In a week marked by uncertainty and disappointment for the nation's Chinese population, the University's Chinese community honored one of its chief advocates this weekend -- Congressman William Clinger.

The Chinese Friendship Association presented Clinger with a commemorative plaque during a short ceremony in 101D HUB Saturday.

The plaque paid tribute to Clinger's support of China's Pro-Democracy Movement. Leaders of the association said Clinger has been an asset to their cause.

Clinger said since his association with local Chinese students, he has become aware of a lot of issues.

"Although you can't vote for me you're still my constituents," he said.

Clinger praised the lobbying by the University's Chinese community to secure support for last year's Chinese Emergency Immigration Act.

Zu Jing Zhang, a graduate student, has been in America for three-and-a-half years. He said if he ever had to return to China it would wreck his life.

"I would have to kneel down in front of the Communists and confess that what I did in America was wrong. There is a lot of brainwashing going on to wash out bourgeoisie ideology and America is seen as the center of these ideas. I would be very frightened to go back."

He added that by talking to the media the lives of his family back in China were also at risk.

"The Chinese Consulates everywhere have tightened up their spying activities and it is possible that they may ask their workers to look into the contents of local newspapers."

The Chinese Friendship Association, which includes about 200 members, used various measures to gain support for the Chinese Emergency Immigration Act, said co-ordinating officer said Zu Jing (graduate-French).

He said they worked alongside University President Bryce Jordan and also lobbied in Washington, D.C. several times. The association set up a network of 20 different groups representing one or more academic departments which distributed information, he added.

Chi Dong Zhang, the association's president, said he was disappointed with Thursday's failed override of President Bush's veto of legalization on Chinese student exchanges.

But he added, "We also feel a kind of victory because in adding an executive order the president had to respond to the people's will. This makes us appreciate the democratic system."

But Chi Dong expressed concern over the implications of the senate's decision.

"The senators who voted against the override did so to save the face of President Bush so he can deal with the Chinese government," he said. "I feel that this message could be understood differently in Beijing. The leaders may feel that what they did to the Chinese students may be okay with the American government."

Jim Lynch, associate director of the Office of International Students, said he thinks students in the United States are no more likely to return to China under the executive order than they were under the Immigration Act.

However Chi Dong did not share his certainty.

"I hope that Bush keeps his word, but I don't have much confidence," he said. "After Tiananmen Square the president said that he would cut off high-level government exchanges but then sent high level staff to Beijing.

"How then can we feel confident with this promise?" he asked. "He wanted to keep his flexibility, but students' lives and futures cannot afford this kind of flexibility."