The protests at Gallaudet started on April 3Oth. I made my first post on May 6.
Today, the NY Times features this story, Protests Continue at University for Deaf, on its email edition of headlines.
Most of my news has been coming from the Indiana DeafTimes. The Deaf community there has developed a petition and sent representatives to support the strike. Also, they've establised an IndyDeafUnity weblog. Here's a more established blog with a commentary.
I’m at the Vermont Deaf-Interpreter community forum. Of course I’m the only person strange enough to bring my laptop. :-) Nice to see folks I haven’t seen for awhile: Will, Missy, Nora, my old partner in crime Melody, Keri, I saw Elizabeth in Brattleboro yesterday: “You’re in the area!” Marge just said hi, she’s surprised how many people are here: “I didn’t know if it was going to be large or small, maybe only three people? So many!” :-)
I know Lynn Jacobowitz. Her statement is disturbing in itself, and coming from her, even more so. She is not one to enter confrontation without conviction and a careful weighing of the consequences. Clearly there were problems with the search process if the Board was fooled into believing they were not participating in a handpicked anointment.
This may be a vital leverage point in the current struggle, along the lines of Amanda's comment about the labor issues. This may be the point that the Deaf community can win while they continue to clarify the language and cultural issues which must be separated and fully addressed.
The Student Government has issued a petition (3724 of a targeted 10,000 signatures already).
A poll is being conducted on the Faculty, Staff, Student and Alumni (FSSA) website from Gallaudet. At the moment:
What do you think of the protest? (1492 voters)
Justified 870 58.7%
This protest is stupid. 209 14.1%
Not enough justification for the protest 168 11.3%
I disagree with this protest 123 8.3%
Neutral 112 7.6%
and
Should Jane Fernandes Step Down? (416 voters)
Yes! Dr. Fernandes is the wrong choice for Gallaudet! 251 60.3%
Dr. Fernandes should have a chance to run Gallaudet. 85 20.4%
Dr. Fernandes should step down, but who's more qualified? 48 11.5%
No! Dr. Fernandes is perfect for Gallaudet! 18 4.3%
I'm neutral about all this. 14 3.4%
I'm interested that only a third of voters completed the second (more difficult?) question. Despite this discrepancy on the website, the FSSA (with only 66% of its members showing up: 145/220) passed several no confidence measures earlier today:
Stamp Out Audism is a site promoting many materials but not necessarily providing tangible evidence of audism. This doesn't mean there isn't audism at Gallaudet, in fact, I believe there is plenty of it. But non-deaf folk need to have it explained in terms they can understand.
Someone told me about a weblog called "Trim the Ferns" or something like that, against both Jane Fernandes and her husband, but I can't locate it via Google. It sounded mean too. Hate works (negative campaigning rules politics), but clearly-presented, sharply-argued explanations are better in the long run. One makes fewer enemies and might even convert some from the other side.
Protests that began on April 30 continued throughout the week. A story by Bill Myers of The DC Examiner charges that ongoing protests "have created a national frisson."
Mr. Myers seems to be reporting the escalation of protests impartially, including important facts and the viewpoint of "the embattled president-select".
The contours of an intracultural debate premised upon identity politics is obvious in the reporting of this event: the two "sides" are clearly defined and everyone is expected to pick and argue as vigorously as possible. Identity is reaffirmed through the arguing. The harder you fight for "your" side and the more you insult and demean the "other" side, then the more you prove to yourself and others who you are. Knowing "who" you are, having a basis inside yourself to understand where you belong, and with whom you belong, is a vital factor in living a happy life.
Just above, I stressed that this is an "intra" event. I think Fernandes is correct, as reported by Myers, in saying: "Reaching out to the non-traditionally deaf 'is essential to our survival,'." However, it may well be that she is not the one to bridge this gap. There is nothing more painful than accepting the judgment of others when they deem us lacking. Yet it seems to me that the way forward when such incidents occur is to recognize the dynamics at play and make deliberate choices NOT to continue them. Fernandes does not aid resolution by refusing to consider the possibility of resigning. The Deaf community does not aid resolution by disseminating only those articles that represent the Deaf cultural view. All sides of the issue need to be recognized and the humanity of each perspective honored. There is sense and reason from all persons involved, even if it is a "sense" or a "reason" that we cannot comprehend. Fernandes may be incapable of generating warmth. That doesn't necessarily mean her vision is crap. The Deaf community may be absolutely right that her orientation to the cultural values of a proud heritage is not ideal. This doesn't necessarily mean that she cannot contribute in important and meaningful ways to preserving and perpetuating Deaf culture and ASL.
It's both an end and an beginning for my friend, DR. David Geeslin.
His wife, Holly, reports that DG's graduation, after "6 years of classes and dissertation work" make him "the first Deaf Hoosier to receive a doctoral degree from an Indiana school (Indiana University)." He joins five previous ISD graduates who went on to receive doctoral degrees (and establish distinguished careers):
Jerome Freeman (1947)
Richard Johnson (1950)
Barbara Kannapell (1956)
Jerry Zenor (1959)
Laurene Simms (1972)
David Geeslin (1983) In this photo, David performs the ASL sign "PAH!"
In what can only be described as fairytale timing, David was also just recommended to the Governor of Indiana to become the next Superintendent of the Indiana School for the Deaf. (text below)
Congratulations! Sure wish I could be there for today's party. I can imagine it will be a bash to remember. :-)
Updated as of 10:30am
May 2, 2006
LOCKDOWN
Gallaudet University is in lockdown, with all entrances and exits blocked by students and alumni. We've been working since 2:40pm yesterday, since the announcement of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes as the 9th President of Gallaudet University. We've been standing outside in the DC sun, sleeping on hard asphalt in front of the DPS kiosk, trying to keep our spirits going as high as our passion, without the reinforcement of at-ready water, and of necessary nourishment. We know that alumni and the Deaf community are backing us up, but visible support is always needed, for inspiration which is a must of humanity. So therefore, we announce the unveiling of the "SUPPORT WALL" which will be located at the front gates of Gallaudet. Flyers, banners, photos of your activism, video testimonies will be shown here. Please send in all those to us@notwithoutus.org. They will serve to keep our spirits high and to remind us of the reason why we are doing this- for the BEST of OUR Gallaudet's future and to show the BOT We ALL will NOT allow them to do this AGAIN- WE WILL NOT BE OPPRESSED, and we will be heard VISUALLY AND CLEARLY! Send 'em in!!!
Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts
True Gallaudetians, for the university is nothing without us-
alumni, fac/staff, students, community, and you know it!
Although they've got a different complaint. Protests erupted yesterday and continue today.
Gallaudet Names New President ...
By Susan Kinzie
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 1, 2006; 6:24 PM
The selection of a new president of Gallaudet University, the nation's only liberal arts university for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, sparked a student walkout and protest today at the school's campus in Northeast Washington.
Students objected to the appointment of Jane Fernandes, who is deaf and is currently the university's provost, because she did not grow up using American Sign Language. Some students also criticized Fernandes for not having warm relations with students.
