Dishonesty or Truth?

Disingenuousness comes in many forms and this is one of them.

Now, if doing the Nazi-style salute is not an issue at all then I dare the Kappa Gamma of today to do another group photo doing the exact same salute as the Kappa Gamma brothers did back in the 1989.  Go ahead and prove me and to the rest of the people out there wrong.

Here's a close up zoom of a Kappa Gamma group doing the Nazi-style salute seen below . Note the deliberate outstretched arm, palm flat facing toward the front that reminiscences Nazi Germany's own Nazi salute ?  They are certainly not waving, Carl.

In Carl's futile effort to rebut my argument on the fraternity Nazi-style salute he had the audacity to use a picture of MLK waving to the crowd (more pictures here) as being the equivalent of a Nazi salute. Completely laughable. Yet note the palm of MLK's right hand is outstretched while his right arm is bent in a relaxed form but not in an attentive form.  Sorry, Carl, it is not the same thing. MLK wouldn't do such a dumb thing as to mimic a Nazi-style salute knowing full well, with him being a highly educated and wise man, knowing the history behind Nazi Germany. The kind of salute that is a reminder of the Holocaust that Nazi Germany atrociously committed during WWII.

Ok. What about the Pope's own salute? A Nazi style salute?

Nope. Not even close. Note the relaxed arm. The spread the of his fingers or outstretched palm. Nothing is indicative of having an attentive form but a person who is obviously waving at people, humbled by their presence.

Ok. What about Obama?

Nope. Again, just like the Pope. He is in a relaxed pose, outstretched arm with outstretched palm where he is obviously waving to his adoring fans before entering on his Air Force 1 jet like he has done many times.

Hmm. What about a cartoon drawing depicting a Nazi-style salute?

Seriously?

Based on a Roman character during Roman times doing their own kind of salute specific to their own time period that *PRE-DATES* Nazi Germany and WWII? Oh, c'mon! Why so desperate, Carl?

This next drawing suggested by Carl seen below certainly cannot be compared to the Kappa Gamma's 20th century Nazi-style salutes because that salute in the picture scene depicts an era that, again, pre-dates Nazi Germany and WWII by a few thousand years.

The point of this has to do with after the fact when it was Germany who made their Nazi salutes recognizable around the world and is correlated strongly with the history of their atrocious mass killings of several million Jewish people in Europe.   Anybody who attempt to use salute examples that predates Nazi Germany in an effort to rebut an argument about KG's own Nazi-style salute as being warranted and justified is simply missing the point in a totally disingenuous and dishonest way.

But, you know what's funny, Carl?  When you produced a picture seen below in the effort to rebut my argument it has backfired on you. Why? Simply because the young man with the tattoos doing the salute was a 20 year old professional soccer player who did the Nazi salute at a soccer game that got him booted for life.

The Hellenic Football Federation met Sunday in response to the incident and decided to ban the player, who has previously captained the national team in youth competitions. “The player’s action to salute to spectators in a Nazi manner is a severe provocation, insults all the victims of Nazi barbarity and injures the deeply pacifist and human character of the game,” the federation said as Greece marked the 70th anniversary of the deportation of thousands of Greek Jews to Nazi death camps.

Katidis, who initially claimed that he was not saluting but pointing at a friend in the stands, said later that he had no idea what the gesture meant. In an apology issued after the ban, he called his salute “totally unacceptable,” adding, “I feel terrible for those I upset with the stupidity of my act.”

Video and photographs of the incident showed that while several members of the club’s support staff celebrated with the player, others looked disturbed by the gesture, and at least one older man tried to pull his arm down.

Bold emphasis is mine.

The big difference with the 20 year old professional soccer player who did the salute is that he profusely apologized to the public for something that he was not aware of that it was in bad form and an insult to do such a salute. He acknowledged the stupidity of doing that salute. Did the Gamma do that? Nah. Never apologized to the public. Not once. In fact, we got people like Carl to help sweep it under the rug, because, you know, doing Nazi-style salute isn't hurting anyone. Right?

Here's another incident of two girls from a girls basketball team doing the Nazi salute that got them in hot water this year.

