Protesters Against Section 504?

There is a growing acknowledgement that this protest is seemingly if not exclusively all about the preservation of ASL or American Sign Language, which is fine, however. In the beginning of the protest in May protesters claimed that they weren't protesting because Dr. Jane K. Fernandes wasn't "Deaf" (ie culturally deaf) enough but about her ability to be a leader. Five months later we're seeing more and more on the issue that Dr. Fernandes, who was choosen a mostly deaf Board of Trustees to become the 9th president at Gallaudet University, is not "ASL-enough". In short, complaining that she isn't fluent enough in ASL has been one of the few main complaints about her in this protest. They took their protest to the Capitol steps yesterday.

Let's look at what people are saying about Fernandes and ASL despite the fact that there are other modes of communication that are being used by deaf and hard of hearing people all across the United States. These include SEE, Cued Speech (see video here with Closed Captioning and sign language interpreter), CART, lip-reading, and even auditory-oral (listening and speaking).

1. A Guest Blogger on DeafRead breakdown on Dr. Jane K. Fernandes as being not "ASL-enough".

2. Reflexivity has a good break down about that "grey area":

"I suggest that the real challenge from the Deaf community to Dr. Fernandes is whether she will use her position to promote a clear separation between the languages and establish communication policies that don't unfairly privilege either group (the sight-dependent or the sight/sound co-dependent).

3. DeafDC has a new discussion on "The Deaf Standpoint: Does JKF Understand?" It covers both ends (hearing and Deaf) as well as those in the middle "grey area" which many people are purposely trying to marginalize when it comes to communication preferences and needs.

My question is this.

Are some of the people at Gallauadet University deliberately trying to, somehow, circumvent this very Federal law called "Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act" by making ASL as the only mode of communication on the campus of Gallaudet University? Are some of the faculty members trying to somehow to limit severely the alternative forms of communication needs for deaf and hard of hearing students who may have alternative preferred choices or needs? Are protesters encouraging Gallaudet University to ignore and marginalize the Section 504 requirements for people with disabilities, including those with hearing loss, by allowing them equal participation in an educational process other than ASL?

What about Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., and Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., all voting members of Gallaudet's Board of Trustees? What messages are they getting about the protest? Ignore Section 504, which is a FEDERAL LAW, that directly applies to Gallaudet University?

Now, what is this "Section 504"? Well, Section 504, which by the way the National Association of the Deaf agrees with this Federal statute, explains that:

Access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing

Generally, people who are deaf or hard of hearing request assistive listening devices, *16
captioning, *17 CART *18 (Communication Access Realtime Translation--similar to captioning but confined to a laptop or projection screen), or sign language interpreters. *19

The Commission is equipped with fixed FM assistive listening systems in the Commission Meeting Room and in Conference Room 1 on the 8th floor. In addition, there are 2 portable FM systems that can be used throughout the building and at remote locations. The systems are outfitted with microphones, earphones, and neckloops. *20 Captioning, CART, and sign language interpreters are services that are frequently contracted from outside vendors. In the DC area, such services are widely used with demand often out-stripping supply. As much advance notice as possible is needed to assure that appropriate services can be acquired. The Commission also has several sign language interpreters on staff who assist in making Commission events accessible.

People who are deaf or hard of hearing may use other accommodations such as oral interpreters, *21 cued speech transliterators, *22 tactile interpreters, *23 and notetakers.."

Note, it says "sign language" which is a broad definition and not specifically "ASL." So, therein lies the problem...for the protesters.

Under the ADA and Section 504, interpreters are considered an "auxiliary aid or service." Post-secondary educational institutions must "furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities" - 28 C.F.R. § 35.160. And this "service" can include anywhere from ASL, SEE, CART, oral/voice interpreter to Cued Speech. There is no avoiding this law requirement, especially for Gallaudet University since any colleges or universities that receive federal monies are subject to the requirements under Section 504.

And now my last question. Why did protesters say in the beginning that this protest was not about JKF being "not Deaf enough" but now we're seeing talks from protesters on language and cultural identity against her? Is this a decline of revolution?


See more at "The Politics of Being Deaf ".

Reigning Anarchy? Fernandes threatened with a gun?

Anarchy. n : a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government).

That pretty much sums up what has happened on the campus of Gallaudet University as of late. You have a few factions doing their own thing creating a bit of havoc here and there. Something like vandalism at College Hall, HMB and the SAC building. The taking over buildings. The taking over campus by forcing it to shut down and deny people entrance and prevent them from going to pre-school, elementary up to high school, and even the audiology clinic as well.

And then you have a battery incident against I. King Jordan when a juice/water bottle with the content or the bottle itself that was thrown or aimed at in the direction of the university president during a building dedication to his name. And then you have a recent assault against Dr. Jane K. Fernades where some idiot threatened her with a gun. She explained to reporters when they asked her whether she has been threatened with assault. She said, "Yes, I was threatened to get shot at." Check out NBC4 video during her press conference when she said that at 23 seconds left into the video.

The incoming president said that in the midst of the the conflict she has recieved death threats and other personal attacks.

If it's the loss of control, it's the protesters themselves who are losing it. Whoever threatened Dr. Fernandes with a gun or any kind of threat is a complete mindless moron.

UPDATE: A slight clarification here: "Threatened with a gun" has been changed to "threatened to get shot at" which is what Fernandes was saying. In my haste I was thinking gun when she said "shot at."

Carry on.

Hat tip to Jean for my faux pas.

When a Nonviolent Protest isn't a Nonviolent Protest

This is what I have, and many others, been saying about this protest. It has a tone of vindictiveness. A tone of intimidation. A tone of violent derisiveness. And all the incidentals that come along with it in order to justify their reasoning to personally attack, demean, scorn, and ballyhoo Dr. Jane K. Fernandes, I. King Jordan, the Administrators, the Board of Trustee members and anybody else who may disagree with the majority of protesters in whatever form or issue.

Judge, Jury, and Executioner

A Mob Censorship?

And many more that I've posted regarding this protest at Gallaudet University and their tactics involving personal attacks and such. Their methods do not jive with the concept of "nonviolent" protest.

Read Dr. Jane Hurst, Department of Philosophy and Religion, article titled, "On Nonviolence and Civil Disobedience."


I want to clarify the terms nonviolence and civil disobedience. These terms refer to a specific approach to challenging power. Nonviolence is the idea that each person has the power to change things not by inflicting suffering on others but by being willing to undergo suffering for a cause. Hence there are nonviolent hunger strikes and marches and protests in which the protesters show their inner dignity by standing for a cause. Nonviolence never attacks other people, but rather attacks issues and power structures. As Martin Luther King stated, "Nonviolent resistance does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but to win his friendship and understanding."

According to this definition the current protest at Gallaudet has not been nonviolent. The threats to students who are trying to get an education (email, photographs taken if they attend classes, personal coercion), the threats to various members of the campus community (faculty, staff, board of trustees), and the personal retaliatory attacks on I. King Jordan and Jane Fernandes are all indications of the violent nature of this protest, whether or not anyone has actually been physically assaulted or not. The mood of this protest is not the way a nonviolent protest feels. In a nonviolent protest, the spirits of the protesters are uplifted. Their anger is transformed to hope. The feeling tone of the current protest is angry and vindictive. Emotions are running high, and spiritual dignity is lacking. This is NOT nonviolence.

Civil disobedience is a technique of breaking the law and being arrested to achieve a goal. As Wikipedia says: "In seeking an active form of civil disobedience, one may choose to deliberately break certain laws, such as by forming a peaceful blockade or occupying a facility illegally. Protesters practice this nonviolent form of civil disorder with the expectation that they will be arrested, or even attacked or beaten by the authorities. Protesters often undergo training in advance on how to react to arrest or to attack, so that they will do so in a manner that quietly or limply resists without threatening the authorities." Gandhi, who essentially developed the idea of civil disobedience, taught that civil resisters should harbour no anger against the opponent, but rather seek to transform the opponent through the justice of the resister's cause. Again, personal attacks are not acceptable.

