HAMILTON - The remaining tickets for the much-anticipated lecture by the Dalai Lama at Colgate University were snatched up by the general public in just three hours Saturday. The free tickets were available via the Colgate Bookstore's website starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

By 1 a.m., only 50 tickets from a pool of a little more than a thousand were left. And just before 3 a.m., those burning the midnight oil at the bookstore watched the last ticket be snapped up.

This came as no surprise to staffers who've been fielding calls from across the country since word of the Dalai Lama's visit was released in February.

"Everyone wants tickets to the lecture. In fact, we had alumni calling from as far away as California. This is a huge event not only for the university, but also the entire region," said Linda Gregory, of the bookstore.

A few weeks ago, students, staff, and faculty members got first dibs on tickets. The lecture will be held at Sanford Fieldhouse, which can accommodate 4,900.

"The Colgate community is so revved up about the visit," said Julia Gooding '08, president of Colgate's Buddhist Student Association.

Gooding, who's visited the Dalai Lama's monastery in Dharamsala, India, believes he has a pertinent message for everyone.

"His Holiness speaks about peace and compassion -- messages that resonate with a lot of people and are very meaningful in our world today. Regardless of your religion, he'll deliver a very powerful message."

Gooding helped organized a number of public events to educate the campus and community about Tibetan Buddhism, including an interactive workshop at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in Lawrence Hall's Ho Lecture Room.

She said there's a heightened interest in the Dalai Lama because of the current situation overseas. Following recent violence in Tibet's capital and a volatile Tibetan region of western China, the Dalai Lama has called for a peaceful resolution.

The Dalai Lama will speak at Colgate as part of the Global Leaders Lecture Series, sponsored by Colgate's Parents' and Grandparents' Fund.

Robert H. N. Ho '56, who has a longstanding relationship with the Dalai Lama, was instrumental in getting him to visit Colgate.

In September 2006, Ho arranged for President Rebecca Chopp to meet with the Dalai Lama in Vancouver. Ho provided a helpful overview about Colgate to the Dalai Lama, who expressed an interest in visiting. Chopp issued the official invitation, and the university received word in January about the visit.

For those unable to attend the event, a webcast of the lecture will be available at www.colgate.edu