Common Book Otterbein University

• Tuesday, Oct. 22
  • 3-4 p.m.: Common Book Convocation featuring Maria Toorpakai, Cowan Hall. Doors open at 2:45 p.m.
  • 4-5 p.m.: Book Signing and Reception, Fisher Gallery, Roush Hall 1st Floor
    • Join us for a reception and bring your book to have the author sign it.
  • 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: Friends of the Library host a Talk/Q&A with Maria Toorpakai, Courtright Memorial Library, 2nd Floor
    • Join us for a light reception and discussion with the Common Book author. Book signing to follow immediately after. FYE approved
• Wednesday, Oct. 23
  • 11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Theatre 1000 Class Presents Scenes from the Common Book, Campus Center Theatre, Lower Level
    • First year students in the Theatre 1000 course present scenes inspired from themes and messages in A Different Kind of Daughter. FYE approved

Maria Toorpakay Wazir (Pashto: ماريه تورپېکۍ وزيره‎; Urdu: ماریہ تورپیکئی وزیر‎; b. November 22, 1990 in South Waziristan, FATA) is a professional Pakistani squash player. She dressed like a boy for the first 16 years of her life in order to participate in competitive sports as a Muslim girl, using the name Genghis Khan, fully supported by her Muslim parents.

After defeating boys in weightlifting at age 12, Toorpekai turned to squash and having to produce a birth certificate gave up pretending to be a boy. She became the first tribal Pakistani girl in international squash tournaments, turning professional in 2006. In August 2007, the President of Pakistan bestowed the Salaam Pakistan Award upon her. She was threatened by the Taliban and locked herself in her house for the following 3 years. In 2009, she won third place in the world junior women's squash championship. In 2011, she arrived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to train with Jonathon Power. As of May 2016 she is ranked 56th among female players in the world.