The current protesters, faculty and students, can't have it both ways. If this is true nonviolent civil disobedience, the anger and attacks and threats must stop. The complaints about being arrested are ridiculous, since being arrested is the point of civil disobedience. "How could King do this to us?" He did not do anything that was not requested by the protesters wilfully breaking the law. He was acting his part in the drama of civil disobedience. The protesters were acting theirs. These are the rules of this kind of protest.

The continued complaints, anger, threats, and retaliation (which is how I read the shameful vote of no confidence in President Jordan at the faculty meeting yesterday) show that this protest is NOT civil disobedience and it is NOT nonviolent. There is no hiding behind these labels while disrespectful, angry and threatening behaviour and words as well as wilful lawbreaking continue. This shows disrespect for the protesters' opponents, and worse, disrespect by the protesters for themselves and their ability to achieve their goals peacefully.

For reference, below are listed the principles of nonviolence from Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

I. Mahatma Gandhi's rules for civil disobedience (from Wikipedia)

1. A civil resister (or satyagrahi) will harbour no anger.

2. He will suffer the anger of the opponent.

3. In so doing he will put up with assaults from the opponent, never retaliate; but he will not submit, out of fear of punishment or the like, to any order given in anger.

4. When any person in authority seeks to arrest a civil resister, he will voluntarily submit to the arrest, and he will not resist the attachment or removal of his own property, if any, when it is sought to be confiscated by authorities.

5. If a civil resister has any property in his possession as a trustee, he will refuse to surrender it, even though in defending it he might lose his life. He will, however, never retaliate.

6. Retaliation includes swearing and cursing.

7. Therefore a civil resister will never insult his opponent, and therefore also not take part in many of the newly coined cries which are contrary to the spirit of ahimsa.

8. A civil resister will not salute the Union Jack, nor will he insult it or officials, English or Indian.

9. In the course of the struggle if anyone insults an official or commits an assault upon him, a civil resister will protect such official or officials from the insult or attack even at the risk of his life.


II. The Principles of Nonviolence as Outlined by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. From the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia

1. Nonviolent resistance is not a method for cowards. It does resist. The nonviolent resister is just as strongly opposed to the evil against which he protests, as is the person who uses violence. His method is passive or non-aggressive in the sense that he is not physically aggressive toward his opponent, but his mind and emotions are always active, constantly seeking to persuade the opponent that he is mistaken. This method is passive physically but strongly active spiritually; it is non-aggressive physically but dynamically aggressive spiritually.

2. Nonviolent resistance does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but to win his friendship and understanding. The nonviolent resister must often express his protest through non-cooperation or boycotts, but he realizes that non-cooperation and boycotts are not ends themselves; they are merely means to awaken a sense of moral shame in the opponent.

3. The attack is directed against forces of evil rather than against persons who are caught in those forces. It is a struggle between justice and injustice, between the forces of light and the forces of darkness.

4. Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform.

5. Nonviolent resistance avoids not only external physical violence, but also internal violence of spirit. At the center of nonviolence stands the principle of love.

6. Nonviolence is based on the conviction that the universe is on the side of justice. It is the deep faith in the future that allows a nonviolent resister to accept suffering without retaliation. The nonviolent resister knows that in his struggle for justice, he has a cosmic companionship.

The principles of nonviolence, based on a speech given at University of California, Berkeley, June 4, 1957, and an article published in Christian Century in early 1957.

Thank you, Dr. Jane Hurst.

Judge, Jury, and Executioner

It is a “mob mentality” when people demand that, for example, JKF steps down, or say that the BoT was neglectful, that there was a flaw in the search, yada, yada, yada….all after the fact, and not before, when the people didn’t get what they wanted in the first place. A Deaf president.

Why didn't the protesters demand an internal and independent review first if they think there might be something wrong with the search process? And if something credible does come out of the indepedent audit review, then, and only then, would protesters have the evidence at hand to finally demand that the search be re-opened. But, no, protesters demanded that Dr. Jane K. Fernandes who already selected by Gallaudet University Board of Trustess to step down first. Nuh uh, that’s not how it works if protesters waited until after the fact when JKF was selected.

I am trying to make a salient point here. I’m saying that protesters should have instead demanded an internal and indepedent audit review of the search process first from the very beginning when things seemed to be a bit amiss during the search process. If the investigation turned out that it was a flawed search process then the protesters would have some real leverage and work with the Board of Trustees. If the investigation found nothing out of the ordinary to suggest otherwise, then perhaps allow Dr. Jane K. Fernandes do her job while under probationary status for one year.

And that “mob mentality”? It is when everybody is acting as judge, jury and executioner by saying JKF is guilty or that the BoT is guilty. Or even saying that IKJ is guilty.

UPDATE: Check out Washington Post interviews with protesters.

Cued English and ASL...Compatible?

Everything you wanted to know about Cued English (Cued Speech) but was afraid to ask. Check out the latest video clip from the NCSA (National Cued Speech Association). It includes ASL signers as well who are native Cuers. It is subtitled along with an ASL interpreter. Cued Speech or in this case Cued English is a visual communication tool for lip-readers as well, and not just about voice. Check it out.




Previous Kokonut Pundits blogs on Cued English/Speech.

A Rush Job? Covell said that?

Gerald "Jerry" Covell, one of the four leaders in the 1988 DPN, recently wrote a letter to the Board of Trustees offering his assistance to be the "negotiator" makes an admirable note,

I will not allow the Board, I. King Jordan, Jane Fernandes, faculty, staff, students, alumni or anyone to tarnish and degrade Gallaudet and consequently, the deaf community.

Good but a little late already in a lot of respect. However, that doesn't mean that this task is an impossible one.

There is always a solution to a problem. I would not even make this offer if I was not so confident that a resolution can be achieved. As in any negotiation, both sides will not walk away completely satisfiedbut everyone involved will be able to “save face” and end the crisis .

But that's not what I'm blogging about. It is Jerry Covell's claim that the search process was a "rush job" with list #1 saying that the usual time it takes to do a presidential search is 12 to 18 months. I don't know where he got that information from but that is untrue. I covered this same "rush job" claim in my May 2, 2006 in my Kokonut Pundits blog.

In most presidential selection process it takes an average of about 6 months before finally selecting a president.

Dr. Bowen reported that Mr. Bill Bowen (from the search firm) spoke about the time line for the search. He has conducted about 200 university president searches. It will probably take about a month to get the job description together, two months for outreach, a couple of months for screening and selection, and a month to come to closure. That adds up to six months which is the average time required to find a university President.

Considering the fact that the Board of Trustess started the presidential search on October 11, 2005. They arrived with their selection on May 1, 2006, almost 7 months later. This falls squarely with the average search process described by Dr. Bowen who had personally conducted over 200 presidential searches. Never mind the fact that when Jerry C. Lee, who was the sixth president, left the university at the end of 1987 and Gallaudet University ended up with a new president, I. King Jordan, about 3 months later, much to every students, faculty, alumni and staff's delight. No one complained about *that* rush job.

A negotiator shouldn't have any vested interest acting as a "mediator" between two parties or else risk certain bias and favoritism that may creep in. Covell clearly has a vested interest since he was one of the 4 DPN leaders and graduated from Gallaudet University. According to the United States Arbitration and Mediation Rules and Procedures regarding bias and interest:

No person shall serve as a mediator in any dispute in which that person has any financial or personal interest in the result of the mediation. Prior to accepting an appointment, the prospective mediator shall disclose any circumstances likely to create a presumption of bias or interest in the outcome of the proceedings or prevent a prompt meeting with the parties.

