Deaf vs Deaf issues

Hello..

I would like y'all to read this link:

http://www.elisawrites.com/?p=343

I agree with her comments on "What rejection does to the Deaf Community"

I am sure many of you recalled that we discussed at the Deaf Tennessean Expo (DTE): ASL users, Oralist, CI, Hard of Hearings and others that we need to get together at ONCE so we need to accept each other who are they now, that will make us stronger in the community.

I have many good friends who are Hard of Hearing who have hard time to decide which one will belong to them on the Hearing or Deaf world? Don't get me wrong, but I already have had seen them went thru their difficult times in years.

I am trying to work on the DVD that we already made comments at the DTE for adding either on DeafTennessean.org or this blog and I will try to edit some important information out of the two hours workshops to up to 15 mins, if possible.

I recalled on April Haggard's comments at the workshop about the nurses who bring the deaf baby to the parents and say "sorry but your baby is deaf" in negative way that may make the parents upset or scare, is very perfect example that we need to see their attitude must change now such as the nurses or doctors should say in positive way like "your baby is in good health and we can provide their parents to understand what will they learn how to communicate or get better education with their deaf babies" or something like that. I hope that will show in the VLOG in someday, maybe sooner..

Let us keep working together to give our better education on the people who need to understand about our Deaf Culture!

PMRjr

Chattanooga Chapter of TAD meeting at 12noon on Nov 18.

Hello for everyone!

I learned that CCTAD invites a person from Tennessee Advocacy with disabilities for commiting on how to protect our Deaf rights. For anyone who lives in Chattanooga area, Please go there.. also I will be there at the meeting for updating on the interpreter issues. The meeting starts at 12noon and you may bring your covered dishes.

Please contact CCTAD President, Kim Dance at CCTAD@deaftennessean.org for directions to the meeting place.

Thanks!

PMRjr, TAD President

Add to our new link: Parents United for Gallaudet!

Here's new link:

http://gallyparentsunited.blogspot.com/

Here's the video on interview from the supporters by Deaf Read Staff

Here's the video interview from the supporters of GUAA and FSSA!

http://www.deafread.com/media/fssainterview.html

Tent City Rally-Cook Out on Oct 28 in Knoxville, TN!

Here's the pictures! Enjoy!

A Resolution from Tennessee Association of the Deaf

October 28, 2006

Dear Gallaudet Board of Trustees,

On behalf of Tennessee Association of the Deaf and Deaf communities in the greater state of Tennessee include over 125 Gallaudet Alumni members; we have had a meeting on October 28, 2006 in Knoxville. TAD board of directors decided to proclaim it’s a full support of Gallaudet University Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni Coalition on their full two demands. We have a resolution:

A RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Tennessee Association of the Deaf is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, over 160 members strong, many of whom are former faculty, staff, students, and alumni of Gallaudet University, University of Tennessee and Tennessee School for the Deaf;

WHEREAS, Tennessee Association of the Deaf, has serious concerns over the Gallaudet University administration’s and Board of Trustees’ handling of its presidential selection process;

WHEREAS, Tennessee Association of the Deaf formally requests the Gallaudet Board of Trustees to do the following, as likewise requested by Unity for Gallaudet/FSSA (Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni):

• That the Board of Trustees re-opens the presidential search process, ensuring equitable processes that support diversity and social justice.

• That no reprisals be made against any of the students, alumni, staff, or faculty involved in this protest.

WHEREAS, Tennessee Association of the Deaf, Executive Board adopts this resolution on October 28, 2006.

