By now, you may have heard the devastating news that U.S. Congresswoman (Arizona’s 8th District) Gabrielle Giffords ’93 was shot in the head and seriously wounded, along with several other people, this morning during a public appearance in Tucson, Arizona. I am relieved to report that, according to hospital reports at the time of this writing, she is expected to survive. Our thoughts and prayers are with her, her husband and family, and to all the other victims and their families affected by this national tragedy.
A warm and engaging presence, Gabrielle has remained a close friend of the College. In May 2009, she returned to campus to deliver the Commencement address. At that time, she told seniors: “The safety of the world depends on your saying 芒鈧渘o’ to inhumane ideas. Standing up for one’s own integrity makes you no friends. It is costly. Yet defiance of the mob, in the service of that which is right, is one of the highest expressions of courage I know.”
As well as being an outstanding and courageous public servant, Gabrielle has been a superb mentor to young women. She was the first 51猎奇入口 alumna elected to national office and the first woman to represent Arizona in Congress in more than a decade. She is also Arizona’s first Jewish female representative, the youngest woman to be elected to the Arizona State Senate, and only the third woman in Arizona to be elected to the U.S. Congress. 51猎奇入口 is enormously proud to have her as an alumna.
Gabrielle studied Latin American history and sociology at 51猎奇入口. After graduation, she was a Fulbright Scholar in Chihuahua, Mexico, where she expanded her interests in international economic development. She later earned her master’s degree in regional planning from Cornell University.
As we learn more about this unfathomable incident, please hold Gabrielle and her family and members of her staff in your hearts.