Vic Mansfield, a longtime professor of physics and astronomy who helped lead an insightful workshop during the recent campus visit by the Dalai Lama, died Tuesday after a two-year battle with lymphoma. He was 67.

Mansfield joined the Colgate faculty in 1973, armed with a doctorate in theoretical astrophysics from Cornell University and burning interests in cosmology, computational methods, and the conjunction of science and spirituality.

In his 35 years at Colgate, he lectured in physics, astronomy, numerical analysis, and in all components of the core curriculum, inspiring students with his eloquence, enthusiasm, expertise and high expectations.

For Stephanie Macomber '08, the Dalai Lama's discussion about religion and spirituality was the culmination of her four years on campus as a religion major and member of University Church.

"One of my most influential professors, Professor Sindima of the religion department, once told me, 'an unexamined faith is no faith at all.' He couldn't be more accurate," Macomber said. "By examining my faith I have learned a lot about religious tolerance in a time when our world certainly needs it. I was so deeply impacted by the Dalai Lama's words because all of our differences, whether racial, economic, or religious are just secondary to our likeness as humans."

The day after his public talk, the Dalai Lama on Wednesday expanded on his views about religion in a panel discussion for about 100 students who are involved with religion on campus, either through academic study, student clubs, or the campus ministry.

The program, titled "The Moral and Spiritual Power of Religion and the University," was introduced by Colgate President Rebecca S. Chopp, herself a religion scholar, and moderated by Steven Kepnes, Murray W. and Mildred K. Finard Professor in Jewish studies and religion.

On the second day of his Colgate visit, the Dalai Lama was given a glimpse of home when he was treated to a presentation on the constellations of the night sky over Lhaso, Tibet, in the visualization lab of the Robert H.N. Ho Science Center.

His Holiness then participated in "A Dialogue on Science and Religion" in the center's Meyerhoff Auditorium with faculty panelists Lyle Roelofs, Vic Mansfield, Harvey Sindima, and David Dudrick.

Mansfield, professor of physics and astronomy, presented his new book Tibetan Buddhism and Modern Physics to the Dalai Lama, who had written the book's foreword.

Nearly 5,000 people streamed into Hamilton, across Colgate's campus, and into Sanford Fieldhouse to hear His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama speak about happiness -- that illusive quality that all human beings want, yet find so hard to achieve.

Before beginning, he removed his shoes and arranged himself slowly in a cross-legged position in the oversized crimson leather chair that was made for the occasion.

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.