Remember, what we have is a *GROUP* photo of KG brothers doing exactly the same Nazi-style salute that took place in 1989, well before the era of the internet. It was a salute that looks exactly like this:

But knowing the history behind the people who did the saluting were the ones who supported and obeyed Hitler and his regime would understand that a Nazi style salute reminds people of this:

And, Carl, since you emigrated from Netherlands to the United States as a little boy and your continued refusal to acknowledge the seriousness of Kappa Gamma's own Nazi-style salute disrespects and insults the memories of those who died at those Holocaust camps, the Netherland Jews who suffered at the hands of German Nazis.

After the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940, a civil administration was installed under SS auspices. Arthur Seyss-Inquart was appointed Reich Commissar. He presided over a German administration that included many Austrian-born Nazis. They in turn supervised the Dutch civil service. This arrangement was to prove fateful for the Jews of the Netherlands.

During 1940, the German occupation authorities banned Jews from the civil service and required Jews to register the assets of their business enterprises. In January 1941, the German authorities required all Jews to register themselves as Jews. A total of 159,806 persons registered, including 19,561 persons born of mixed marriages. The total included some 25,000 Jewish refugees from the German Reich. A Jewish council was established in February 1941.

The arrests of several hundred young Jews (sent to the Buchenwald and Mauthausen concentration camps) led to a general strike by Dutch workers on February 25, 1941, and a hardening of Nazi policy. The German authorities and their Dutch collaborators segregated Jews from the general Dutch population, and incarcerated 15,000 Jews in German-administered forced-labor camps. The Germans then ordered the concentration of Jews in Amsterdam and sent foreign and stateless Jews to the Westerbork transit camp in the northeast part of the country. Some of the remaining provincial Jews were sent to the Vught camp. As of April 29, 1942, Jews were required to wear a yellow Star of David on their clothing.

Deportations of Jews from the Netherlands began in the summer of 1942. The last train left Westerbork for Auschwitz on September 3, 1944. During these two years, the Germans and their Dutch collaborators deported 107,000 Jews, mostly to Auschwitz and Sobibor, where they were murdered. Only 5,200 survived. In addition, 25,000-30,000 Jews went into hiding, assisted by the Dutch underground. Two-thirds of Dutch Jews in hiding managed to survive.

The geography of the Netherlands made escape difficult. The ruthless efficiency of the German administration and the willing cooperation of Dutch administrators and policemen doomed the Jews of the Netherlands. Less than 25 percent of Dutch Jewry survived the Holocaust.

Carl, by sweeping under the rug what your own Kappa Gamma brothers did you manage to disrespect the memory of your own motherland by making light of it. Out of the 107,000 Netherland Jews that were sent to concentration camps, only 5,200 survived. But you insist the KG's salute was nothing.

Carl, you managed to defile the memory of your motherland and your Netherland ancestors in one full sweep by essentially laughing about the KG's Nazi-style salute.

Here are some pictures to make you laugh! We the Kappa Gamma Brothers do have our own salution–a gesture of our own that is as ancient as it is modern! It is an incognito salution–I shall never tell you our secret!

A load of bull, Carl. Completely dishonest and disingenuous regarding this salutation. Just like that young soccer pro at age 20 who did the Nazi salute in full public view, he didn't understand the gravity of doing that.  Others around him were visibly disturbed by his saluting out on the soccer field. He continued to do that even while an older and wise man tried to pull his arm down to get him to stop doing the stupid Nazi-style salute. The young soccer pro was completely clueless and didn't understand the seriousness of doing that Nazi salute. Neither did the group of 35 young, Kappa Gamma men in their early 20s, who didn't understand the folly and seriousness of doing a Nazi-style salute in a group photo, too. Otherwise, if that salute is not a big deal, then I challenge you and all the KG brothers to do another group photo doing the exact same salute that was done in 1989.

But you and your KG brothers will never, ever do that in a million years because you and they KNOW it is not right. You know it is not right to do that in public or in private within the confines of the KG's fraternity walls. Your recent comment is a startling revelation because you appear or seem to imply that this type of Nazi-style salute is done all the time within the confines of the KG's private areas? And that KG brothers are required to do that kind of salute to each other? Just like Hitler's troops and officers who were required to do that back during pre-WWII and during WWII?  Are you saying that KG is still secretly doing that type of Nazi-style salute today??

Utterly unreal, Carl.