It is admirable and strong of Jerry Covell to try and step up to the plate after years of being quiet. He has a place in Gallaudet history but now it's not the time nor place for him to serve as a "mediator" or "negotiator" in this dispute. There's too many connection and bias at risk here.

And what would those bias might be you ask? If you look at the rest of the 9 points that Covell pointed out, many of them are the same talking points being heard throughout deaf/hh blogosphere from mainly the anti-JKF crowd. The list seems to exhibit certain presumption of "guilt" or conspiratorial nature on the Board of Trustees part. Even before any independent and separate internal review of the whole process could be done and come up with a conclusion in their investigation.

What we need here is a negotiator or mediator who is neutral and has no interest in Gallaudet University whatsoever except have a goal on seeing a positive result transpire between the two or even three parties involved.

A Mob Censorship?

I knew it would be a matter of time til something like this would come along.

The New York Daily News was nice enough to publish my brief piece on the Columbia Minuteman Mob. The essential thrust of the op-ed is simple: We’re seeing a bit of a resurgence in the kind of mob censorship that dominated much of the Sixties. From crowds blocking access to military recruiters, to the occasional assault on conservative speakers, to threats against students who fight for free speech on campus, we’re seeing hints of the bad old days of campus takeovers and student violence. Gallaudet, in fact, is this week living through its own private version of 1968.

Peace, man. There's more. Read on in the link above. Make love not war!

And then we have this question on "Thought colonialization." Sounds very Orwellian.

A Gallaudet Doctoral Student's Response to the Protest

The minority group of people at Gallaudet University is becoming more and more vocal about the disastorous protest. Many are voicing concerns that they are the ones being severely marginalized and pushed out of the picture simply because they objected that their education was getting interrupted by the protest during the middle of mid-term examination week, no less. Or that they never supported the protesters' tactics or their reasons. Many do support the Board of Trusteees' decision. Many on the other hand simply support Dr. Jane K. Fernandes. Many simply wanted to continue with their education uninterrupted and don't really care who becomes president of Gallaudet University. Whatever the reason, these are the minority number of them, which isn't exactly so small, that are now beginning to step forward and take the bull by the horns and do something for a change.

One letter written by a teacher at Gallaudet that I posted earlier explains that feeling and now we have another "letter" written by a PhD psychology student at Gallaudet with her own in-depth review of the whole protest deal including the ASL and SimCom discussion that might prove surprising.
And then we have an up and coming one-week old coalition of concerned students banding together to form a group called, what else, "Concerned Students for Gallaudet".

Yesterday marked exactly one week that Concerned Students for Gallaudet has been up and running and we have over 75 members. While that is not a huge number compared to the 1,800 students on campus it’s a remarkable start for a group that is only one week old.

We have received over 200 signed petitions by students, staff and faculty members in support of our cause and the numbers are growing daily. The last time I posted here I talked about how I was moved to act because I could no longer stand idly aside while Gallaudet University struggled.

I'm sure a website or blogsite about this new organization will pop up soon enough. If you want to join or be on their email contact list, contact gallystudents@yahoo.com.

Hat tip: C.S.

Should Arrested Protesters Be Expelled?

Here's a very simple poll. Should Gallaudet University protesters who get arrested be expelled from school?

A Poll: Should Arrested Protesters Be Expelled From Gallaudet? Yes! No! Free polls from Pollhost.com

How to Take Over Gallaudet University - the right way

I wrote this to a question by somebody in DeafDC wanting to know how many people would it take to take over (ie "buy") Gallaudet University and make it into a private Deaf university. Here is my assessment.

The cost seen in the FY07 annual budget is $155,000,000 to run and operate the university.

There are over 14,000 Gallaudet alumni.

So, you will need from each alumna over $11,000 each, every year. for as long as the person is breathing. Or at least have a fund raising event to raise $155,000,000 EVERY YEAR to ensure that Gallaudet continues to run and function as it were. Not even considering that this price will continue to go up every year.

But it’s not just the alumni but families who are DoD or whatever. In my own 13 page research paper I’ve estimated that there are some 900,000 Deaf people in the United States. About 1/3 of them are adults, meaning they’re wage earners who can contribute to the cause. So that leaves anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 Deaf adults who are wage earners.

Assuming that all 200,000 to 300,000 of them *WILL* contribute to the newly established all-ASL, Deaf-only private University for deaf and hard of hearing, the annual funding requirement from each Deaf adult person would amount to anywhere from $500 to $775 dollars a year from each Deaf adult wage earners at the most. Or to make it even more palatable to your senses, that would be anywhere from $42 to 65 dollars a month! Cheaper than your monthly Sidekick phone bill. Though not a guarantee that this could be the case but it’s an idea worth exploring considering what has happened lately.

In essence, it’d be the largest continual endowment fund for the express purpose to run the first ever largest and private Deaf University for deaf and hard of hearing students. In fact, if one cannot get a Deaf town up and running in South Dakota, this’ll be the next, best and easiest thing to have. Take complete control over the university by buying it from the Government with the intention showing the world that Deaf people can do anything.

Not only would you get Gallaudet University as your prize, the endowment of some $165,000,000 along with some $5,000,000 annual interest earned will be your booty to have in helping with the transition and the establishment of new Deaf programs or scholarships.

There are enough Deaf people out there right now along with Gallaudet University alumni to make this work. There are a growing number of highly successfull Deaf people (and here) out there who would gladly contribute more than $775 per year requirement. Plus there are numerous potentials of collaboration from companies run by Deaf or deaf people to have a stake in this as well. This, too, is growing on the number of Deaf-owned businesses from high tech businesses to an all-Deaf cruise vacation deals.

Although the sticky point here would be the politics of it in making such a move which could become contentitious, and, to say the least, quite interesting.

"Not Deaf Enough" - What the World Sees

From day one of the protest I believed it would probably end up going nowhere if protesters wanted the outside world's sympathy on their cause and belief of why protesters were protesting against the selection of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes to be the 9th president of Gallaudet University.

The cold hard reality is that people outside of Gallaudet are getting their news about the protest but will not understand why on earth deaf protesters are against the 1st deaf woman selected to become the 9th president of Gallaudet University by a mostly deaf Board of Trustees at an university for deaf and hard of hearing students. Any other messages will simply be muted against this core fact. This is what the outside world will always see as compared to Deaf President Now of 1988 when it was a hearing person that was selected by a mostly hearing Board of Trustees to become president of Gallaudet University. That, in of itself, never sounded right and the world understood that right away. It was a conceptual understanding by everybody. But this time, it's different. The facts are this:

* A university for deaf and hard of hearing students.

* A deaf woman for president was selected.

* A deaf majority on the Board of Trustee who selected Dr. Jane K. Fernandes.

A case in point.

Now that the protesters have gotten the media attention, nationally, their efforts to get their own message out is now compounded exponentionally, in the worst way, with the media reporting that the selected 9th president isn't "deaf enough" for the deaf protesters.
A double take for all those reading the news on the protest.

Look at what the news media are reporting right now.

On Foxnews they report in big bold letters "Is Gallaudet University's Dean 'Deaf Enough'?"

On ABC News in bold letters "Is Deaf University President Not 'Deaf Enough'?"

And what do you think the question will be on upcoming nightly national news?

Not deaf enough?

Gallaudet Post Arrest Update

The Washington Post has the story but a little behind since it reported only 80 arrests were made but in reality 135 arrests were made. The DPS (ie campus police) had to pick up and drag limp deaf protesters in a form of passive resistence into waiting vans. Deaf onlookers cheered every time a deaf protester was picked up and arrested. All were transported to the Institute of Police Science.

