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The UK deaf community joined a worldwide show of support for over 130 deaf students who were arrested last week at an American university. British protestors staged a tent city in Central London, to join 65 around the world, they are furious with the appointment of a controversial college president for the world’s premier deaf university.
The support was timed to coincide with the march of 4,000 people on Capitol Hill in Washington DCon Saturday, the culmination of months of campaigning by staff, students and alumni against the appointment of Jane Fernandes as the new president of Gallaudet University, Washington. The university is the very centre of the international deaf community.
The campaign has spread around the globe after students at Gallaudet rejected the proposed new president. Last week police arrested 133 of 500 students camped on the university campus in protest. The tent city forced the university to be temporarily closed and has inspired sympathetic encampments to be errected around the world.
Contrary to some reports, the campaign against the new president is not because Fernandes is ‘not deaf enough’. “This is a smokescreen fed to the media by Fernandes herself,” said Tent City UK’s Niall McCormack.
Campaigners cite a reputedly rigged selection process, and concerns about Fernandes’ administrative capabilities. Widespread calls of concern requesting that Fernandes not be chosen were issued to the presidential search committee prior to the appointment.
“We also want to show solidarity to our deaf brothers and sisters who have found themselves arrested for peaceful protest,” said student Tomato Lichy, “Fernandes has described this extensive peaceful protest as anarchy and terrorism. Such language is not only highly disrespectful of those in the world who are genuinely suffering the effects of terrorism, but also indicates the authoritarianism of her management style on the campus in the past 11 years.”
Lichy stated, “Because Gallaudet University is the only deaf university in the world, its influence, and thus its leadership issues take on increased importance in representing the aspirations and the public image of deaf communities internationally.”
Dr Paddy Ladd added: “In the USA this year, the presidents of nine mainstream universities, including Harvard, have either been fired or resigned as a result of staff-student concern. Deaf people should have the same right to high expectations of those who govern them, as hearing people do. 82% of Gallaudet’s academic staff voted for Fernandes’ removal, so basic principles of governance are at stake.”
A letter calling for Fernandes’ resignation signed by many UK deaf leaders will be delivered to the US Embassy on Monday. It was addressed to Robert Holmes Tuttle, US Ambassador, the Gallaudet University’s Board of Trustees, and Fernandes herself. |
Latest posts on Gally protests from Deafread.com
October 24, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Today I get to drop a a real surprise bomb on you deaf bloggers.
Stefan Heller is the real threat to deaf culture not Jane Fernandes. It’s so funny see you all spending your money, directing your anger at, and even flocking yourselves toward Gallaudet University when you all should be going after Stefan Heller of Stanford University. Jane is only trying to be a leader of a deaf university while Stefan has the means to wipe deafness off the face of this planet quite soon.
The deaf militants and their followers should be going WEST not EAST to deal with the real threats to deaf culture.
Doesnt this say something interesting about the narrowminded leadership of the old deaf guard and their apostles like Ryan Commerson, Ricky Taylor, Jared Evans, Brian Riley, David Eberwein, Genie Gertz, Joey Baer, just to name a handful. It seems their undying love for deaf culture and deafhood had made them too blind to see where they’re really going and they actually ended up in the wrong side of the United States.
NOW WASNT THAT BOMB LOUD ENOUGH FOR YOU?
Richard Roehm
October 24, 2006 at 5:51 pm
Good job guys!