Grand County Visit and Activities
The monks visited Moab for five days, sponsored by Rene LaFaurie, owner of "Transcendence", described by Ms. LaFaurie as a non-profit Moab "dance and healing arts studio." A check with the Lieutenant Governor's office revealed no non-profit organization or corporation having ever been registered in the state of Utah under the name of "Transcendence," "Transcendence Dance" or any variation thereof. An attempt to call a listing, "Transcen Dance. Inc." in the Moab telephone directory resulted in a message that the phone number had been disconnected.
During their stay the monks constructed a mandala at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center (MARC) a facility supported by public funds. The monks also performed their Sacred Dance Sacred Music program at Grand County High School during school hours at four performances at Grand County High School; one for the entire student bodies of each of the four public schools in Grand County -- Redrock Elementary (grades k-3), Helen M. Knight (grades 3 -6), Grand County Middle School (grades 7-8) and Grand County High School (grades 9-12). Grand County Middle School students were transported by district school buses from Helen M. Knight School to the High School. Sacred Music Sacred Dance was performed by the monks on the high school stage. At the rear of the stage was an altar with various items including a picture of the Dalai Lama. Also at the rear of the stage was a large mural of the Drepung Loseling monastery. The various chants and dances were introduced by a monk who spoke English.
Students were also taken on field trips to the mandala at MARC. It is presently unclear whether students attended the opening or closing ceremonies for the mandala or only visited the mandala during its creation between ceremonies. Grand County School Superintendent Ron Ferguson told the Salt Lake Tribune that the district considered the performance during school hours to students to be cultural presentations rather than religious. He advised the Tribune that representatives from some religions in Moab did express concerns about the monks purpose for visiting the schools, but they were assured that attendance at the performance was voluntary and there would be separate activities for students whose parents did not want them to attend the programs.
The monks took a bicycle tour of the town, hiked nearby canyons, experienced an Indian sweat lodge and were guests at a "Prayer for Peace Day in a public Moab City park where they were entertained by area musicians and American Indians. Moab City Manager Donna Metzler told the Salt Lake Tribune that the usual $25 fee for use of the park was waived by Moab City at Ms. LaFaurie's request. Metzler, stated, "We don't get many requests for fee waivers at the park. But when it's from a non-profit group, the council will consider it. This particular waiver had everything to do with Transcendence being a nonprofit group, and nothing to do with religion." She also stated that, because both Tibetan and American Indians were involved, she considered the matter to be a "multi-cultural event."
The monks also presented their Sacred Music Sacred Dance program at two evening performances for the public at Grand High School. The Grand County School Board denied Ms. LaFaurie's request that the $200 rental fee be waived.
Eve Passeltiner, manager of MARC, stated that the arts center viewed the monks activities at the art center, including opening ceremony, creation of the mandala and closing ceremony to be artistic in nature, which fit the mission of the center. See Salt Lake Tribune articles dated September 19, 1998 and October 9, 1998.
Letter to Moab City Council and Grand County School Board
On September 30, 1998, a letter was sent to the Moab City Council and the Grand County School Board by Paul W. Mortensen. The content of the letter follows:
"Dear City Council and School Board,
"I represent the Jefferson 21st Century Institute, a non-partisan organization dedicated to the separation of religion and government. The Institute has serious concerns arising from a September 19, 1998 Salt Lake Tribune article of a visit to Moab by ten Tibetan Buddhist monks. The article stated, 'The monks were invited to Moab by Transcendence owner Rene LaFaurie. She received contributions from town businesses, the Grand County School District and Moab city.'
"The article also stated, 'While in Moab, the monks presented music, lectures and prayers at Grand County Schools, the Moab Arts and Recreation Center and Transcendence, a Moab dance and healing arts studio. At some venues they asked for $10 donations.' The article mentions that the monks spent five days in Moab. It discusses a 'Prayer for Peace Day' held in a Moab park.
"Your thorough response to the following questions will be appreciated:
"1. What amount of City funds or School District funds were paid to, or on behalf of, the monks? How were the funds used? Please provide copies of checks or payment vouchers.
"2. What resolutions were passed authorizing such use of public funds and who voted to authorize, or otherwise authorized, such use? Please provide copies of resolutions, minutes or other records reflecting same.
"3. Is the Moab Arts and Recreation Center publicly owned or supported by public funds? Was any customary fee charged for use of the facility paid by the monks or waived by the City? What music, lectures, or prayers were offered at this location? Other than providing use of the premises, were any funds or services provided by Moab City or the School District? If so, what?
"4. Is the Moab park at which the "Prayer and Peace Day" ceremony was held supported by public funds? What is the name of the park? Was any customary fee charged for use of the facility paid by the monks or waived by the City? What music, lectures, or prayers were offered at this location? Other than providing use of the park, were any funds or services provided by Moab City or the School District for the ceremony? If so, what?
"5. At what schools and classes did the monks offer music and prayers? Was the music offered religious in nature? What was the subject matter(s) of the prayers?
"6. For each public facility which the monks visited, please advise whether the music, lectures and/or prayers were offered in English, and, if so, by whom. What were the topics of the lectures?
"7. Please identify each venue at which the monks requested financial contributions, from whom the contributions were solicited and in what amount(s).
"8. Before, during or after the monks' visit did either the School Board or the City Council discuss issues of separation of religion and government and whether the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment might be violated by School District and/or City conduct? If so, please produce minutes or other records of such discussions.