Dr. I. King Jordan, current president of Gallaudet University set to retire this December after 18 illustrious years, had his hands forced to order the arrests of deaf protesters who continue to block the streets and entrances to campus. The forced campus shutdown has affected both Kendall elementary school and MSSD ("high school") on the campus of Gallaudet University.

"For one week, deaf infants and children and youth up to grade 8 have not been able to go to school," she said, referring to the elementary and high schools for deaf students on the campus.

"For one week, our model high school has been closed. For one week, both undergraduate and graduate students have been denied their education. For one week, we have had no mail delivered. Deaf babies scheduled for hearing tests and audiology exams are not able to get on campus. Senior citizens who are hard of hearing and seek the services of our audiology clinic cannot get here.

Protesters demanded that Dr. Jane K. Fernandes resign from being the 1st deaf woman selected by a mostly deaf Board of Trustees to become Gallaudet University's 9th president citing numerous reasons. One being that she doesn't have "leadership qualities" to represent the Deaf communities of the world. Others are deeper underlying issues as not being "ASL enough" by many protesters who continued to make notes about her signing in SimCom (signing and speaking at the same time) just as Dr. I. King Jordan has done.

Numerous people (deaf and hearing) have shown their disappointment about protesters and/or seeing their unlawful acts on forcing the closure of Gallaudet University campus.

Happy to see them go

The Gallaudet University Protests

A Fictitious Protest for Fictitous Reasons by the famous and well known bloggers' site DeafDC Blog on the topic why protesters are ignoring racism on campus.


There are more people out there who do not support the protesters' tactics and/or do not support the protesters' demands or reasonings. But one thing I have noticed, even back when I was a student at Gallaudet University in 1988, was the absence of diversity. Namely the number of black or students from various ethnic backgrounds (ei African Americans, Asians, Africans, etc) were noticeably small on campus in a sea of white faces in the middle of Washington D.C. known for it's very large black population. My first report to I. King Jordan in 1989 as part of my Honors Program course was my dissemination on the diversity issue on campus. And with the protesters' rallying cry of "Unity for Gallaudet" today I have questioned their true intentions since May of this year by asking "Unity for whom?"


Check out all of the latest Kokonut Pundits blogs on the Gallaudet University protest.

Read up all latest blogs reportings by bloggers on the protest situation.

93 arrests of deaf protesters so far..

It just keeps going folks. 93 arrests so far. There are I believe 57 deaf protesters who are still sitting down waiting to be arrested. Sources say those arrested will be expelled. Those who come back after posting bail and protest again will spend a weekend in the DC jail.

Justice misplaced? Lives ruined? Careers in jeopardy? Stupid moves? Brilliant moves? Whose fault are these anyways?

Everybody. Each person is accountable for their own actions.

At least nobody got hurt in these arrests which is probably the best news so far. Where's Ryan Commerson in all this?


UPDATE: Donalda Ammons, professor of 30 years, is arrested and said she would protest again once she gets out on bail.

Death spiral for Gallaudet University? Blind leading the blind? Or brilliant tactical moves? Will the $170 million dollars endowment fund be used to pay legal bills and lawsuits?

Messy. Messy. Messy, folks.

Everybody's fault.

Mine, too. Learn to be accountable of your own actions. Nobody wants to accept their own responsibilities except point fingers.

Typical.

UPDATE: Professor Ammons is not arrested. Miscommunication. However, 107 deaf protesters are arrested at Gallaudet University so far. More vans are brought in by DC police. Cold temperature is taking a toll on some protesters. Hyperthermia? Ambulance on scene.

Many Deaf students, faculty members, staff and alumni throws fit over 1st deaf woman to become the 9th president at Gallaudet University by mostly deaf Board of Trustees early this May. Protest has been simmering since May and exploded last week almost 9 days ago.


Check out all of my past blogs on deaf protesters.

Are you new to this protest thats going on? Check out the latest news on the protests and arrests.

In one word, folks. Surreal.

I'm sure everybody can agree on that one.


UPDATE II: Surreal? I spoke too soon. DailyKos is in on this one. Will they understand, too?

UPDATE III: Actually, arrested protesters are to be held at the Institute for Police Science. What the hey? What's that? Police Academy? Why that location?

Maurice T. Turner Jr., Institute of Police Science (IPS)Business Process Reengineering for recruit and in-service training records system; Design and/or implementation of evaluation tools (e.g., student surveys) and process; Implementation of an integrated library system that includes a public access catalog; and discovery requests for litigation. IPS is located in far Southwest, DC. Students strongly urged to have their own mode of transportation even though IPS is accessible by bus and metro.

Looks like a place for "radical" protesters and such. A holding facility for such things I guess. Still looking.

Hat tip: AnalyzinEyes.


UPDATE IV: Oooh..not good. Check this one out.

UPDATE V: Yep, it's a police training academy - not the movie.


The Organizational Change and Professional Responsibility program also includes the MPD’s training academy – the Maurice T. Turner Jr., Institute for Police Science – which provides 56 hours of mandatory annual in-service training for sworn officers and sergeants and 48 hours for lieutenants and higher ranking sworn personnel, and specialized training, such as emergency preparedness.

Washington Post with story on Gally Football Game Situation

Because of the recent and ongoing arrests of Gallaudet University students, Washington Post reports that the Gally football game is cancelled this Saturday. Will get rescheduled for November. Question is, did any of the Gally football players get arrested? And where are those arrested being taken to? Check out the DC Jail potential condition.

Where is D.C. Jail and its Capacity Limit?

Just did a quick little reserach on the District of Columbia's jail system and what the jail capacity is like since I'm wondering how many students or faculty members are willing to get themselves arrested and wait in jail to get themselves processed and bonded?

Here's the DC Jail info.

Ugly information on jail capacity. It may be full if you read it here.

The consultant recommended a ceiling of 2,164 a year ago, but since then, the jail's average monthly population has exceeded that figure by about 100 and one month reached 2,379, records show.

And check on the medical, too. Not nice. More DC jail info.

Be careful and somebody tell those arrested to be calm while in the DC jail.

IKJ's hands were forced in this matter, folks. Safety and access to education. As I have said before, it's everybody's mess and we all need to work together. Finger-pointing has never solved anything. It's best to look for a win-win solution but people have insisted on a lose-lose proposition. Not good, folks. Not good at all.

UPDATE: A clarification. Protesters arrested will have the opportunity to post a small bail. However, if they go and protest again by blocking the roads and entrances to Gallaudet and other buildings, they could face a weekend in the slammer. And with DC jail's condition is not an appealing thought.

Arrests imminent? Praying nobody gets hurt.

Looks like time has stood still at Deafread. Arrests imminent at Gallaudet University? Praying that nobody gets hurt. It's not the time nor place to make the wrong moves that could have damaging, long term consequences. Waiting and watching just like everybody else...history in the making, though grim.

UPDATE: Yep. It has started. Chris Corrigan arrested...struggling not to get arrested. Not good. Will these people be made activists for the rest of their lives? Only time will tell.

UPDATE II: Two arrested. Tara Holcolmb.

Statement from Chief of DPS (remember only DPS can arrest the students first):

This notice gives fair warning that any persons who interfere with the university's steps to restore freedom of access to Kendall Green will be subject to arrest and criminal prosecution according to District of Columbia law, specifically, statute 22-1307.

Staff and faculty may additionally be subject to administrative penalties in accordance with the applicable university personnel policies. Students may be subject to penalties within the student judicial processes, including possible dismissal from the university, if they break laws or violate the student code of conduct.

Not surprised. Long time coming that it had to come down to this messy drama.

UPDATE III: Tim Rarus gets arrested! 7th person to get arrested. One of the 4 original DPN protest leader. A strategic move, on his part(?), solely on name recognition to get the media press into a frenzy? Only time will tell. Keep reading Deafread for more scrolling, possibly more, arrest news.

