CHAPMAN
p r e s i d e n t ’s m e s s a g e
Standing Up for Simple Liberties
“As Afghan advocates for peace and human rights, they provide a new window to a culture that many of us only know through the lens of war and the atrocities of extremists.”
Can you imagine not being permitted to vote, hold a job, go to school or even leave your house without a chaperone? It’s hard for many of us who live in the United States and other parts of the world to relate, but this was the reality for most women living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in the 1990s. And while the situation has improved significantly in the past decade, women’s rights in that country continue to be hard-won and difficult to sustain. It was deeply inspiring to meet Munira Akhundzada and Shamsi Maqsoudi, two 24-year-old Afghan attorneys featured in this issue of Chapman Magazine (page 24). They are graduate students in the Chapman University School of Law, preparing to make a difference in the male-dominated justice system of Afghanistan. Many students come to Chapman in search of creative opportunities for making a difference in the world around them. When Munira and Shamsi return home, they will risk their lives to take on issues related to changing a culture with a complex history of limiting women’s rights and hostility toward those who seek reforms. We are very fortunate to have Munira and Shamsi as members of our academic community. While the stories of these two young leaders may seem extreme, it’s a simple fact that none of us can take for granted the freedoms we enjoy. As Afghan advocates for peace and human rights, they provide a new window to a culture that many of us only know through the lens of war and the atrocities of extremists. As agents for change, they inspire us to persevere in surmounting the risks and obstacles to achieve our visions and goals. As inquiring, ethical and productive global citizens, they remind us that simple liberties — like the freedom to pursue an education and a career or the free exchange and debate of ideas — are ours only if we stand up for them, and only if we invest ourselves in advocating them for all members of our community. Regards,
James L. Doti
Board of Trustees OFFICERS Donald E. Sodaro Chairman Doy B. Henley Executive Vice Chairman David A. Janes, Sr. Vice Chairman David E.I. Pyott Vice Chairman Scott Chapman Secretary Zelma M. Allred Assistant Secretary TRUSTEES Wylie A. Aitken The Honorable George L. Argyros ’59 Donna Ford Attallah ’61 Raj S. Bhathal James P. Burra Phillip H. Case Irving M. Chase Arlene R. Craig Jerome W. Cwiertnia Kristina Dodge James W. Emmi
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CHAPMAN MAGAZINE
H. Ross Escalette Paul Folino Dale E. Fowler ’58 Barry Goldfarb David C. Henley Roger C. Hobbs William K. Hood Mark Chapin Johnson ’05 Jennifer L. Keller Parker S. Kennedy Joe E. Kiani Joann Leatherby Charles D. Martin James V. Mazzo Sebastian Paul Musco Frank O’Bryan Harry S. Rinker James B. Roszak The Honorable Loretta L. Sanchez ’82 Mohindar S. Sandhu James Ronald Sechrist Ronald M. Simon Ronald E. Soderling Glenn B. Stearns R. David Threshie Emily Crean Vogler Karen R. Wilkinson ’69 David W. Wilson
EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEES Marcia Cooley Reverend Don Dewey James L. Doti Kelsey C. Flewellen ’05 Judi Garfi-Partridge Reverend Stanley D. Smith ’67 Reverend Felix Villanueva Reverend Denny Williams TRUSTEES EMERITI Richard Bertea Lynn Hirsch Booth J. Ben Crowell Leslie N. Duryea Robert A. Elliott Marion Knott Jack B. Lindquist Randall R. McCardle ’58 Cecilia Presley Barry Rodgers Richard R. Schmid
Board of Governors OFFICERS Judi Garfi-Partridge Chair Melinda M. Masson Executive Vice Chair
Thomas E. Malloy Vice Chair
Betty Mower Potalivo Jerrel T. Richards
Douglas E. Willits ’72 Secretary
GOVERNORS EMERITI Gary E. Liebl
GOVERNORS George Adams, Jr. Marilyn Alexander Lisa Argyros ’07 Margaret Baldwin Marta S. Bhathal Kathleen A. Bronstein Kim B. Burdick Michael J. Carver Doug Cavanaugh Eva Chen Ronn C. Cornelius Rico Garcia Kathleen M. Gardarian Lula F. Halfacre Stan Harrelson Sinan Kanatsiz ’97 (M.A. ’00) Sue Kint Scott A. Kisting John L. Kokulis Dennis Kuhl Stephen M. Lavin ’88 Jean H. Macino Richard D. Marconi
EX-OFFICIO GOVERNORS Sheryl A. Bourgeois James L. Doti
President’s Cabinet Nicolaos G. Alexopoulos Julianne Argyros Joyce Brandman Heidi Cortese Sherman Lawrence K. Dodge Onnolee B. Elliott (M.A. ’64) Douglas K. Freeman Frank P. Greinke Gavin S. Herbert Steeve Kay General William Lyon The Honorable Milan Panic Lord Swarj Paul James H. Randall The Honorable Ed Royce Susan Samueli Ralph Stern David Stone