Message from Homecoming Chairperson

Message from Homecoming Chairperson


To Members and Friends of the Gallaudet Community,

My heart felt like it was ripped in half when I learned about Irving Jordan's announcement that Homecoming weekend is cancelled. There was no warning. The purpose of Homecoming festivals is for all members of Gallaudet community to come together with pride in our legacy, celebrate diversity today, and lead Gallaudet muscularly to the promising future. Homecoming festivals allow the Gallaudet alumni a chance to reconnect with the campus and give the current student body a valuable opportunity to network with those outside the Gallaudet fence. I can't tell you how excited I was to have been selected as Chairperson for Homecoming 2006 and I have invested a lot and have committed to ensure that Homecoming 2006 will be a successful event. I want to share my feelings and thoughts with you all.

I love Gallaudet for what it has taught me and to halt all Homecoming functions, Irving Jordan is trying to destroy the spirit of Gallaudet. Thus we're expecting a lot of angry people everywhere in the days ahead of us. I wanted you to know how committed I was to make this Homecoming a time when everyone gathers together filled with Gallaudet spirit. The theme for this year's Homecoming is “Gally Days.” How ironic, as members of Gallaudet community, we demonstrate our Gallaudet pride through celebration of our rich history. Our Gallaudetian spirit also drives us to reach for excellence and invest in our love for Gallaudet. The annual Gallaudet Homecoming is where all of us preserve and honor the legacy of our past generations of alumni, benefactors, families, and teachers. Tradition is what unties and enriches us. We embrace, respect, and actively encourage every dimension of diversity in all we do. Diversity is the strength and foundation that balances and enriches our community- IT IS THE FACE OF GALLAUDET. Through diversity, the dialogue of Gallaudet transcends into a stronger Gallaudet community. The slogan that goes with the Homecoming theme, “Gally Days” is: “Proud of our Past. Strong in the Present. Build Confidence in our Future.” How ironic, again.

With all these being said, I'm very saddened to see Irving Jordan trying to create more damages to the Gallaudet community and I'm afraid to see how things will unfold in next few dark days. The current administration is causing all emotional instability among members of the Gallaudet community. Since there is no activity taking place on campus over the weekend for visiting friends and alumni who have bought their plane tickets, Irving Jordan made an unjustified move by opening a can of worms. Whatever that will happen this weekend, they are the results of Irving Jordan's unilateral decision. The current administration just has ignited a spark, a ferocious spark. I'm very upset how the administration twisted the facts. If the protestors knew that the administration will c ancel the Homecoming festivals, the protestors would have agreed to reopen those entrances to the campus. The current administration hasn't given a warning when they sent the letter to the Gallaudet community that the homecoming events will be cancelled if the entrances to the campus are still blocked. This is a defensive weapon imposed by the bureaucratic administration in its attempt to negatively target the peaceful protesters as if they are being held responsible for the cancellation of Homecoming weekend. This is so wrong. Last May, the protestors were very peaceful during the Graduation and they will do the same at Homecoming festivals.

There was not any effort made by the administration to notify me about the possibilities of canceling Homecoming events. If I knew that there was a possibility then I would do whatever possible to ensure that Homecoming festivals will be continued, especially the Homecoming Day out of concern towards the alumni. Irving Jord an did it coldly. The administration has failed to recognize that the alumni are the body of Gallaudet, students are the heart of Gallaudet, and the Faculty members are the soul of this University.

The canceled homecoming events are unacceptable.

Yours in Gallaudet Spirit,

John Slone

Homecoming 2006 Overall Chairperson
Gallaudet University