UPDATE IV: Be sure to check out my blog "Where is D.C. Jail and its Capacity Limit? " Not a very nice read on capacity limits, HIV and plus info on phone number and address to the D.C. jail.

Deaf Man Wins "Technology Company of the Year" by Governor

Jason Curry, president of sComm, whose company won a very prestigious "Technology of the Year" award by the Governor of Missouri by beating out hundreds of other companies in the selection process.

2006 Governor’s Conference on Economic Development in St. Louis. The firm will be named Technology Company of the Year.

SComm was founded five years ago by Jason Curry, who is deaf, and his father, David Curry, who is not. The company developed a product called UbiDuo, a two screen, two-keyboard electronic communications device.

Jason Curry said he came up with the idea after a restaurant meeting with his father. He said the two had difficulty communicating with signs and reading lips in the restaurant.

“The Ubi has been more than three years in the making,” said Jason Curry. “This award is even more validation that the Ubi will change the lives of the more than 24 million Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing.”

Congratulations to Jason Curry and to his CEOs and staff for all the hard work that took 5 years to see that this fruition take place! People will definitely hear lots more about this UbiDuo communication device down the road.

See all related UbiDuo blogs on Kokonut Pundits.

Not "ASL enough"? and "Spoiled Morons"

Is the real issue that Dr. Jane K. Fernandes is "not ASL enough" despite that JKF's full intention to increase recognition of ASL as a full language? Can't help but wonder with all the hyperboles flying around against her and the Admininstration making it sound worse than it's not.

In other news, looks like the outside is not very supportive of what's going on inside on the campus of Gallaudet University in WTOP's comment area with their story today "Incoming Gallaudet President Offers to Meet With Students." Looking at the comments so far, they don't bode well for protesters with people thinking they're a bunch of "spoiled morons."

From what I read there is no leadership @ this University. These spoiled morons closing down the campus so nobody gets a education is appaling. Where is the leadership??? This bunch of malcontents and some teachers should be arrested and thrown out along with the teachers that supported them. THAT'S LEADERSHIP.!!!So much for our tax money being wasted on people that think they run the school, not go to it.

And

Basically, a few loudmouth punks are trying to bully the entire school into submission.As for ineffective actions on the part of the current Administration - you are right. They should have ordered the protesters to disperse and arrested and suspended or expelled those that disobeyed the order several days ago. I guess this is just another example of politically-correct, bleeding heart, molly-coddyling taken to the extreme...

and that's just a start. Check them out. Isn't this what the FSSA wanted to avoid in the first place? But they didn't exactly speak up at first, did they?

UPDATE: Just a note, folks, be sure to visit the comment site which I suspect are mostly hearing people who are commenting from a very different perspective about Gallaudet and deaf/hh people there. In other words, very damaging in the eyes of those outside of Gallaudet.

As always, name calling isn't the answer (see above in red). My apologies for not making it clear. I've highlighted the original source of the name calling. It is without a doubt unacceptable.

Defining Deafened

Here's a funny article called "Defining Deafened" that was written back in 2001. It is the way how the author wrote it that makes it funny. I was actually laughing the way he (or should I say she?) wrote it.

Defining who is “deaf enough” always gives me chest pain. For one thing, that’s a bludgeon the Deaf Culture uses to beat many deafened people with. Whether they intend to leave deafened people bleeding on the sidewalk outside the deaf club (figuratively), that is a frequent emotional consequence, and I personally reject contrived and imposed definitions of “deaf enough”.

Read on when you get there. And there is one part I liked and that's the telephone test. So true. I've no problem with that one. But all in all it's funny reading if you get into the tempo of the way the author writes it. Little stabs here and there. But funny nonetheless.

With this website you know it's a bit "old" in terms of internet-ese because the author says "World Wide Web" in one webpage section instead of using a plain old word like "internet". That's a cool world. Rolls off your tongue when you say it. "World Wide Web" is not so cool. Sounds wacky like Elmer Fudd talking you silly wascal. Well, you will if try and say those three words 20 times as fast as you can. Good oral exercise, too.

The site is not a blog per se but a website with some interesting info, so to speak, for those on the up and up on how to deal with one's own hearing loss. Good place to look around if you're bored.

Or if you are extra bored you may want to revist the history of DPN in my blog that I did exactly one year ago called "The Unspoken Side of Deaf President Now Protest" for a little eye opening version on what happened then that many people do not want to acknowledge.

Sound and Peace...When Heather Artinian Speaks.

Incredible. Remember the show Sound and Fury? And how one Deaf family pitted itself against each other and even their families and friends on the decision of a cochlear implant for their young daughter who was 9 years old at the time and her name is Heather? Well, today on NPR they were going to have Dr. I. King Jordan on the air but he had to back out of the show in order be on the Gallaudet University campus to try and resolve an ongoing protest issue that's been brewing for sometime since this May and now has since exploded (or imploded in this case) into an ugly scene.

However, if you read the NPR show transcript about the Artinians you'll see a discussion with them regarding Heather and the documentary show Sound and Fury. You need to scroll about 3/4 way down to find this little gem. Below is just a snippet.

Here's Heather's Dad, Peter, speaking to the NPR show host on the phone with an interpreter:

Peter: IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT. BUT, YOU KNOW, COCHLEAR IMPLANTS WERE RELATIVELY NEW ON THIS SCENE. IT WAS OUR FIRST EXPOSURE. IT'S NOT A DECISION WOULD I MAKE FOR MYSELF. I'M TOO OLD. I DON'T SEE ANY FUTURE BENEFITS FOR MYSELF.
BUT MY DAUGHTER IS YOUNGER. WE WENT TO COUNSELING. IT WAS A DELIBERATE PROCESS, IT WASN'T A SUDDEN DECISION, BUT IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION FOR US, YES. BUT HOPEFULLY SHE'S HAPPY. I MEAN, SHE CAN SPEAK FOR HERSELF, OF COURSE.

Neal Conan: WELL LET'S HEAR FROM HEATHER THEN. JOINING US NOW IS PETER'S DAUGHTER, HEATHER ARTINIAN WHO IS NOW 13 YEARS OLD. SHE'S WITH HER FATHER AT OUR BUREAU IN NEW YORK.

HEATHER, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON TALK OF THE NATION TODAY.

Heather: THANK YOU. IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE TOO.

Neal Conan: YOU RECEIVED THE IMPLANT WHEN YOU WERE NINE YEARS OLD. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE MOMENT WHEN THEY FIRST TURNED IT ON FOR YOU AND YOU FIRST STARTED TO HEAR THINGS?

Heather: WELL, I WAS REALLY NERVOUS BECAUSE I HAD NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BEFORE. I WAS PRETTY SCARED UNTIL I WAS TURNED ON. IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR ME.

Neal Conan: I BET IT WAS. THERE'S A WONDERFUL MOMENT IN JOSH ARONSON'S MOVIE "SOUND AND FURY" WHERE I GUESS IT'S YOUR COUSIN WHO WAS BORN DEAF ALSO AT AN EARLIER AGE AND HE STARTS TO HEAR. IT'S A TREMENDOUSLY WONDERFUL MOMENT IN THE MOVIE.

YOU NOW GO TO A HEARING SCHOOL. HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?

Heather: ACTUALLY I LOVE IT.

Neal Conan: AND HAVE YOU BEEN BACK TO THE DEAF SCHOOL THAT YOU ATTENDED BEFORE?

Heather: NO. NOT EVER.

Neal Conan: HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR DEAF FRIENDS?

Heather: YES, I KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MY FRIENDS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH EVERYONE, NO MATTER IF THEY'RE DEAF OR HEARING.
Peter: HEATHER GOES IN AND OUT OF THE DEAF CULTURE AND THE HEARING WORLD FLUIDLY, SEAMLESSLY, TRANSPARENTLY.

