Chapman community grapples with possible reputational damage

Parents and Board members believe that the Newsweek opinion of law professor John Eastman, as well as other recent incidents, could affect Chapman’s reputation. SAM ANDRUS Photo Editor

Taria Walker-Faison trusts her son. 

She raised him with integrity. She raised him to make decisions based on facts and to make decisions based on what’s in his heart. So when he said he felt Chapman University was the school for him and committed this past spring, she fully supported his choice. 

She still supports him despite noticing tuition climbs year-to-year; despite seeing the price of attendance was actually raised in the middle of a global pandemic; despite noticing administration had brushed off a student petition to remove “problematic” on-campus busts. Yet the straw nearly broke the camel’s back after she read law professor John Eastman’s Newsweek opinion questioning Kamala Harris’ citizenship – and the lack of any firm response from Chapman administration.

“We’re an African American family – my son is an African American coming into this school and for me to see that, it lends itself to other thoughts like, ‘OK, now (Eastman’s) questioning the birth of an African American woman who is of mixed heritages,’” Walker-Faison said. “If he’s having these thoughts, what is the rest of the administration thinking? And these are people that are going to be educating my African American son. So I have to say … part of me questions whether I am doing the right thing by sending my son to Chapman.”

Over the past few weeks, as Chapman has found itself embroiled in a storm of criticism, parents are increasingly expressing frustration with the university. Many, like Walker-Faison, are raising their voices in public forums, such as Facebook groups. Yet, there may be a wider population of parents whose opinions of the university have soured, yet are hesitant to provide a public input on Facebook or directly challenge the administration. Those opinions could very well possibly hurt the administration in multiple ways.

On Aug. 17, Chairman of Chapman’s Board of Trustees Wiley Aitken wrote an opinion for the Voice of OC on Eastman’s article. In the piece, Aitken criticized the professor’s argument and reaffirmed the statements of other members of the administration that Eastman didn’t represent the school as a whole. In an interview with The Panther, Aitken emphasized Chapman’s commitment to diversity, particularly efforts to diversify the Board of Trustees itself. However, he touched upon a key concern of parents – that the reputation of the school is diminishing. 

“I had a letter from a prominent political figure who pointed out that actions that have taken place, both with Eastman and other things, had in effect created the impression to people outside the Chapman community and to people certainly now nationally – view Chapman and Orange County as if it was 30 years ago,” Aitken told The Panther. “The reality is, (Eastman’s opinion) is also going to make our challenge more difficult, in terms of diversifying the faculty and diversifying the Board.” 

Yet beyond simple reputation, the university could also be affected monetarily. Gabrielle Toczek, a Chapman student on scholarship, told The Panther Aug. 15 about a letter the university had sent to her parents asking for donations to their emergency fund. 

“I just think it’s interesting that they’re asking parents to pay out during a difficult time when they have the funds to support families,” Toczek wrote in a direct message. 

Executive Vice President of University Advancement Sheryl Bourgeois, who oversees donations to the university, said Chapman is trying to be as transparent and understanding as possible for families who no longer are able to donate due to financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We’re a family and we have to be there when people are up and when people are down,” Bourgeois said. “We just need to keep reminding them why Chapman needs to be here after this pandemic gets resolved and why we can be part of the solutions, part of the answers, part of the change, part of the positive that can come out of this.” 

In truth, the university relies heavily on donations from parents and annual donors to fund day-to-day operations and student scholarships. In response to the pandemic, Chapman has even increased their budget for financial aid, which was already over $100 million, by an additional $15 million in March. Bourgeois noted that at this exact point in this fiscal year, donations are actually higher in comparison to previous years. However, as the year pushes on, she acknowledged that the remote environment and recent string of bad press Chapman’s received could affect families’ willingness to contribute. 

“There are going to be people that decide, ‘You know what, I’m just not. I don’t agree with what that professor said, or I don’t feel like Chapman’s doing enough when it comes to diversity,’” Bourgeois said. “But I’d say there’s a larger percentage of the university’s following that are going to give despite those things, because they realize that these things are always going to happen and it’s not necessarily anything that we’re intentionally doing.”