Buck Naked Bison

I know why the protesters at Gallaudet University feel so passionately about their cause, which is getting the future president, Dr. Jane K. Fernandes to resign AND reopening the presidential search process.First of all, this protest has nothing to do with the misconception that it is occurring because Fernandes isn’t deaf enough. The administration at Gallaudet University created that excuse to invalidate the cause and sadly, the media has gobbled down that lie without any questions. In order to understand the intensity of the emotions behind the protest, some background information is needed…

Gallaudet University is the Mecca of the deaf community. It’s a safe space for deaf people, a space where no such thing as a communication barrier exists. At Gallaudet, the societal stigma of being “disabled” does not exist. Gallaudet is the heart of the deaf community, a place that many deaf people call “home”.

Unfortunately, Gallaudet University is no longer a safe place for the deaf community- there are countless stories of lies and intimidation that occur behind the scenes. Gallaudet isn’t a place where communication is effortless, due to the fact that many of the staff members lack basic understanding and knowledge of sign language, and that includes campus security! A few years ago, due to lack of communication, the campus security killed someone (Carl Dupree). The stigma of being deaf is slowly returning, because the administration is sending a negative message by not considering American Sign Language as a mandatory language on campus. Instead, sim-com is widely used, even though with sim-com, a lot is lost in the process.

Dr. Jane K. Fernandes has been a part of the administration at Gallaudet for more than ten years. During her years as a part of the administration at Gallaudet, Fernandes stood by and watched as issues such as audism (discrimination based on the ability to hear) and racism festered. Fernandes ignored the Student Body Government. She also ignored the pleas of students trying to make the campus more accessible. Instead of employing compassion and concern, Fernandes chose to intimidate and alienate.

Fernandes left the pre-college program in shambles after her years of overlooking the program as the vice president. Many parents left the pre-college program due to Fernandes’ mismanagement. Over 50 students transferred from the high school on campus to the Maryland School for the Deaf, in Frederick. Many of the parents of those students worked on campus, and received numerous threats to their jobs due to their decision to move their children from an academically stagnant environment.

Fernandes also did nothing to quell the student’s concerns and fears when two murders occurred on campus five years ago. She allowed the DC police to investigate without federal assistance, even though the police have a notoriously bad track record. They actually ended up arresting the wrong man, Thomas Minch, who later successfully sued the university. On the first day of the murders, the students were locked down in the dorm where the murder was, until the police could interview them all and investigate. She forgot that the students hadn’t eaten all day. Despite numerous requests by Graduate Assistant Rory Osbrink and Resident Advisor Tom Koch, it was almost eight hours before some sandwiches were brought in. She also did a terrible job of managing various campus crises, such as the sniper murders and 9/11, leaving students scared and bewildered.

Instead of taking active interest and concern by really listening to the protesters’ words, the administration have chosen to do questionable things. Recent examples include-

-The day the protesters were going to stage their demonstration (known as Tent City), they found maintenance spraying the spot with foul-smelling manure. It was claimed that this was routine maintenance, even though several PPD workers stated that they had been sent there at the last minute.

-The current president, Dr. Irving King Jordan, held a lavish party celebrating his retirement amid protests. Chairs with gold trim were brought in and lobster bisque was served at the ceremony. There was a piano in the corner with someone playing it during the dinner. Talk about audism! Even during a crisis, the rich are entitled to eat and play.

-Instead of inviting interpreters to aid in the communication between campus security and the protesters about a bomb threat, they chose to have the campus security barge through the protester-occupied building, leaving behind scared and confused students in its wake. No communication about the bomb threat occurred at all.

-During that bomb scare, the campus security resorted to tactics such as shoving, choking, pushing, and use of pepper spray. The administration was quick to deny the reports of injuries, but little did they know that the protesters were smart enough to catch the whole incident on film/tape.

-The administration knew that the deaf protesters would lose some of their power if the services of sign language interpreters were withheld, so they did so.

-The president of Gallaudet University Alumni Association (GUAA), Andy Lange, sent out an email to the alumni to express his support for the protest. GUAA was promptly denied access to the alumni e-mail database, preventing GUAA from getting in touch with the alumni. Meanwhile, Gallaudet University has continued to use the very same email database to send out their messages against the protest movement.

-On the first day of the campus lock-down, the protesters let cafeteria workers in. In spite of that, the administration decided to close the cafeteria. When asked about students who needed to eat due to medical conditions such as diabetes, Jordan shrugged and said that there were the Student Health Services. I’ll give them some credit; the administration did relent by reopening the cafeteria soon afterwards.

-They also blamed the protesters for closing MSSD and Kendall, when the opposite was true. They closed the pre-college programs themselves in spite of the protesters’ willingness to allow the programs to stay open and to allow free access for teachers, staff and students. Then they told the media that the protesters prevented the pre-college programs from operating and students from getting their education.

-The protest has been going on for three weeks this semester (not counting last May) and Fernandes was nowhere to be seen until the 12th day. Even then, her appearance was brief and she didn’t address any of the issues or concerns. Instead she asked for a meeting with a small group of students. When the student leaders asked her if the meeting could be broadcast to the protesters via live feed, Fernandes said no. Is that a sign of an effective leader who is willing to listen and confront issues?

Everything I’ve mentioned is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more that I’m not aware of because I’m not a student, faculty member, staff member, or alumni. But, I think that it’s safe to say that all of this has built up to create an emotional situation filled with protesters asking for a better president who shows more compassion and concern for the deaf community, a president who will make positive changes, a president who will lead the deaf community in an effective manner.

There is something good that has come from the chaos. The deaf community is more united now. A small group of supporters in California has sent a representative to the university with $1,350 in donations. Prominent figures in the deaf community are lending their bodies and support. Makeshift tent cities have popped up all over this continent (including one in Denmark!). Concerned spectators are bombarding the administration with letters and emails. There are a number of tireless bloggers who are keeping the deaf community updated- Elisa, Ridor, Mishka Zena, and Earl.

You have to remember that I am not a student, faculty member, staff or alumna. I am simply a concerned observer, who went to MSSD back in the day and has friends on campus. If I, as an outsider, can see these things, can you even imagine what the protesters have been going through?

I applaud them for their courage, strength and determination.

This was written before the arrests took place and Jordan’s cancellation of Homecoming. I’m sure Carrie has a lot more to say now.
-Editor