Read the rest of that amazing phone interview on NPR as they also discuss about the upcoming documentary Sound and Fury: Six Years Later. Also, in that trascript you'll find discussions about the protest as well. Some good. Some bad. Some are a little weird. Some just makes you say, "Huh?" Read below and see if you find something that seems to be bit out of place:

THIS IS DAVID, I'M CALLING AGAIN FROM FREEMONT, CALIFORNIA, I'M SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER.
I'M AN EXPERT ON THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT AND ALSO ON DEAF CULTURE. I AM A COCHLEAR IMPLANT EXPERT WHERE I'VE DONE MUCH RESEARCH. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT SPEECH IS NOT THE LINK TO HUMAN IDENTITY.

David? From Fremont? I wonder who could that be? A cochlear implant "expert"? Speaking of David. Check this one out about how the issue isn't cochlear implant but eugenics. Hmm.....sure.

Well, I think Heather is the expert here. No doubt.

Speaking of Cochlear Implant. Here's the poll I did not too long ago on whether students at Gallaudet University accept the Cochlear Implant Education Center. Some interesting numbers.

UPDATE: Karen sends me this link for a follow up article with the Artinian family. Thanks, Karen!

The Politics of Being Deaf

Protests come and go, some with great fervor and fanfare, others get mired in messy outcomes. This recent protest at Gallaudet University which escalated last week by taking over Hall Memorial Building and now recently a campus wide forced shut down affecting both the high school and elementary schools on campus is example of a protest outcome that's looking messier by the minute. President of Gallaudet University I. King Jordan restrained himself from using the D.C. police ever since this May but felt he had no recourse but offer an ultimatum in his letter yesterday on the real possibility of arrest and suspension from school.

“So far we have avoided confrontation. However, the dissenters keep escalating their outrageous behavior: vandalizing College Hall, taking over Hall Memorial Building keeping students and faculty from classes, labs and mid-term exams. And now they have shut down campus – a campus that is home to college, high school and elementary school students. They have broken many laws.

And Dr. I. King Jordan does make a point. The latest protest has interferred with high school and elementary school students' education. Parents were forced to make last minute changes who regularly drop off their deaf children at Kendall elementary school. Some parents are even withdrawing their kids from Kendall and MSSD High school on campus because of the protest. Even many of the protesters themselves objected to the forced campus close down with 30% of them saying they objected to the campus close down versus 65% saying in favor while some 5% remain unsure by those who contributed to the poll vote. In looking at the whole picture, almost 65% of the people who participated in this poll said they supported the protest but within those protesters some 30% disapprove the forced campus closing. A teacher sent in a letter explaining why the hijacking of Hall Memorial Building shouldn't have ocurred which resulted in the first "mini-shutdown" on campus.

Gallaudet University is an institution on higher learnng for all deaf, hard of hearing and Deaf people for those who may want to use its valuable resources. And it is home where communication accessibility reigns supreme on the campus of Gallaudet University. Not everybody who go to Gallaudet University is fluent in ASL, sign language or are completely deaf as in stone deaf. In fact, some students left Gallaudet University because they were harassed for not being "deaf enough." Not a surprise there because I did from time to time felt that while at Gallaudet.

For many on the campus of Gallaudet University the politics of being Deaf means that ASL should be the only means of communication on the campus of Gallaudet University for all students, or so perception goes. But that gets sticky when it comes to Federal laws covering communication accessibilty. According to Section 504, and since Gallaudet University is a recipient of federal financial assistance, a post secondary institution has an obligation under Section 504 to be accessible to students with disabilities. This includes communication accessibility.

Services you can request:

* American Sign Language Interpreter
* Signed English Interpreter (SEE-Signing Exact English or PSE-Pidgin Sign English)
* FM Systems and Conference Microphones
* Voice interpreter
* CART
* Remote Captioning
* Cued Speech Transiliterator
* I-Communicator
* Typewell/C-Print
* Professional or Volunteer Notetakers

Even though Gallaudet University supports ASL (and here) . But according to politics of being Deaf on the campus of Gallaudet University many students and faculty members are saying that exclusive ASL use be the "the language of instruction at Gallaudet University" and that "Gallaudet University is the community of Deaf intellectuals, not a training ground for all modes of communication."

That's nice. Only if the educational institution in question was a completely private Deaf educational institution and receive no federal funding then it wouldn't fall under Section 504. However, Gallaudet University receives their federal funding assistance for as long as it has been opened. Section 504 gives the power over to students who may request communication accessibility other than ASL. A choice. A stark reality nonethless but it is a choice even though many would prefer ASL.

I suspect much of the politics seen in this protest at Gallaudet University revolves around the issue of ASL. Dr. Jane K. Fernandes certainly lacks any fluency on ASL but more of a PSE or SimCom that raises the ire of the core protest students who are wholly in favor of ASL-only at Gallaudet University.

Perhaps the issue isn't being "Deaf enough" but about the issue of ASL-usuage. For 18 years President I. King Jordan who was born hearing but lost his hearing in a motorcycle accident at age 21 isn't fluent in ASL but use PSE or Simcom whenever he signs and communicate with the students. It's not saying that students, staff and faculty cannot understand him sign. Just that it's not in pure ASL. The same goes for Dr. Jane K. Fernandes who acquired sign language in her adult life but she was born deaf this time compared to I. King Jordan. The acquisition of a new language, such as ASL, doesn't always come easy. In fact, some may take a long time or none at all to attain perfect fluidity and fluency of ASL. And SimCom is the middle ground when it comes to signing and communicating for many people.

Every time I read blogs or website one of the most common thing that keeps popping up on the issue with Gallaudet University, the president and future president in this protest is the screaming on their use of "SimCom" over "ASL". They have mocked and made fun of IKJ, JKF and anybody else who dares to sign using SimCom. In fact, one of the very first complaint/mockery on IKJ use of SimCom was on Joey Baer's vlogsite back in May when the protest started but that has since been taken off in favor of "Unity for Gallaudet" saying that everybody has a right and choice on how one prefers to communicate, even if it's using one's voice. How ironic on what we're seeing today over SimCom and IKJ and JKF's use of it. More mixed messages by them seen here and here.

Now, signing comes in many forms such as SEE, SEEII, PSE, SimCom, manual alphabet, Rochester method, and so on rather than just a "a pure language" like ASL here in the United States. Section 504 which is a Federal law guarantees communication access for any and all students with a hearing loss at colleges and universities that get Federal funding. And that not all students with a hearing loss knows signing but make beneficial use of their hearing with their hearing aids or cochlear implants. So, it's no surprise than most universities and colleges do get a certain amount of money from the Federal government. Which is why many deaf and hard of hearing students go to other colleges and universities rather than at Gallaudet because universities and colleges are required to make sure that students have communication access in their classrooms and on campus. Hence, one of the reason for the decline in numbers at Gallaudet University over the past 15 years.

Some protesters will deny that this is not the case in advocating an ASL -only on campus but about Dr. Jane K. Fernandes "lack" of leadership qualities. And what would that "quality" be?

This.

Erroneous Definition of ASL at Gallaudet. Gallaudet University's Faculty Guidelines has the wrong definition on what American Sign Language entails...Dr. Jane Fernandes was the University Provost for 6 years, what has she done to address this?

And who is that guy signing in that video?

Well, Ryan Commerson who is one of the protest leaders at Gallaudet University.

Sure sounds like they want an ASL-only form of communication on the campus of Galluadet University while at the same time ignore or reject students' basic right on the choice of communication access on campus. The same as with any other colleges or universities.

Now, the real issue is beginning to come forth loud and clear. Sure sounds pretty darn close on the "not Deaf enough" issue. Maybe the protesters ought to chip in and buy out Gallaudet University from the Federal government so they can have a "Deaf-only" private university?

Isn't that what these protesters want?

