Gallaudet University students are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. So mad that they shut down the nation’s only liberal arts college for the deaf again yesterday. Students and others are unhappy with Gallaudet’s new president-elect, Jane K. Fernandes, and want her to resign.
“Students pitched tents, took over a major classroom building and, before dawn Wednesday, blocked all access to the private university,” according to the Washington Post article by Susan Kinzie entitled “Gallaudet Closed for a Second Day.”
The Post details the trouble that has been brewing since Fernandes was selected in May. Some in the community think the search process was too quick and overlooked the strongest candidate. Kinzie writes, “Their anger has grown over what they say is the board’s dismissive attitude. Some say Fernandes has divided them more since May rather than bringing them together on a campus that has enormous cultural resonance for the deaf community.” “They have no idea who we are,” a student said to ABC News of the board of trustees.
Fernandes, who has strong board support, is set to take over in January. She says the debate is about deaf identity politics.
“I feel that this institution cannot move forward under Dr. Fernandes’ leadership because there are too many disagreements about her as a leader,” Mark Weinberger, a professor of foreign languages and chair of the faculty senate, said to ABC News.
Fernandes vows to stick it out.
2 comments:
From Sheila: I moved this down from the previous entry where it got posted originally along with my response. I am thankful to see someone with more direct knowledge post on the topic.
From Rev. Croft:
I am very connected with Gallaudet and, in fact, was on campus on October 9.
From 1980-1996 I was Episcopal/Anglican chaplain there. I've both taken and taught courses there and currently am an on-line course. My wife earned two Masters and a Doctorate at Gallaudet.
In 1988 I picketed daily to get rid of the president-elect, Elizabeth Zinser. (I was the only chaplain to be on campus all eight days of the protest).
It is saddening, now, to see Dr. Jordan "turn tables" 18 years later and cruelly order the arrest of peaceful protesters. `135 persons were arrested on Friday the 13th.
It is even more saddening to learn that he hand-picked his successor, and lied about it. From what I have learned from many faculty and staff friends at Gallaudet, she is a disaster in many ways.
I'm very much with the protesters. For more information the best source is www.deafread.com, which will point you to various blogs on this topic.
The Rev. Jay L. Croft
Sheila's response:
Rev. Croft, I appreciate your post which gives a more personal perspective to the story. Search processes for university presidents need to be transparent. This is an example of what can happen when the board and other officials do not take into account students/faculty/or staff. Of course, the board must select a candidate who can work with all constituents including itself but not only itself.
From Sheila: I moved this down from the previous entry where it got posted originally along with my response. I am thankful to see someone with more direct knowledge post on the topic.
From Rev. Croft:
I am very connected with Gallaudet and, in fact, was on campus on October 9.
From 1980-1996 I was Episcopal/Anglican chaplain there. I've both taken and taught courses there and currently am an on-line course. My wife earned two Masters and a Doctorate at Gallaudet.
In 1988 I picketed daily to get rid of the president-elect, Elizabeth Zinser. (I was the only chaplain to be on campus all eight days of the protest).
It is saddening, now, to see Dr. Jordan "turn tables" 18 years later and cruelly order the arrest of peaceful protesters. `135 persons were arrested on Friday the 13th.
It is even more saddening to learn that he hand-picked his successor, and lied about it. From what I have learned from many faculty and staff friends at Gallaudet, she is a disaster in many ways.
I'm very much with the protesters. For more information the best source is www.deafread.com, which will point you to various blogs on this topic.
The Rev. Jay L. Croft
Sheila's response:
Rev. Croft, I appreciate your post which gives a more personal perspective to the story. Search processes for university presidents need to be transparent. This is an example of what can happen when the board and other officials do not take into account students/faculty/or staff. Of course, the board must select a candidate who can work with all constituents including itself but not only itself.
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