Public Schedule for Afghan Women's Visit to Cal State Northridge
Initial Photo and Interview Opportunity Set for 6 p.m. Saturday at CSUN
Background:
Under the former Taliban regime, women in Afghanistan were not allowed to attend school or even leave home alone. But now, on Saturday, September 28, five women professionals from the new government of Afghanistan will arrive in Los Angeles for two weeks of training (Monday, Sept. 30 through Friday, Oct. 11) at Cal State Northridge. The goal is to improve their English, computer skills and ability to prepare grant requests for aid to help rebuild their war-torn country.
Initial Media Access:
The initial interview and photo opportunity for the visit has been scheduled for Saturday, September 28, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Cal State Northridge campus. The location will be University Hall (the administration building), second floor, President's Conference Room. This building is located on the CSUN campus at the northwest corner of Prairie Street and Etiwanda Avenue. Parking will be in adjoining Lot B-4, just west of the building, entered on Darby Avenue just north of Prairie Street.
The five women will be welcomed by CSUN Vice President for Administration and Finance Mohammad "Mo" Qayoumi on behalf of the university, which is providing their educational program in the mornings, and Janet Elliott, Executive Director of the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles, which is coordinating the women's various professional meetings in the afternoons and cultural activities on the weekends. After the welcome and a brief orientation, members of the Afghan delegation will be available for questions, interviews and photography.
Public Schedule Activities:
The women's ensuing two-week education program at Cal State Northridge will include several other public schedule activities, which include media access opportunities, as follows:
Tuesday, October 1, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Campus Open Reception
CSUN University Club, northwest corner of Nordhoff Street and Zelzah Avenue.
Parking in adjoining Lot G-1 accessible via Dearborn Street, heading west from Zelzah Avenue.
General photo/filming opportunity and informal interviews.
Thursday, October 3, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Discussion with Graduate Education Class
CSUN Education Building, first floor, room 1121. Hosted by Professor Justine Su.
Parking in Lot B-5, west of the building, accessible via Plummer Street, west of Etiwanda Avenue.
Mostly photo/filming opportunity of CSUN student interaction with Afghan women.
Tuesday, October 8, 7 to 9 p.m.: Attending Indian Dance and Music Performance
CSUN Performing Arts Center, University Student Union complex, due west of Lot G-4.
Access the building and parking via Lot G-4, enter along Zelzah Avenue north of Prairie Street.
Mostly photo/filming opportunity.
Thursday, October 10, 11 to 11:45 a.m.: Open Media Time Near the Program's Conclusion
CSUN College of Extended Learning, Matador Bookstore Complex, Lindley Avenue north of Nordhoff Street. Contact CSUN Public Relations at (818) 677-2130 for parking info.
Friday, October 11, 10 a.m. to Noon: Women's Closing Presentations/Graduation Ceremony
CSUN College of Extended Learning conference room, Matador Bookstore Complex, Lindley Avenue north of Nordhoff Street. Contact CSUN Public Relations at (818) 677-2130 for parking info.
Media Contacts:
Cal State Northridge - For additional information about these CSUN-based events, for interviews with university officials and instructors involved in the Afghan women's education program, or for other types of media access requests involving the women's weekday mornings at the university, please contact John Chandler, CSUN Director of Public Affairs, at (818) 634-4016 or e-mail John.Chandler@csun.edu. Evening and weekends phone is (818) 704-8686.
The principal CSUN officials available for interviews regarding the Afghan women's visit are:
- Cal State Northridge President Jolene Koester, whose activities led to CSUN's selection.
- CSUN Vice President Mohammad "Mo" Qayoumi, who was born and raised in Afghanistan.
- College of Extended Learning program development director Simin Bahmanyar, who is overseeing the Afghan women's educational program.
International Visitors Council of Los Angeles - For information or requests involving the Afghan women's professional meetings in the afternoons and cultural activities on the weekends, contact Janet Elliott, Executive Director of IVCLA. She can be reached at (213) 622-6835, ext. 27, or e-mail jelliott@ivcla.org. IVCLA also has a web site at http://www.ivcla.org/.
Background Information:
Cal State Northridge issued a news release on Tuesday, September 24 announcing the Afghan women's educational program at the university, one of three such visits occurring simultaneously in the United States. Additional background info, including the names and government positions held by the five women, is included in that news release. It is available via the university's web site at http://www.csun.edu/~hfoao102/press_releases/fall02/afghan.html.
U.S. State Department
The U.S. State Department can provide additional information about the government's International Visitors Program, through which the Afghan women's visits are occurring, and the government's broader aid efforts in Afghanistan. A principal State Department media contact is Rainy Young at (202) 647-0875.
For more information about the International Visitors Program, offered through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, go tohttp://exchanges.state.gov/education/ivp/.
For information on U.S. aid to women in Afghanistan, go to http://www.state.gov/g/wi/rls/c4618.htm.
