Gallaudet Students Protest New President

From the time God made earth until today, this is probably the best time to be Deaf.

May 10, 2006

Leading or Misleading?

Once again, Gallaudet University is in the media spotlight because of a protest over its Board's selection of an unpopular president. In 1988, the President-Elect, Dr. Elizabeth Ann Zinser, was unpopular because she was not deaf. It is now being widely reported that students are protesting the current President-elect, Dr. Jane K. Fernandes, because she is "not deaf enough."

This dangerous misrepresentation of the protest obscures the real issues that are driving a broad and diverse coalition of faculty, students, staff and alumni to camp out on the campus when they could be enjoying the beginning of a summer vacation. The protests are a referendum on the leadership abilities of the Provost, on perceived flaws in the search process, and the lack of adequate diversity in the finalists. On May 8, the faculty -- 66% of whom are hearing -- sent a clear message in four resolutions that they lacked confidence in Fernandes' ability to lead the university based on her tenure as Provost, not on whether she is "deaf enough."

Even more unfortunate is that it is the President-elect herself who has promoted the "not deaf enough" rationale in interviews with the Washington Post and National Public Radio. Nothing could have a more damaging effect on the public image of Gallaudet University. As the majority of deaf children currently attend mainstream public programs, they--like Fernandes--learn American Sign Language later in life. Why would hearing parents send their children to such a polarized environment? Why would Congress continue to fund a breeding ground of identity politics? Why would the Deaf community reject 90% of deaf people who are born to hearing parents, attend mainstream schools and learn sign language later in life?

It would be disingenuous to say that no one has expressed the attitude that Fernandes and those like her are 'not deaf enough'; however, to characterize the outspoken protests as being motivated by such myopic identity politics does not demonstrate the ability to lead, but rather the will to mislead. I appeal to the President-elect to listen closely to the faculty, students, staff and alumni and to represent their views accurately. This community, above all others, knows what it is like not be heard correctly.

I appeal to Dr. Fernandes to call a meeting with the media to set the record straight and to halt the damage that has already been done to Gallaudet University.

Sincerely,

Dr. H-Dirksen L. Bauman, Professor, Department of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies.

Quote:

On May 8, the faculty -- 66% of whom are hearing -- sent a clear message in four resolutions that they lacked confidence in Fernandes' ability to lead the university based on her tenure as Provost, not on whether she is "deaf enough."

Random-ish "no it's not about 'not Deaf enough'" letter:

Quote:

The protests are a referendum on the leadership abilities of the Provost, on perceived flaws in the search process, and the lack of adequate diversity in the finalists.

i think it's rather disingenuous (to use Prof. Bauman's word) to ascribe the protests to the search process & inadequate diversity of finalists, when the protests occured not when the finalists were announced on April 13, but when Dr. Fernandes' selection was announced on May 1.

FreeDuck, I was seriously considering an article -- E.G. suggested the NYT magazine, I think that's a stretch. Might try writing something and see what happens.

FreeDuck, I was seriously considering an article -- E.G. suggested the NYT magazine, I think that's a stretch. Might try writing something and see what happens.

A position I find myself in often in life is being the one who steps up and says something and then after saying it having all kinds of people come up to me privately to thank me for doing so.

What qualities of leadership does Fernandes lack?
Students and faculty and staff here on campus have no connection with her, nobody is following her. How can she lead with no followers?
Her actions this week have been very divisive, she has told the media that the protest is about identity politics, which is not true, which shows that she is out of touch with the community. Her willingness to spread misinformation shows that she is not acceptable as president.

Although some said the board had made a great effort to get outside opinions, others disagreed.

Some were angry that all of the finalists were white. Some wanted a candidate who would promote "cultural deafness," preferring those who grew up deaf and relied on American Sign Language. Fernandes learned to sign when she was a young woman and can communicate well by speaking or by signing.

"Jane Fernandes doesn't have the ability to be the next icon of the deaf," signed Sara Stallard, a graduate student. "She doesn't have the ability to speak for us all."

some wanted a "truly deaf" president, one who grew up without hearing and spoken language.

For Fernandes, the criticism often centered on personality: Many said she was cold and aloof and condescending. "She doesn't say 'hi'," one student's poster read.