Keep digging. Keep going to bat for them, Carl.  I'd would rather see a much better and improved Kappa Gamma fraternity for them to own up to their own history and move forward and finally deserve the respect and recognizance. You're not helping, Carl.

ASL Dragon Flops

Let's get one thing correct on what I said about Kappa Gamma and PKZ.  

ASL Storytelling Theatre blog claimed that I thought or said that

"the Kappa Gamma Fraternity is a sister organization of the Phil Kappa Zeta Sorority."

 No. I never ever said that or thought that.


What I did say:

"PKZ considers Kappa Gamma fraternity as their "brother" group and Kappa Gamma sees PKZ as their "sister" group...."

Note the quotes. Very important.

The ASL Storytelling Theatre blog is run by Carl Schroeder, a Kappa Gamma brother, of course.

I wonder if he approves of Kappa Gamma doing the Nazi-like salute?

He's strangely silent on that matter.

Greek Fraternity Doing the Nazi Salute

Here's a group photo of 35 Greek fraternity brothers doing the Nazi salute. Other people have tried to explain away their salute as doing the "Bellamy salute" which was a popular Pledge of Allegiance salute to the U.S.flag  prior to WWII.  It was Hitler, hence the German National Socialists Party, who made the salute popular and recognized around the world. This forced the United States in 1942 to change their embarrassing salute with a hand over the heart instead for their Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.  It was over 40 years since WWII when that group photo was taken with the 35 fraternity brothers doing the Nazi salute at a fraternity retreat. It'd be disingenuous to say that they were doing the Bellamy salute when that salute has ceased since 1942 for obvious reasons.

This photo of the 35 fraternity brothers belonging to a recognized university doing the obvious Nazi salute is so serious and egregious, not to mention totally stupid and embarrassing, I made the decision to cover up their faces and shirts with their Greek letters....for now.

But why did they do the Nazi salute in the first place? Was it peer pressure done as a lark? Was it a secret salute much akin to a secret handshake used to greet each other while safely in the confines of their fraternity building and elsewhere away from prying or curious eyes? Did fraternity brothers ever forced pledges to do the Nazi salute during Rush Week as part of the whole hazing routine? Why even bother taking a group picture doing the Nazi salute when a picture like that would become the most incriminating kind once it got out to the public? Why even bother doing a group photo with that Nazi pose in the first place?

That's the most mind-boggling and most stupid thing of them all.

When a fraternity does the Nazi salute

What would you think or for that matter what would other people think hearing upon about a fraternity who got together with their 35 fraternity brothers at an outdoor retreat to pose in front of a camera and does the unthinkable that no fraternity organization anywhere in the United States would in their right mind do that? What would people say upon seeing a group picture of 35 fraternity brothers wearing their Greek shirts doing the Nazi salute? An insult to the memory of the millions of Holocaust victims who were brutally tortured and murdered in World War II? 

What would you do or say then? Speak up or stay quiet if it was your college's fraternity?

Now, would you even dare imagine a deaf fraternity group doing the Nazi salute for a group picture? What would you think? Before you blurt out, realize that we all make mistakes while young and did stupid things.  That's forgivable. Something that happened years ago while in college. People do change for the better as we grow older and wiser. But what's not forgivable to is try and continue to shove hazing victims under the rug thinking their hazing story will never see the light of day.  Pictures of fraternity brothers doing the Nazi salute along and bloody bottoms of pledges who have undergone intense paddling during Rush week are one thing. But to have pledge hazing victims are another thing whose emotional and psychological scars can last a lifetime just so that the few immature fraternity brothers would feel important.

Gallaudet's Mysterious Underground Tunnels

For those who have lived or worked on the campus of Gallaudet University may have heard of stories of underground tunnels snaking beneath the campus. Tunnels that could be accessed from above. Tunnels that were rumored to snake as far as to the Capitol grounds. Gallaudet University isn't alone. Georgetown University (founded in 1789) located some 5 miles away directly west have their own set of underground tunnels, even connecting to Washington, DC.

Though many of the tunnels are now said to be boarded up at the ends (thus would not lead to downtown Washington), the student body at Georgetown has long been fascinated by the importance of the tunnels and where they can lead to. The adventurous students search the school looking for entrances to the tunnels, hoping to travel through them to see where they may lead. There are rumors of many entrances to the tunnels, but the most popular of them seem to be from Healy Hall. 