Paul M. Robertson, Jr. GU ’92, President of Tennessee Association of the Deaf

Keith D. Murphy, Vice President of Tennessee Association of the Deaf

Linda McKnatt GU E’78, Secretary of Tennessee Association of the Deaf

April Haggard, GU ’96, Treasurer of Tennessee Association of the Deaf

Board of Directors: Kim Dance, Chattanooga; Jane Mathis, Jackson; Randall Haggard, Knoxville; Lloyd Billingsley, Nashville; Emma Dickinson, Tennessee School for the Deaf Alumni Association; Noble Powers GU E’86, Tennessee Deaf-Blind Association

My personal letter for Dr. Jordan

To Dr. I. King Jordan,

I am not here to speak on behalf of Tennessee Association of the Deaf as a president, nor GUAA chapter of East Tennessee as Liaison Officer as well, but I am speaking for myself as a member of GUAA, I found that news on what happening at the MSSD Gate this morning, is really UNNECESSARY and UNCALLED because that news is really bothered a lot. I am writing this because I do love Gallaudet University myself since I entered in 1988. And graduated in 1992 for B.S. degree in Business Adm.

You may remember me at the History through the Deaf Eyes in Nashville, TN last March that I have had a lot of respect for your work at Gallaudet, but now I do not anymore.. I strongly suggest that you must go outside for yourself to see how much did the damage on the students by DPS is done, since Carl Dupree'’s death that I never forget when I was a student there in early '90’s. Under your same leadership for 18 years, I do not think that we can see any improvement on DPS lately such as lack of learning the ASL and others.

Why you did this? And I am telling you that you must stop your unnecessary orders anymore, it may be more out of control since you did it on Black Friday, October 13 which was the worst history of the Gallaudet history yet, I am really proud what they did was right thing included Tim Rarus, our one of the DPN leaderships.

So now, you really need to end this crisis now, you cannot blame on the Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni what they did, because I believe that they did and still do the right thing! You can see that many letters you got, from your friends included Jack Gannon and B. Bragg about asking your friend, Jane Frenandes to resign which is good for our university's sake.

Thanks,

Paul M. Robertson, Jr.
Class of 1992

Tent City-Cook Out Event in Knoxville, TN !

Hello for everyone!

I want to inform all of you that we will have a Tent City-Cook Out event in Knoxville, TN again! The event will be held at Knoxville Center of the Deaf from 12noon thru 3pm on October 28 at 3731 Martin Mill Pike in South Knoxville.

Tennessee Association of the Deaf (TAD) will provide the hamburgers and hot dogs with sided dishes. We would like to request you to donate the money for supporting Gallaudet University Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni coalition and Gallaudet University Alumni association ( You can see their links on the right side column of for more information).

Also TAD will have our board of directors meeting from 9am thru 12noon at the same place and date.

You are welcome to come!

Paul M. Robertson, Jr. '92
President of TAD and Liaison Officer of GUAA Chpater of East Tennessee

Letter to Board of Trustees

October 24, 2006



Dr. Brenda Bruegemann, Chair Board of Trustees

Dr. I. King Jordan, President, Gallaudet University


The Gallaudet University Alumni Association Board of Directors met on campus this recent weekend. Additionally, thousands of alumni from all over the world also arrived on campus for what was supposed to be our Homecoming.

We were all saddened and dismayed to witness the protest that has been going on now for two weeks. The ongoing crisis has escalated and appears there is no end in sight. Dr. Fernandes was relieved from her duties as Provost to attend the development of faculty and community relations. It is interesting to note, that she has not been successful in that regard, especially with the 82% of the faculty vote of no confidence.

The tragic situation is all due to the selection of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes as president designate. All the letters we have read from so many prominent Deaf leaders and Deaf organizations clearly show that support for Dr. Fernandes is non-existent!

Unless Dr. Fernandes comes to her senses or the Board of Trustees finally realize their selection for the 9th president of Gallaudet will not be accepted, it’s apparent that our alma mater is heading toward irreparable damage. This has gone beyond the issue of whether or not she is “qualified.” The Gallaudet Community has made it crystal clear that they will not accept your selection.

This past weekend, alumni have made it clear they will not continue to support the University with their annual donations. Many prominent alumni, who have made significant donations and pledges to Gallaudet, have decided to their contributions on “hold.”

