Chapman’s Doti Displays His Lighter Side

Jay Leno’s job is safe.

Chapman University President James L. Doti, a noted local economist, presented the school’s updated economic forecast to about 250 businesspeople last week. After discussing such weighty matters as Asia’s financial crisis, employment and interest rates, Doti attempted to show his lighter side. He announced that Chapman was planning a hostile takeover of UC Irvine.

Doti said that a merger of the two campuses would increase their educational market share and eliminate redundant operations. As CEO of the combined schools, Doti said he would receive 5 million stock options. He then displayed a slide showing Chapman’s panther mascot after it supposedly ingested a UCI anteater.

Speaking of Leno, Doti recalled that “The Tonight Show” host recently poked fun at experts who had predicted the stock market would either go up or down this year.

In concluding his forecast for the national economy, Doti assured the audience of the accuracy of that prediction.