Sincerely,
/s/
Paul W. Mortensen
Enclosure: Tribune article"
Response of Moab City
On November 10, 1998, Donna Metzler, Moab City Manager, responded to Mr. Mortensen's letter as follows:
"Dear Mr. Mortensen,
"I am writing in response to your recent letter regarding the use of public funds and accommodations for the Tibetan Monks. The City's involvement with the Tibetan Monks' visit was as follows:
"1. The City of Moab was not involved in any way in bringing the Monks to Moab or organizing any of the events related to their visit.
"2. The Moab City Council refunded a park reservation fee to Rene LaFaurie for an event related to the Tibetan Monks. The City was not involved in this event in any way, and refunded the park reservation fees upon formal request by Ms. LaFaurie. The City Council occasionally refunds fees to requesting groups that use City facilities.
"3. The Monks created and displayed a colorful sand mandala at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center, a City-owned facility. The City customarily allows artists to display works of art at the center free of charge, providing the artist does not charge for viewing the piece or offer the work for sale. The sand mandala was an intricate work of beauty and skill that deserved attention in an arts-focused facility such as the Moab Arts and Recreation Center.
"The City has no formal or informal relationship with the Tibetan Monks and has never had any intention of supporting the religious or other tenants of the group. Please contact me should you have any further questions about this matter.
Sincerely,
Donna J. Metzler
City Manager
cc. Mayor and City Council"
Response of Grand County School District
.A reply letter dated October 6, 1998, from Grand County School District Superintendent Ronald D. Ferguson stated as follows:
"Dear Mr. Mortensen,
"I am please to respond to your inquiry as to the extent of the School District's involvement with the Tibetan Monks during their stay in Moab. I will begin by indicating that what was reported in the Salt Lake Tribune on September 19, 1998 was misleading as things were not exactly as reported.
"I will address your concerns in the order you listed them.
"1. The Grand County School District did not expend any funds for or on behalf of the Monks. Students from Helen M. Knight Intermediate School were transported to the high school (about one mile) for the assembly the Monks presented to school students.
"The Board authorized the presentation of the assemblies with the understanding that they would be strictly a cultural presentation. However, like the American Indian dances and chants that are presented as cultural experiences in school districts throughout the state, culture and religion are closely aligned. Neither the School District nor any of the schools paid any fee for presentation. All presentations were in the native language and the emphasis was on the dance and costuming.
"A parent information letter was sent out from each school that indicated the nature of the program was cultural and that some classes might visit the MARC (Moab Arts & Recreation Center) to see the mandala the Monks were creating. Parents were given the option of returning the bottom portion of the letter indicating that they had chosen to not allow their student(s) to attend either the assembly and/or MARC visit. The requests were honored and these students remained at school doing other supervised activities.
"2. The sponsor for the event, Rene' LaFaurie, came to the Board of Education requesting free use of the High School auditorium to present two evening performances of the Tibetan Monks. This request was denied and Ms. LaFaurie was required to pay a $200 rental fee for use of the facilities on two nights.
"3. No funds were provided for any aspect of the Monks stay or purpose.
"4. No prayers for anything were offered at the schools, at least not in front of any audience nor in any classes. In fact the Monks did not go into any classes.
"5. See #'s 2, 3, and 4.
"6. The two evening presentations given at the high school were through a rental process, so the School District did not monitor their presentation.
"7. Donations may have been solicited at the evening presentations, however, as previously stated, the facility was rented by the sponsor. She could proceed just as any other entity, such as the Moab Music Festival does, in soliciting donations.
"8. Discussions were held regarding separation of religion and government. That is why the School Districts holds to rental agreements.
"Again, the Salt Lake Tribune article tended to mix all activities together and assume that all of these things happened at all venues.
"If you have further questions you can contact me at the District Office. I will be happy to visit with you about your concerns.
Sincerely
/s/
Ronald D. Ferguson
Superintendent"
Attached to Superintendent Ferguson's letter were two pages. The first page was a page from the September, 1998 Grand County School District Newsletter. Under "Upcoming Events" was the following section:
"Wearing elaborate costumes, the Tibetan Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery will be presenting their traditional dance and music for students in mid-September. They will also be constructing a sand mandala at the MARC (Moab Arts and Recreation Center). This is strictly a cultural experience for students. If you have concerns about your student participating in these events please call the school or complete and return the information letter sent home."
The second page was a page of the minutes of the regular meeting of the Grand County Board of Education of July 15, 1998. Under a subheading called "Delegation," was recorded,
"Rene LaFaurie asked the Board to donate the cost of using the auditorium for a presentation by the Tibetan Monks. The Board explained the high cost of running the building and is still discerning the actual costs. Once this decision is made the Board will talk with Ms. LaFaurie."
Also attached to the letter was a copy of a cash receipt dated September 23, 1998. The receipt noted that it was for $200 cash received on September 23, 1998, from Rene Lafarie for "rental of H.S. facility for Monk's prog."
Thereafter the district was asked to confirm that the monks' Sacred Music Sacred Dance performances to the schools were done in the usual manner with an altar present on the stage and introductions in English. Principal Greenberg, responding to Superintendent Ferguson, reported, "I'm not sure you would call it an altar, but there was a table set up at the back of the stage that had various items on it, including a picture of the Dali Lama. ... Also, behind the table was a huge mural of the monastery in Lhasa that was destroyed by the Chinese." This description matched the description of the altar in the monk's stage plans. Principal Greenberg also confirmed that a monk who spoke English introduced the various performances. Superintendent Ferguson asked, "Was this anything more than a cultural presentation. In other words, was it a religious presentation or can you even untangle the intertwining of the two?" Principal Greenberg responded, "No, it was not a religious presentation, at least as I understand 'religious presentation.'" [Section II continues ...]