In view of the deplorable attitude by the Board of Trustees, Dr. Jordan, and Dr. Fernandes, the GUAA Board of Directors at its meeting yesterday voted unanimously to:

1. Inform all alumni that they have other options available to make their annual donations.
2. Establish a fundraising committee
3. Develop a GUAA website to better communicate with our alumni

Several other items were discussed and passed that may have an impact on the University’s fundraising efforts in the future but it would be pointless to share them with you now.

It is obvious that all the letters in support of the protest are proving to be fruitless and the time has come for action.


Gallaudet University Alumni Association Board of Directors

Update from GUFSSA!!!!

Please check on the link from GUFSSA:

http://news.gufssa.com/2006/10/24/talking-points-updated-102306/

Tent City Rally in Knoxville, TN!

At the Tent City Rally Event at Knoxville Center of the Deaf.










AT GUAA Chapter of East Tennessee on 10/15/06 for preparing a tent city event:

Update from www.elisawrites.com !

Please check her link: http://www.elisawrites.com/?p=296

What a good story!!


PMRjr

10 reasons for a tent city

from the link:

http://tentcityuk.wordpress.com/2006/10/19/10-reasons-for-a-tent-city/



Why we are supporting the protest against Gallaudet University

The protest is against the designated election of Jane K. Fernandes, who is due to take up her position as President of the University on January 2007 – the protesters have serious concerns regarding her election and have been protesting against this since May 2006.

THE 10 MAIN REASONS FOR A TENT CITY

1. Mass arrests of Deaf people in Washington D.C.

134 students were arrested in Washington D.C., at Gallaudet University, the only Deaf university in the world, on 13th October 2006. This was the biggest mass arrest of anyone in Washington D.C. since the 1960s.

2. Arrests were carried out in the dark, and ordered by the President of the University

Deaf people communicate visually – so how are deaf people expected to communicate in the dark while being arrested? The arrests were ordered by Irving King Jordan, President of Gallaudet University.

3. The Presidential search process was flawed; there are allegations of racism

All candidates were white, in spite of the university having a diverse range of staff and students. One of the applicants was an African-American, Dr. Glenn Anderson, who was not even shortlisted, even though he has a PhD and years of experience at the University of Arkansas plus other institutions. Instead, another person was shortlisted, Ron Stern (white) who is still in process of securing his doctorate degree and has no college administration experience.

Why did a person with less experience and qualifications make the final shortlist? Where was the fair selection?

It was African-Americans who first protested against the appointment of Jane Fernandes, on a point of racism.

4. Jane Fernandes secured her position as Provost at the university by improper means

For 6 years Jane Fernandes has held the position of Provost at Gallaudet. She got this position, through an improper process. Prior to this she was Vice President of the Clerc Center. In 2000, The Faculty Senate objected to the improper appointment of Jane Fernandes to the Provost position and reprimanded Dr. Jordan, which he admitted and apologised for wrongdoing (in 2000). He did not undo the process but allowed her to remain as Provost. For more information, see Dr. Carol Erting, Senator, University Faculty Senate, Professor and Chair, Department of Education

5. Jane Fernandes has shown poor leadership qualities in her time as Provost

There is evidence that Jane Fernandes has failed in her leadership on campus over 11 years in her two positions. Promises made were not followed through, including issues on racism. There have also been accusations of audism (i.e. discrimination against deaf people).

6. Protests against Fernandes have come from teachers and parents

There have been open letters from teachers and staff of the Clerc Center National Deaf Education Center (a model school) on Gallaudet campus detailing their experience under Dr. Fernandes’ leadership. Amongst other points, teachers and staff who have deaf children were threatened, personally and professionally, for not enrolling their children at Kendall or MSSD. The letter can be seen here. A letter from a former head’s letter.