There are doors on the side of the building that are always open, and lead directly into a maze of tunnels. Upon entering, you will see a lot of secret society type drawings on the wall. The tunnels from Healy seem to end at a broiler and contain heat pipes all along the way, which lends credence to the theory about heat pipes. Though other tunnel entrances are said to go much further into the city, the farthest I have heard of someone traveling is 3 blocks from the main gates of campus.

The "secret society type" mentioned in the article would be the fraternities. Greek letters of fraternities drawn on the tunnel walls.  It would be expected to find graffiti in abandoned or little used tunnels.  Washington, DC is known for some of their hidden tunnels. Just like the one under Dupont Circle located some 3 miles to the west of Gallaudet University.

Few are likely to know what lies beneath them: more than 75,000 square feet of tunnels that haven’t been open to the public in 15 years.

To access them isn’t simple: The only way the public gets there is through a tour led by the Arts Coalition for the Dupont Underground, which has permission from the city to lead groups to the site it hopes to redevelop. And the only pathway to enter those tunnels is by walking down a narrow underpass where cars and buses whiz perilously close by. Upon entering the tunnels through a nondescript door, visitors are greeted by a cloud of darkness and stale musk. Welcome to the Dupont Underground.

The tunnels – which run N Street to S Street – originally served the city’s streetcar system from about 1949 to 1962. Since then, the tunnels have been virtually unused, save for a short-live food court called Dupont Down Under that opened in 1995 and failed spectacularly, closing the following year. Today, on a tour led by flashlight, visitors see little more than graffiti, signs indicating station exits, and rail tracks that haven't been used in a half-century.

There's even an underground tour of the tunnel under Dupont Circle. And a video of a vision of turning DuPont Underground into something else.

 

Gallaudet University's own tunnels are believed to be connected between different buildings used by maintenance workers though I cannot really know for sure if this is true. Some say that the manhole near the library accesses the tunnels below. Some even believe manholes around campus are rigged with an alarm system so if anybody attempts to lift the heavy steel cap an alarm will go off notifying the campus police.

There are stories of the past that Gally students climbed down a few of the manholes around campus just for the heck of it and make graffiti on the tunnel walls like using their Greek organization's Greek letters. The big rumor is that these supposed tunnels that lurk beneath the campus of Gallaudet University can reach as far as to the U.S. Capitol .

If any graffiti drawings were done in the past they may have been painted over a long time ago. Unless somebody took pictures of those drawings then we'll know it's true.  If tunnels do exist and people have accessed those tunnels need to come out and tell their stories in the effort to preserve the little known history of Gallaudet University.

The unknown history of how FROГ got started at Gallaudet University

It all began innocently enough in the spring semester of 1988 when sophomore Robert Johnson approached a group of Kappa Gamma fraternity boys sitting around at their preferred Gallaudet University cafeteria tables and asked a simple question, "What does it take to join Kappa Gamma?" One of the Kappa Gamma boys retorted and called Robert a "frog" signing by mimicking the bulbous throat of a croaking frog. It was an obvious insult because calling him a "frog" is a person who "hops around" (like a frog) asking different fraternities (or sororities) on how to join. Feeling insulted and seeing Kappa Gamma's lack of courtesy and respect, Robert soon had an idea on how to get back at Kappa Gamma's own arrogant and elitist attitudes. After a little investigation he decided to form an ad hoc "Greek organization." He named it "FROГ" with the Greek capital letters phi (F), rho (R), omicron (O), and gamma (G) or (Г ). When finger-spelled it is spelled out as the letter “F,” “R,” “O,” along with an upside down “L” (Г) spelling "FROГ" which spells almost like FROG.
 

FROГ

That was the day when FROГ was born. It was sheer genius by Robert Johnson. A clever way to make a strong statement.  

His new non-designated "Greek fraternity" got the attention of students who were independents and supported this new so-called FROГ Greek organization. Over a course of a few weeks some 450+ students signed up to be a member of this FROГ "fraternity" and even shelled out $8 bucks to buy a FROГ T-shirt.  Some FROГ members continued to wear their FROГ T-shirts well into the 1989 school year even for their 1989 yearbook pictures.

