"I think that this is something we borrowed from the non-violent resistance protests by Ghandi" she says. "It stems from India, where the Tibetans have lived for many years."

The Coalition is optimistic about the turnout for the two-day hunger strike and about the impact it will have on Jiang's visit.

"I think everything is going to make a difference," Rabgey says in response to fears expressed by some Coalition members who were worried that Jiang's visit would send the wrong message to the Tibetans and Taiwanese people, one that suggests wide support for Jiang among members of the Harvard community.

The Coalition is projecting that they will be joined by more than 5,000 students, faculty and others from outside of Harvard at tomorrow's rally.

"I think people will be really surprised in that a lot of people outside the Harvard community will be there," Rabgey says. "This is something that touches a lot of people--human rights activists, feminists, religious leaders--and China is such a large community, one that cannot help but to touch so many people's lives."

One aspect of Jiang's visit that has angered Coalition members is the University's decision to allow questions to the world leader to be screened.

"Of course human rights questions will be present," Rabgey says. "But they will be worded in a way as to be very comfortable for him to answer."

University spokesperson Joe Wrinn says the questions for Jiang will not be changed from the suggestions submitted beforehand.