Hijacking Education - New Poll

Well, they did it again. After protesters hijacked HMB last week and seeing how it wasn't going anywhere after 5 days of being holed up in HMB they decided to hijack the whole campus instead by blocking the entrances this early morning.

First they hijacked HMB, alienating students who supported the protest but wanted to continue with their education. They were (and still are) especially disappointed with this kind of tactic. Especially during mid-term week. But, hey, no problem some of them say. Get the professors to teach outdoors or transfer to another building to take classes. This isn't as simple as it sounds. And now they've hijacked the whole campus, effectively putting a stop on outdoor teaching in the breezy Autumn air. So, faculty, staff, students, graduates and doctoral students can't get in to continue with their education or do their work. And this was not FSSA's wishes to see this happen but of course one cannot control splinter groups.

What protesters do not understand is that they are already losing their support from their own supporters in the first place. Remember, this isn't DPN where virtually 98% of the campus population supported the protest outright from day one. There was already a 75% support in the beginning but that has been eroded down to probably 60%. See the latest poll so far (and you can still cast your vote if you haven't done so). Over the last 4 days it has dropped from 73% down to 63%.

Here's a new poll for all you supporters of the protest on campus:

If you support the protest, do you support the protesters' tactic on interfering with your education by closing down the campus? No, I don't support the campus closedown. I still want my education. Yes, this campus shutdown is important. School can wait. I am not sure right now. Free polls from Pollhost.com

Matt Hamill Fight Results

A live SpikeTV three round fight with Matt Hamill fighting Seth Petruzelli took place tonight at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. It was a good fight. Matt Hamill went in well prepared to try and make this a 4 - 0 win - loss record against Seth with a 5 - 3 win-loss record. As you all may know Matt's dominating MMA skill is his years of wrestling and he spent the last 11 months doing mixed martial arts training with Tito Ortiz (who is fighting Shamrock tonight, too) at the Big Bear training camp in California. The fight was bloody...for Seth. Seth's right eye beneath the socket was cut a few times by Matt's famous signature ground and pound method using his elbows and hands. Matt dominated all 3 rounds that lasted 5 mintues each. All of the judges gave Matt the highest points in each round giving Matt the vicitory win of 4 - 0 to his credit. Matt nearly cried after the judges announced him as the winner of the light-heavyweight MMA fight. It was a hard won fight that required blood, sweat and dedication.

Joe Rogan interviewed Matt on the ring after the win to ask him a few questions on what he thought of the fight. Matt spoke into Rogan's microphone in response to his questions. And after that Matt thanked everybody who helped make his dream possible and made the ILY sign to the camera. Matt still has a way to go but certainly for sure he is making inroads into the UFC world.

Congratulations Matt!


Check out all of my up to date Matt Hamill bloggings.

UPDATE: Tito Ortiz beats Ken Shamrock in the first round. Almost the exact same thing in their last fight together with Tito doing the ground and pound on Ken. This time the referree let it go a little longer and this time Tito definitely hurt Ken. The referree stopped the fight in the first round with a minute or so left in the clock for a 5-minute fight per round.

What's amazing is that Ken congratulated Tito and well done fight. Tito raised Ken's arm giving him kudos for fighting again and then Ken raised Tito's arm acknowledging that he's the champion. This is probably Ken's last day in his fight career by earning punishing blows from Tito...not mention earning more money in the process for the 3rd time. Ken is saying right now he doesn't want to make any decision about his fight career being the last but it's certainly inevitable after tonight being the 42-year man he is. Ken congratulates Tito once again. They have both buried the hate-hatchet after so many years of hate.

Amazing.

Silent No More! Round 3. Letters.

Hear ye, hear ye, here ye! *Hands waving, feet stomping of the floor and shouts of voices to get your attention with an extra large megaphone* Get your letters here folks. Come and read. Come one...come all!*

This space will be dedicated to letters from people who want to teach, learn and do their work in HMB give their persective and side of the story. Be sure to visit this blog for continual updates on fresh new letters. The first letter is from a teacher. Read and learn on what he/she has to say.

LETTER #1: A teacher's point of view.

I teach a class in HMB and we have been moved to another location. Because I teach, I am also required to hold office hours as a resource for my students to ask questions and/or get help. Obviously these office hours have been cancelled - there is no other office on campus. I guess I could arrange to meet the students in the Marketplace in SUB but that would kind of be defeating the purpose, wouldn't it? I'm in my office to work distraction-free when students are not with me.

Anyway - I received an email from a student yesterday right after class saying that he was sorry he wasn't able to come to my class because he was so tired from working on the protest for so long and that he had been told to go home and get some sleep. He then stated, "I'll see you during your office hours so I can catch
up."

There are two things wrong with this picture:

1) You want to see me during my office hours so that your own life isn't inconvenienced by the protest but you're willing to screw up an entire campus for your own selfish purposes?

2) Its ok for you to go on with your own life - get some sleep, catch up on homework, etc. but it's not ok for the rest of the campus who is not involved with the protest to go on with our own lives?

It also brings up a point I've wanted to ask the protesters but have been cautious because of the verbal abuse and cyberbullying tactics these students use for those against the protest or who are neutral. The point is: The purpose of this HMB lockdown is to stop the University in its tracks. Crude, but effective. So why aren't these protesters' lives stopped in its tracks? Why are they going to class? Going home for a shower? Getting food? Having cookouts outside of HMB? Hello? Squatters, anyone?

Indeed. Now, protesters are being inconvienced from their protesting at HMB and expect teachers to flex and bend over backwards for them? Remember folks, it is the protesters who decided to hijack HMB. They are inconveniencing everybody on campus. It's virtually shut down. If protesters don't want to be inconvenienced, then DON'T! ask the teachers to make adjustments.

Letter #1 is surely an eye opener on the hypocrisy of those protesters who hijacked HMB last week.


Be sure to read Silent No More! previous blogs number 1 and number 2.

Reminder! Matt Hamill is Scheduled to Fight Today!

A reminder to all Matt Hamill fans and fans of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting. Matt Hamill will fight Seth Petruzelli (see his website) today, October 10, 2006 at Hollywood, Florida. Yes. Your heard me right. Hollywood, Florida. It will be broadcast live on SpikeTV this time from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. Be sure to watch and root for your favorite up and coming first ever Deaf MMA fighter vying for the UFC spotlight.

Also, Matt Hamill's training coach and partner, Tito Ortiz, will be there to fight once more against, Ken "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Shamrock. Here are the details:

UFC FIGHT NIGHT LIVE - THE FINAL CHAPTER: TITO ORTIZ VS KEN SHAMROCK III

Telecasts LIVE Tuesday, October 10 (8:00 - 10:00 PM, ET, tape delay for West Coast). Encores Saturday October, 14 (4:00 - 6:00 PM, ET/PT)and Monday, August 16 (Midnight - 2:00 AM, ET/PT).

Spike TV presents the third and final installment in the UFC's most storied rivalry between bitter rivals UFC Hall-of-Famer Ken "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Shamrock and Tito "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Ortiz. This special UFC event headlines a fight card that will air LIVE from Hollywood, Florida at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. Leading up to the fight, catch two days of UFC programming on Spike TV, including the UFC LIVE AND INSIDE (working title) on Monday, October 9 (8:00 - 8:30 PM, ET/PT); encores Tuesday, October 10 (11:30 AM - Noon, ET/PT).

Also, check out the latest discussion in MMA forums about Matt Hamill and his upcoming fight against Seth. Look for a much improved and stronger Matt Hamill.

Check out all of my up to date Matt Hamill bloggings.

Silent No More!! - Round 2. Students Want to Learn!