7. Regular votes of no confidence have been shown against Jane Fernandes

There was a vote of no confidence by the Gallaudet faculty, in spring 2006. Nothing was done about this.

There was a vote of no confidence, again by the Gallaudet faculty, in October 2006. Of all the faculty staff, 138 staff wanted Fernandes out, and only 26 voted for her to stay.

8. It is vital that there is Unity For Gallaudet!

Without unity, the university will lose its support of people and in turn reputation. You cannot lead if the majority do not want you there; when there have been votes of no confidence in your leadership, and when you refer to peacefully protesting citizens as “terrorists”, and do so in a RADIO interview.

9. Prominent people and academics are growing in their calls for Fernandes to resign

Open letters of concern have come from prominent people, professionals ranging from a former headmaster, attorneys, clergy, professors, Presidents of deaf associations, etc, in the deaf community, all calling for resignation. Fifty other tent cities have been set up in support of the protestors and calling on Fernandes to give up her designated election.

10. A bad track record

The leaders of the previous mass protest at Gallaudet in 1988 wrote: “The campus community has already experienced her arrogant, vindictive, autocratic, and retaliatory style of leadership…Dr. Fernandes has earned few admirers on campus which has led to concerns from students, staff, and alumni as well as financial contributors to the university.”

For those interested in reading more, please read the “Must Read” page on the official protest blog

NTID gets Gallaudet unrest

Here's the newspaper I got from one of my fellow NTID alumni:

-PMRjr

From the newsroom of the Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester, New York, Thursday, October 19, 2006 .....


NTID gets Gallaudet unrest


Students there, here angry over presidential pick


Greg Livadas
Staff writer


Students at Rochester Institute of Technology's National Technical Institute for the Deaf are planning to join other deaf students at Gallaudet University this weekend to protest Gallaudet's next president, Jane Fernandes.

Hundreds of students and faculty members at Gallaudet are upset with the choice and have blocked entrances and camped out in tents on campus. More than 100 students were arrested last week after they refused to allow a campus entrance to be opened.

One entrance at the school, which is in Washington, D.C., remained open this week, and classes resumed.

But homecoming ceremonies planned for this weekend have been postponed.

Fernandes is slated to become Gallaudet president on Jan. 1, following I. King Jordan, who is retiring. Fernandes, who is deaf, believes opponents think she is "not deaf enough" — not raised with sign language and uses her voice. Others say she is not sensitive to students' needs.

On Monday, dozens of NTID students are expected to have a 24-hour tent city of their own here at RIT.

The tent city at NTID is a way to show faculty, students, staff and administration at Gallaudet "that we are behind them 100 percent and we are also promoting the concept of social justice, not only at Gallaudet but everywhere," said Clayton Ide, 23, of Pittsford, an NTID student who attended Gallaudet last year.

KCTAD Social Dinner-Tent City event on Oct 21 at 6pm at KCD

Hi! KCTAD will have dinner on Saturday at 6:00 PM at KCD.
Members with dish: Free
Members without dish: $3
Non-members with dish: $3
Non-members without dish: $5

After the dinner, we will have a rally to show our support for Gallaudet. Check
out more information about it on www.deaftn.blogspot.com

Thanks,
Jenny :)
KCTAD Membership secretary

Gallaudet’s Great Great Great Granddaughter Speaks Out!

I am disturbed by the way the current uprising has been handled, to the extent that students have been arrested for protesting. I am especially dismayed that you have apparently forgotten your history with the University and its student protesters from 1988 and the DPN movement.

GU is not simply an institution for the deaf; it is a combined force of deaf culture? past and future, the history and potential of ASL as its own language and the reality of the dreams of deaf people everywhere.

As the great, great, great granddaughter of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, elder brother to Edward, I am concerned with the divisive atmosphere the office of the President and the Board of Trustees has engendered with regard to ignoring student representatives and dismissing campus community concerns.

With as great a history as the University has from its inception and through the decades, how then can the students and faculty be treated with such disrespect?

