Letelier Will Get Schweitzer Award

Fabiola Letelier, a human rights lawyer and the sister of slain Chilean political activist Orlando Letelier, will receive the Albert Schweitzer Award of Excellence from Chapman University next week.

Letelier has served on human rights committees around the world and has won several international awards recognizing her struggle for civil rights in Chile, said Chapman officials.

The attorney, who is president of the Santiago-based Organization for the Advancement and Defense of Community Rights, was propelled into the limelight with the 1976 assassination of her brother, a socialist activist.

He had served as U.S. ambassador during the socialist regime of President Salvador Allende, who was overthrown in a military coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet in 1973.

Letelier went into exile in Washington, D.C., where he was killed by a car bomb.

The Albert Schweitzer Award is the highest service award given by the university and honors individuals who lead lives dedicated to public service, a spokesman said.

Letelier will receive the award at the university’s Convocation at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Chapman Auditorium in Memorial Hall, 333 N. Glassell St.

She will give an address on human rights during a lecture at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 in Room 209A of Argyros Forum on campus.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Information: (714) 997-6607.