RDPN Protesters Continue to Grasp Straws

In DeafDC blog, Chris and Allen Kaftan wrote a piece called "An Alumni, Staff, and Student Perspective" by questioning the whole BoT selection process and calling it a flawed one, which is fine. They have the right to dissent or even surmise. But they go further with a veiled insinuation that some "hanky panky" was going on that influenced the BoT's decision process that led to the selection of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes to be Gallaudet's 9th president. Not only did they write the piece but in my opinion wrote an irresponsible blog piece that basically accused IKJ of improprietry (ie "unethical") in this whole selection process just because IKJ knew Patricia van der Vorm (see here)? Oh please. Is this about ensuring a Deaf culture on campus or what? Leaders and protesters continue to make things up along the way with mis/disinformation, innuendos and insinuations all the while denying that the protest is not about Deaf culture.

Today, Gallaudet has Celia May Baldwin's email directed to the Gallaudet community to dispute the protesters' claims that the search process was flawed and did not support diversity and social justice.

I am deeply concerned that the perception of many of you is that the search process that led to the appointment of Dr. Jane Fernandes as Gallaudet's ninth president was flawed and did not support diversity and social justice. While I respect the right to disagree with a decision of the Board of Trustees and value open discussion and debate, I also believe it is essential that such discussions are grounded in facts, not misinformation and innuendo.

From the outset, the Board promoted an open, inclusive, and fair process. The campus community constituencies were deeply involved in identifying students, faculty, and staff to serve on the Presidential Search Committee (PSC). The Board wanted a search committee that was diverse and that was achieved. In the interest of assuring broad representation on the search committee, approximately 2/3 were non-board members. This was in marked contrast to presidential searches conducted by many other universities where it is common practice for a majority to be board members.

Read the rest where Baldwin's email explains in great details (just for Gallaudet protesters who are living on borrowed conspiracy theories).

Had Baldwin emailed this on how the process worked in greater details a few hours before the announcement would it have satisfied the students, staff and faculty members when the BoT announced the selection of JKF?

Probably not.

Gallaudet University has been known for it's Deaf culture atmosphere. What else? Gallaudet University has been famously named as the "Deaf Mecca" of the world. So much so that those who enter the institution for the first time with little or no Deaf culture upbringing or exposure to ASL or even sign language alone are the truely oppressed student minority on campus full of Deaf students.

For many, like me, I had a wonderful time at Gallaudet University back from January 1988 to December 1991 when I graduated. I would go back and do it again. A great learning experience. I would even do the whole DPN again. Nice memories and then some. But this is no DPN2.

While I was at Gallaudet I wasn't alone in noticing and experiencing the blatant and obvious discriminatory and prejudicial practices commited by Deaf students against those who lacked any signing finese, wore hearing aids or cochlear implant or prefer to speak using their voices rather than by their hands. Doing so may be enough to get labeled with a Scarlet letter for the rest of their college years on campus. Even mocked because they couldn't understand fully the ASL being said to them. But in this day and age talking on a cell phone on campus could earn you a "tongue" lashing from a Deaf student or perhaps get labeled very quickly as being a part of the "audist" crowd. The " She doesn't say 'Hi' " pretty much explains it all. They love throwing the "audist" word around with aplomb. It continues even to this day by those who use that same attitude in the comment box of deaf/hh bloggers.

I wonder how many deaf/hh students at Gallaudet University had to endure these obvious and sometimes blatant discrimination practices promulgated by Deaf students?

If the leaders of RPDN (Real Deaf President Now) protest are truly committed to "unity" then they better get their Deaf-centric attitude and conspiracy theories out of the gutter first and go with an open mind with facts in hand as well as honesty in the approach they are trying to do. And not depend on hearsay, bias and favoritism to sway their directions. Gallaudet University is an educational institution that serve to Deaf, deaf and hard of hearing students.



Previous blogs on Gallaudet University's selection of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes.

Deaf Protest Soon to Turn Violent at Gallaudet University???

Doh! Is Washington Post Clueless - electronic petition has value?

Washington Post Live Chat with Dr. Jane K. Fernandes

Deaf Quote Heard Around the World - "She doesn't say 'hi'."

IKJ Supports BoT Decision, Student Protesters Get Bogged Down Again?

A Real Deaf President Now Protest Continues....

The Selection of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes - a Rush Job?

Did the "Really Deaf President Now" Protest Fizzled Yesterday?

We Must have a Really, Really, Really Deaf President Now