Sincerely,
Elise Gallaudet DeClue

http://www.riversideforfssa.com/?p=58

GUAA President, Andy Lange - calling upon ALL ALUMNI to come to Gallaudet

Hello GUAA Alumni,

I am sure by now, everyone has heard of the news. With the very short message that was released today from President Jordan’s office - see below -, he has disenfranchised many alumni. The Classes of 1981 and 1956 were all set to host their 25th and 50th Reunion. There are also many other reunions happening on that day as well. Instead, Dr. Jordan cancelled all “University Sponsored Events.”

Needless to say, we are all upset over this and deem his reasons for doing so very weak. Dr. Jordan is “postponing homecoming” because of the protester’s refusal to open all of the gates. Let’s think about this for a minute.

1) The gate by KDES is never used. It is hardly ever opened.
2) The gate by MSSD is open ONLY from 6 am to 6 pm M-F. It is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
3) The 6th St. Gate is open ONLY from 6 am to 6 pm M-F as well. It is also closed on Saturday and Sunday.
4) The Florida Avenue and 8th Street Gate is open 24/7.

There are hundreds of reasons why the protesting is going on. I can tell you from what I’ve seen and heard this past week or so, the problems that Gallaudet has run extremely deep. The protesters (students, faculty, staff, and alumni) have occupied the front gate on Florida and 8th, and they have also occupied the gates of Kendall and MSSD. When the football team took over the campus and shut the 6th street gate, they effectively closed the University.

As a result of that, 134 of our future leaders were arrested. Mostly students and a faculty member. Esteemed DPN Leader Tim Rarus was also arrested. Why? Because we have a person chosen by a Board of Trustees who have abdicated their role as custodians of the university and have put up a wall of silence (pun intended). They have chosen a person who is extremely unpopular and by all accounts not an effective leader. If you have been following the blogs, you will see all the documentation that has come forth about the effectiveness of the leader chosen for us by the Board of Trustees. Why is the BOT not willing to see that this person is simply not able to lead? More importantly, the obvious disconnect between the 85% of the Faculty who have voted to ask for resignation and the BOT? Why is President Jordan so protective of her?

On Monday morning, the gate on 6th St. was open and traffic was allowed to come and go normally. The students continued to occupy the Florida and 8th Street Gate. So, there is clear and easy access to the campus. In fact, on Monday morning and again this morning in the rain, a lot of students, alumni and some faculty stood by the roadside leading into Gallaudet, waving, cheering, and saying “good morning” to everyone. It was very heart warming to see them doing this. This morning, it was raining, and they were out there again, cheering, waving and welcoming people to the campus.

I know from my discussions, that the students and leaders have been very careful to communicate with the DPS and DC Police to make sure there is no mis-communications. They were told by everyone that the 6th street gate had to be open, and as long as it was open, it would not be a problem.

Apparently President Jordan thinks otherwise. Postponing the HC day and events, is in effect a CANCELLATION for class reunions and for alumni participation. Especially for the Classes of 1981 and 1956. Those classes have spent two years planning their reunion. Catering food has been reserved, entertainment reserved, and members of the classes have already paid for plane tickets, taken time off from work, book hotel rooms, and prepared for the reunion. I am sure all of them were looking forward to seeing their classmates from 25 and 50 years ago. Me included, as it is my 1981 class reunion. I am not able to come back in November to attend what would be considered an “Official Class Reunion.” I am sure that this is true for many our alumni who are unable to come in November. In fact, I have seen some our international alumni already here for the festivities. I feel bad because I encouraged them all to come.

Shock waves reverberated throughout Gallaudet when the announcement was made. Dr. Jordan and Dr. Fernandes have repeatedly stated that this is a “local” issue and not really a community wide issue. How very wrong of them. About 2 minutes after the announcement went out; I received pages from Florida, California, South Dakota, and many other states asking me if it was true. In about 10 minutes, people from England were asking the same question. ”Local” indeed!