 

Green T-shirts were for male independents while pink T-shirts were for female independents.  No fraternity or sorority members allowed, so to speak, because they were not independents to begin with.   It was easy to join with no secretive interviews, intimidating tactics, no hazing or the need to become a pledge in order to join this FROГ "Greek fraternity" organization.  Basically anyone could "join" except, of course for obvious reasons, for fraternity and sorority members who were not independents at all.

Word got around quickly to Kappa Gamma where some actually got upset with FROГ designation because of the way the Gamma letter (Г) was signed which was the same as Kappa Gamma's as you can see in the two animated GIFs below.


 
 Kappa Gamma spelled "KГ"



FROG spelled "FROГ"

It was quite outrageous even elitist when Kappa Gamma felt that the Gamma letter (Г) should not be allowed to be signed in that manner. One thing for sure, they certainly felt the jab of Robert Johnson's response to their classless, elitist attitude that day at the Gallaudet cafeteria.

The real surprise came was during Rock Festival night. A plan was in the works that independents would wear their FROГ T-shirts at the festival in April of 1988. They came in droves that night which got the attention of the Kappa Gamma fraternity boys who were also at the Rock Festival, including Kappa Gamma member Roger Kraft seen in the 1988 Gallaudet University's yearbook.  

In fact, there were so many of them around it alarmed Kappa Gamma because they didn't know the true number of FROGs.  With that lack of solid information on the numbers it kept them at bay for even trying to complain further about the ad hoc Greek organization. Now they know number of FROГs that signed up, 25 years later that is.

Even though Robert Johnson was the founder of the FROГ Greek ad hoc organization it was meant only to be short-lived just to prove a point when it came to elitist attitudes.  Robert Johnson went on to join the Kappa Sigma fraternity during the 1989 school year. Kappa Sigma is one the oldest international fraternity who do not believe in hazing, a total opposite of what Kappa Gamma believed and practiced back then. In fact, hazing was their mainstay and part of the Kappa Gamma Greek organization and history. Something that they have not apologized yet for their hazing and intimidation practices on pre-pledges (interviewees) and pledges who were looking to join the Greek Kappa Gamma organization but sustained injuries through intense paddling and other physical and mental abuses.

Rest in Peace Robert Johnson who was killed in an auto accident on Sept 7, 2003 .

And now you know the rest of the story.

Independent Greek FROGs at Gallaudet University

Back in around 1988 on the campus of Gallaudet University there was this new independent “fraternity” group who called themselves “FROG” with the Greek capital letters phi (F), rho (R), omicron (O), and gamma (G) or (Φ­РОГ ). When finger-spelled it is spelled out as the letter “F,” “R,” “O,” along with an upside down “L” to look like the capital Greek letter “rho” which spells "FROГ." The 1988 yearbook captured an image of a student wearing a FROГ t-shirt as proof that this did happen.

This was a fine and dandy thing except that some of the fraternity Greek members on campus were whining about the fact that FROГ was not a legitimate Greek organization. Either they misunderstood or took offense about the whole FROГ thing was about.  The FROГ idea was the brainstorm of the late Robert Johnson.

Also, he led to set up and organize a short-lived ad hoc organization called FROG to mock the Greek organizations for fun during the Rock Festival weekend and I played some roles in his organization.

While as a student I remember distinctly these complaints by some Greek members and just laughed at the whole idea of them actually complaining about it. The hilarity was over the fact that some of the campus fraternity members actually felt threatened by a group of people wearing FROГ t-shirts and those selling the t-shirts. This so-called "organization" was never meant to be anything else other than a joke. How can it be an organization if it's for independent people who can "join" at any time?  It was all about poking fun at fraternities and sororities during Rock Festival weekends.

The beauty of FROГ was that anybody can join, except, of course, for those who already joined a fraternity or sorority Greek organization, as long as they are legitimately independents. Best of all, no hazing is required to become a member. No need for hazing like the 48 Hour Period sleep deprivation, Goat Night fun, or paddling probation events. Just buy a FROГ t-shirt and, voila, you're a member of the FROГ ad hoc "organization."  You don't have to buy a t-shirt to proclaim your independence but it sure can help.