Hear ye, hear ye, here ye! *Hands waving, feet stomping of the floor and shouts of voices to get your attention with an extra large megaphone* Are you a student at Gallaudet University? An undergrad perhaps? A graduate or even a doctoral student? Or perhaps you are a professor or teacher at Gallaudet University or work as a staff member? How do you feel about the protest and the fact that you cannot get inside HMB to get to your computers, files, research papers, equipments and books?

Do you have any concerns for your educational welfare, safety issues and do you feel that protesters are denying your basic educational right to an education by preventing you from entering HMB? Who paid for your education? Your parents? Your VR? A hard earned scholarship? Or by yor own hard work by working jobs and going to school? Who is responsible for your ultimate destiny? Is it the protesters or you? Then it's time to put your comments here on Kokonut Pundits for the world to see and tell YOUR side of the story. If you have a letter drafted up, put it here. If you want to say only a few words, fine. Put them here. Whatever it takes to get people talking. The more, the better so words can get out on what protesters are doing to your educational welfare. And how they are committing a blunder by creating a crisis within a crisis. It doesn't matter whether you agree or disagree with the protest, the common theme here is that you have the desire and deep interest to keep pursuing your educational goals.

Good luck with your education and endeavors in life. Education is the key to a better and productive life. I know because I am a product of that success!


UPDATE: Be sure to check out the latest poll figures "Do you support the protest at Gallaudet University?" Looks like support for the protest has gone done the last time I checked. It is now hanging around at 65%.

Is the FSSA Back-peddling?

For the past three days ever since protesters stormed HMB to hijack and take control of the building the FSSA has done nothing in their website that they did not support that kind of action. And for the past three days they have printed letters of other people and such on the support and concern for students in HMB but never a nary a word from the FSSA or in the letters or from other people about the concerns and support of students who wanted to continue with their education in HMB but still support the protest. You can check out FSSA's October archive here to see what I mean. This right to an education and continuation of students' education in HMB, which holds the majority of rooms and equipments for teaching, And lo and behold, the FSSA comes out with a letter of clarification on their association with the protesters in HMB.

To: The Gallaudet Community and General Public
Fr: FSSA Coalition

It has come to our attention that people may have associated the “lockdown” by protestors of the HMB building on Gallaudet Unviersity’s main campus as a FSSA Coalition event.

We wish to clarify. The lockdown of HMB was not initiated or implemented by the FSSA Coalition. In fact, it occurred without the coalition’s prior knowledge. This event was initiated and conducted by students of FSSA and SBG.

FSSA faculty and staff members have been present with the student protestors throughout this period of time out of grave concern for the physical and emotional well being of the students under these circumstance.

I have been one of the most loud and vocal of all deaf/hh bloggers in support of the students' concern on their right to a continued education even while the protest continues. And many students do support the protest but they do not want their education interrupted. I recognize the importance of continued education, even though I may not agree with the protesters' or FSSA's opinions. And how did many of the supporters of those protesters who stormed HMB responded to my blogged concerns? They snickered and ballyhooed my, and others, concerns for students' right to a continued education.

The FSSA never once showed disapproval of the action of protesters that stormed HMB on October 7, 2006. In fact, the FSSA reported the action with seemingly gleeful reporting in their October 7 press release. And the FSSA continued to print letters of support for protesters in HMB. The FSSA also added notes about food donation. Letters about "police brutality" and such. All this showed great support for the protesters' action while they lie holed up in HMB. Not once in any of the press releases or letters did it show any concerns for the students' wishes to continue with their education in HMB or the fact that the FSSA showed any disapproval of the tactic by protesters taking over HMB. Now, they are drawing a line in the sand trying separate themselves from the protesters' action on the hijacking of HMB.

All you bloggers out there who supported, goaded and cheered for protesters who hijacked HMB are party to this mess. And now the FSSA is feveriously trying to get the students out of HMB, just to save face. A bad save I would say.

This "Letter of Clarifation" by the FSSA is the most damning of all letters and press releases on their hypocrisy and lack of direction and control over their protest. And now the FSSA is saying, "Education is important, too!" even though they re-interated back in May that this protest wouldn't interfere with any of education on campus. And now they want the protesters out of HMB....pronto! All one has to do is read a letter by Dr. Carol Erting in response to a new group called "The Concerned Students" in regard to the lockdown of HMB by protesters to see that NOW education is of concern and on their mind....3 days later.

I want to let you know that several of us faculty have been working very hard to assist in the resolution of this very serious situation on campus. We have been at HMB with the protesting students since the incident occurred with DPS and frightened students asked faculty to be present to ensure their safety. Please understand that this is a STUDENT action, not an action by the Faculty, Student, Staff, Alumni Coalition (FSSA). The coalition announced during the protest in May that it would not interfere with the ongoing educational activities of the university. That is still the position of the coalition. A coalition as you know is made up of independent groups who share similar goals but may take actions on their own to achieve them. That is what has happened in this case. Some of the written statements have added to the confusion so it is not surprising if contradictory messages are "out there." I am pasting a copy of a message I sent to the University Faculty officers yesterday. Please know that we are working diligently toward a peaceful resolution of the current situation so that classes may resume unimpeded, so that intimidation in all forms and toward all parties may cease on campus, and so that civility and respect toward all may prevail.

I have question for you people running the FSSA organization. How come you didn't say a word about any of that on the first day when protesters hijacked HMB and now you are working "diligently" to get the protesters to leave HMB because education is important, too?

Right. Directionless as ever.

A win-win solution is needed for everybody. This sort of thing can't go on forever. And if it does, it does present possibilities that education on campus will continue to get disrupted with these protest distractions.

Make up you mind, FSSA.

Protesters Refuse Doctoral Students Entry into HMB for Completion of Dissertation Papers

Mean spirited protesters refuse doctoral students entry into HMB for completion of dissertation papers!

Protesters who have hijacked Hall Memorial Building (HMB) refuse to allow Doctoral students entry into the building. Doctoral students who are under severe time constraints to complete their PhD dissertation papers must use Hall Memorial Building so they can graduate. Many of the graduate departments in HMB have the needed equipments, rooms, resources, and space for master and doctoral students to do their studies. This is not about a simple matter of professors taking their students outside or transfer their classes to another building to teach. This is a matter of seeing HMB as much more than just a place to teach.

Faculty members who support the hijacking of HMB and use HMB for their teaching decide to transfer their classes elsewhere are guilty of abusing their teaching ethics by actively denying graduates or doctoral students their equal educational opportunities with their own education. Also, faculty members at Gallaudet University who remain quiet about the concerns of graduate and doctoral students' dilemma and quandry are also equally guilty of practicing blatant hypocrisy when it comes to education and the equal opportunity to learn.

What are the FSSA and student protesters saying to graduate and doctoral students who want use HMB resources and offices inside to do their thesis or dissertation works that they have worked on for so long?

"Tough guano."

I ask this question. Would the above scenario be grounds for a lawsuit against protesters and/or the FSSA? Why and why not?

As always, I hope this get resolved peacefully and quickly, without any incident and for all parties to come away with a win-win solution.

Protest Veritas Blogsite on Gally Protest

There's a new blogsite in town and the name is "Protest Veritas". Whoever is doing this is keeping a list of all menacing tactics and behaviors committed by protesters at Gallaudet University. Whether any of these reports are true is up for debate and whether the FSSA is consciously trying to cover these incidents committed by student protesters. But do check it out. The blog owner does make an interesting point or two.

Like for example, many do know for a fact that a water bottle or juice bottle was thrown in the direction of IKJ when he was there for the building dedication in his name. Or this incident?

Were you aware that the recent incident in HMB involved a protester throwing a bottle at a DPS officer first and, conveniently, that provocation was not filmed or mentioned?

If that's true, then somebody had better get this under control before it gets out of hand.

It is probably a matter of time before protesters implode into a sea of hatred if things do not go their way using violence as their excuse and, at the same time, blame Gallaudet University for their own mess.