disliked China’s closed environment and preferred the freedom in the United States. He wrote down his contact email and said he hopes that Falun Dafa Club members reach out to more Chinese graduate students at Columbia University.

Falun Dafa practitioner Ms. Ma, who staffed the booth, said a Muslim student from China, named James, came by, and was eager to learn about the CCP’s persecution of religious groups. She told him about the CCP’s persecution of religious groups, the state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from Falun Dafa practitioners, and the persecution of Uyghurs. He listened attentively and asked numerous questions. She recommended that he read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party which is available in Chinese and English. He expressed great interest and left his contact information, and asked that practitioners provide him with more information in the future.

Eric, president of the Falun Dafa Club, said the club was founded in 1999. Its main activities include doing the exercises, studying the Falun Dafa books, participating in exhibitions, watching human rights films, applying for funds to purchase group tickets, and introducing students and alumni to Shen Yun Performing Arts which is held at Lincoln Center.

The Falun Dafa Club teaches the practice for free. (Photo provided by the club)

Eric said the club’s activities received excellent feedback. He said, “Many people who know the truth [about the persecution] are like seeds, and spread the information to more people.”

On the evening of September 2, a man who had watched a truth-clarifying film on Columbia University’s campus in March this year was excited to see the Falun Dafa stand. He immediately pulled out a bookmark about the Ganjing World website—a platform that screens many truth-clarifying films—from his bag, saying he had kept it in his backpack for the past six months. He expressed his support and gratitude and said he wished to participate in future club activities.

On September 3, a junior college student passing by the stand said she had previously practiced Falun Dafa. She said she wished to continue learning, and asked the club to inform her of future activities. She also expressed her willingness to participate in off-campus group exercises when she had time.

A group of female students accepted small lotus flowers with bookmarks printed with “Falun Dafa is Good.” After listening to an introduction by Angela Lee, president of the Upstate Rotary Club, they happily took a group photo. Many faculty and students signed a petition in support of the Congressional bill, the Falun Gong Protection Act.

Students pose for a group photo with small lotus flower keepsakes.

The practitioners also helped Chinese students resolve visa issues at an off-campus stand. Volunteers from the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP were present, and assisted Chinese students with visa challenges. They said that the root cause of difficulties faced by international students lies not with the students, but with the CCP. If Chinese students declared that they have no ties to the CCP, they can more easily gain the trust of the U.S. government and society.

Chinese student Edwin said, “I love China’s long history and culture, and I admire traditional texts. However, the CCP has brought oppression and fear, especially against religious believers. Many of my friends in China are afraid to speak freely, and this is very sad.”

Edwin

He said that as a Chinese living in the United States, he understands the importance of freedom of speech and religious freedom. “These values are the core of American society and should be cherished.”

Demonstrating the Falun Dafa exercises

The two-day event was successful. Many students and passersby took small lotus flower keepsakes, read the flyers, and said they would share them with their friends and families. Some said they had previously heard about the persecution, and encouraged practitioners to persevere.