Sarah Chayes shares her story

Sarah Chayes, author of "Punishment of Virtue: Inside Afghanistan After the Taliban," spoke in Rigge Science 120 on Wednesday.

By KATIE RYAN
News Editor

Sarah Chayes is a woman of contradictions.

First, she spoke at Creighton on the same evening as an archbishop and at a time that overlapped Greek chapter meetings.

Second, she said Afghan people accuse her of being a mannish woman, not only because she is outspoken, but because she essentially cross-dresses by wearing a turban — attire typical of a grown male.

Yet while speaking to an audience of about 150, she wore an above-the-knee black dress covered with an ankle length pink coat and accessorized with a thick strand of pearls.

Third, what started as a career covering Afghanistan for National Public Radio turned into quitting her job and starting a non-profit organization within the country. Now, the formerly objective journalist rebuilds villages, talks about her experiences and helps write and amend Afghan policy.

Fourth, Chayes wrote a book about Afghanistan, including names of people that many Americans cannot pronounce, cities Americans cannot find on a map and governmental policies that Americans have trouble deciphering, at a level that young adults can understand.

As part of the first diversity and leadership lecture organized by Creighton’s InterResidence Hall Government, Chayes spoke about her book, “Punishment of Virtue: Inside Afghanistan After the Taliban,” and her experiences while living in Afghanistan for the past five years.

“It’s not a policy-wonk book, it’s a story,” she said to the audience.

But to tell the story so readers could understand it, the book is narrated by Chayes.

The first-person perspective of the book made it easy to read and hard to put down, said Katy Bolz, Business sophomore and lecture organizer.

“I honestly feel like I’m reading a novel, but it’s non-fiction,” Bolz said.

Arts & Sciences sophomore Rachel Benzoni bought Chayes’ book and hopes to assist with humanitarian aid herself.

“We need more people like Sarah Chayes to go to Afghanistan and Iraq,” Benzoni said.

Benzoni said that giving aid is not limited to Afghanistan, and Chayes agreed.

There are other ways to get involved that are not limited to a financial donation or attending lectures.

Learn another language, Chayes said. Intern with a non-profit organization. Students can use their diverse talents in business, communication and other areas to assist with overseas and domestic work, she said.

“[Chayes] delves into a world that Creighton students don’t normally experience,” Bolz said. “And that is what diversity is all about.”