I cannot describe to you adequately the upheavals and turmoil Gallaudet is in now. It is awful, sad, and quite simply, disgusting. You have to be here on campus to see it and feel it for yourself. For those of you who were “against” the protest, or not very supportive. I assure you, when you get here, you’ll see it for yourself.

The worst thing anybody can do is turn on their own family members. Since Gallaudet is home for us, the students arrested on Friday evening last week was an incredible, terrible and heart breaking experience. It was awful, sad, and demoralizing. Our kids were trying to make a statement, they were expressing their opinion. This is AMERICA, this is what we do. Blocking the gate maybe was not the “legal” thing to do, but it was a way to get attention. Very obviously, they felt that they were not being “heard.”

Well, I don’t know about you folks, but to put it bluntly, I am heart broken and outraged that President Jordan can continue to oppress the community of Gallaudet. Very clearly, he’s lost focus on what we are all about. Today we were interviewed by the local media, I told President Jordan that the oppression must stop. We are fed up with it. Is it right for us to feel oppressed in our own home? After a life time of oppression, Gallaudet is the one place where we are free to be
ourselves, and not suffer the oppression we experience EVERYDAY of our lives outside of Gallaudet!

Nevertheless, we will PREVAIL, and life will get back to normal at Gallaudet. Some people need to realize that they are not wanted at Gallaudet and will never have the ability to lead the university or our cherished campus. By cancelling an event that hundreds of alumni have paid airplane tickets, dinner tickets, event tickets, hotel rooms, and taken time off from work to attend, President Jordan has made it clear to all of us, that the alumni is not a valued entity at Gallaudet University.

Therefore, I am calling upon ALL ALUMNI to come to Gallaudet. Come on foot, rent buses, fly here, and be here. Our home needs us!

We must take back Gallaudet.

Andy Lange
GUAA President

PS. The GUAA was NOT consulted on this “postponement.” The GUAA had no input into this decision whatsoever.

PSS. It’s nice that President Jordan can send emails to ALL Alumni when we at GUAA are unable to do so.

Update on Tent City plan

Hello..


Briggette Ochoa(Class of 2002) and I emailed back and forth about the Tent City plan that Nashville will probably host the Tent City.. I will keep updating for you.. As of Knoxville, we still will have a cook out for raising the GUAA funds at Knoxville Center of the Deaf on Oct 28, however, Barry Swafford '76 and I discussed that we may have the Tent City rally event this Saturday at the KCD after the KCTAD dinner.

We will keep updating.. Please check with us often!

-PMRjr '92

GUAA Chapter of Bay Area link

I strongly suggest that you should read this: http://bayareapovongally.blogspot.com/

that they keep updating about the Gallaudet Protest!

-PMRjr

Message from Jesse Fuller (Oct 17 2006)

Hello paul,

The rally tonight was about homecoming and a march to capitol... yees,
I'm sure u have heard that the hc is cancelled by king jordan.. All guaa
here on the campus was very angry at jordan and they decided that hc is
still on!!! Guaa will be doing the work to make hc successful this
year.. Guaa vice prez said how could jordan cancel a traditional event.
Guaa will have ameeting tmw about hc this weekend.. All we know is that
it is still on!

This thursday, team leaders are considering to march to the capitol..
Moer details will be given tomorrow.

There are about 40 faculties that gather together and march with a
banner saying '82% of us vote that jane must resign' to jordan's house.
(With protesters behind the faculties) jordan was very shocked and
speechless.. The faculties want to let jordanknow that faculties want
jane out, not only us, students. Jordan and faculties will have abig
meeting tmw and faculties want jane to be involved with the meeting so
that way faculties will tell jane to resign, not a negoitate meeting.
Its ganna to be 'tell directly to jane' that she must resign!
That's all for tonight.. =)
j e ss e