FROГs accept you for who you are and not about what you are. It doesn't matter if you're athletic or not. It does not matter if you're smart or not. It doesn't matter how good looking you are. It does not matter how well you sign, speak or the ability to hear or not. It doesn't matter if you wear a hearing aid, cochlear implant or not. FROГ or FROG independents do not discriminate, physically harm, harass or mentally abuse.  Buy a FROГ t-shirt day! And say "No!" to any kind of hazing however small or big.

Fraternity/Sorority - is it for you?

I came across an opinion piece that was written 10 years ago about fraternities and sororites at Gallaudet University. It's an opinion that I've come to agree with and it nearly mirrors exactly how I feel. I don't know who this deaf person is (assuming he is deaf or hh) but the person wrote an excellent opinion piece. The article below is not mine but it's something worth reading. Would joining a fraternity or sorority at Gallaudet Univesity highly over-rated. Or not? That depends on your perspective.

It has become very clear to me that traditions and standards are not necessarily upheld between distant chapters of fraternities around the country. The feeling of camaraderie between the 'brothers' does not necessarily cross chapter boundaries. Each fraternity chapter has to be viewed on its own as a separate entity, because the Greek letters don't carry the tradition they are purported to.

Anyone who has been in the cafeteria lately can attest to the fact that Gallaudet University is heavily clique-oriented. There's girl tables, there's guy tables, there's frat tables, etc. etc. Can you spell junior high? I knew you could. Any student at Gallaudet can point out where "the Kappa Gamma table" is without hesitation. Similarly, the theatre and music people have their little region. You get the point.

What groups of people on campus are more directly responsible for perpetuating the clique mentality than the 'social clubs?' At a school of less than 1500 people, where knowing everyone isn't a difficult task, allegiance to a particular social club only serves to divide up the campus into distinct cliques with surprising homogeneity. I think that this sort of behavior only hinders diversity and bolsters a stagnant social atmosphere.

People who are opposed to the Greek system often site that joining a fraternity forfeits, to some degree, individuality. I disagree with this to some extent. I could join a frat tomorrow and be no less weird. But, joining a fraternity does label you as 'one of them' just as my good standings in school labels me. As much as I hate generalizations and stereotypes, people do tend to choose a fraternity based on the similarity of the members to themselves. I'm a literature freak who doesn't drink - what fraternity do you think I would join? I know that members of the Greek community on campus are very quick to dispel generalizations concerning any Greek organization, but I want one of these people to look me in the eye and honestly tell me that when I say 'The Dork Frat' nothing comes to mind. Seriously, how many people on campus don't know what I'm talking about when I say 'The Frat for Overdeveloped Drunk Jocks?'

Of course the fact that these generalizations exist does not mean that they are valid, right? Not necessarily, but at least to a large extent they are. Each and every Greek organization on campus carries with it an image that is applied to each of its members and it is that image that the rest of the world associates with the organization name. As individualistic as the members of a given fraternity may be, the organization as a whole still carries that image. The fraternities at Gallaudet each have their distinctive images, and you don't need me to tell you what they are.

There's not necessarily anything wrong with the inherent homogeneity of our fraternities and sororities. If it weren't for some semblance of common interest, it would be difficult to attract new members. All I'm saying is that the choices for fraternities at Gallaudet are pretty slim, and none of them possess an image that I would want to be associated with.

In fact, all four Gallaudet fraternities possess and uphold a stereotypical image of one form or another that I would be ashamed of. But, then again, when I look around at the student body and the Greek organizations in particular, I'm glad for the differences that separate me from them. In short, the reason I didn't join a fraternity is that I'm too proud of my independence, self-reliance, and individuality. As much as I hear people arguing the contrary, joining a Greek organization does constitute a forfeiture of independence to some degree. Allowing myself to be placed under the fraternal label would only bring me one step closer to being like them - and for me that's a step in the wrong direction.

Aside from the whole image problem, none of the typical reasons for joining fraternities are appealing to me either. The whole networking thing, to me, is annoying, As much as it may be true that a prospective employer might hire me over someone else because we're fraternity brothers, I find the possibility revolting. If I get hired, I want it to be for my skills, not because someone I've never met was in a social club with the same letters as me. I think any employee that uses this to their advantage is short on talent and any employer that does so has their priorities all screwed up.

Another reason people join fraternities is for the feeling of family; to have brothers there with you to share in your experiences and troubles. Well, I've already got all the close friends I need, and I'm certainly not going to pay dues to have those friends handed to me in a big group. I'd rather pick and choose for myself. Also, I never want anyone to feel obligated to be friendly with me. There's an element of false friendship or respect that goes along with signing in to a family. There's not a fraternity chapter I've ever seen, certainly not one on this campus, that doesn't contain some people that I truly have no respect for at all, and I'm not going to be pressured into false tolerance. I'll despise whom I choose, thanks.

The last real reason that leads some people to join fraternities is the social aspect. On a larger campus, maybe this would hold more weight, but at Gallaudet it's sort of a moot point. Certainly for me, anyway, considering that I don't drink and my idea of a good party doesn't involve passing out on the lawn. When was the last fraternity social event at Gallaudet that didn't center around the keg? Why would I want to join a fraternity?

You don't belong here at Gallaudet University

Worst thing to say to a deaf or hard of hearing person who is thinking of going to Gallaudet University, those who are currently students, or those who have been to Gallaudet University by another deaf person who is an alumnus by saying "you don't belong here at Gallaudet University." Yes, This was actually said against Charles Wirick in a case that showed increasingly the (circumstantial) evidence was more likely over miscommunication issues than anything else along with him being a target in the effort to get him to look like a trouble maker than not. Of course, there are possibly a few more varying factors that ultimately led to suspending Wirick for one year from Gallaudet University.

Lately, Charles Wirick's videos were removed for unknown reasons over the holidays. His account was also deleted.  If you haven't seen them then you're out of luck. But here's the burning question. Was bullying involved here that ultimately cost Wirick one year of suspension from Gallaudet University? Who was doing the bullying if any? Gallaudet University administration? The students? The Buff and Blue? By fraternity and/or sorority members?  Student Conduct Board? Who pushed whom over there? And why? Those the are questions I'm trying to raise here over my last several blogs about the Charles Wirick's case. What really happened here and seems like Gallaudet University does not really care or do not wish to address the issue at all.  How ironic and interesting to see all of a sudden Gallaudet University to start with this anti-bullying campaign just recently last year in 2010. Maybe they need to look at their own administration internally a bit more deeper and see who protecting who.  I'm sure it isn't the Pawheeves doing the protecting here which has mysteriously disappeared if you click on the link. But something is certainly going on within the system that has been worked in over the years,Vishnu or not. Right, Dwight?

Anybody who is deaf or hard of hearing is certainly welcomed to attend Gallaudet University and once there, no matter the preferred mode of communication, that person belongs there just like everybody else. It's really up to the person to decide for personal reasons on not wanting to go to Gallaudet University. And once that person graduates, he or she represents Gallaudet University. Just like me. I certainly belong but that's another story.  And I'll be sure to remind people that Gallaudet University must adhere to Section 504 ruling established by Congress.

Gallaudet University - an oppressive environment for deaf/hh students?

Here's a story from the Buff and Blue on how one Gallaudet University student seemed to have expressed his anger and disappointment in the wrong way by inferring that a shooting or shootings will happen again on campus. I believe this had to with the general Deaf on deaf oppressive campus environment from clique-y fraternities and sororities to general "Deaf on deaf" oppressive campus environment. His floor mate explained:

“He was raised oral without much exposure to Deaf culture and community—and here at Gallaudet he, for the most part, was an outcast. Wirick vented to me before about deaf-to-deaf audism, which enraged him. He didn’t like how Gallaudet treated him and didn’t know how to fit in the university.”

Some students, especially new ones who were brought up in an oral/aural environment are able to recognize, understand and cope with this general clique-y-ness circle in a Deaf environment seen on the campus of Gallaudet University. But in Wrick's case he claimed to have experienced these oppressive attitudes acted out his frustration by espousing alarming predictions of shootings on campus. But other students of similar upbringings might have shown their frustrations through suicides or by leaving the university which may or may not have been attributed to the well known Deaf on deaf oppression in some circles on the campus of Gallaudet University. I know this happens. I was one of them that experienced those attitudes against me in rare instances. But the difference here is that I recognized it was a problem early on and it wasn't about me but them.

The first clue I got about this "attitude" seen on campus was through my good friend of mine who also grew up orally/aurally when we both lived in Washington while growing up. He was my first contact when I first arrived at Gallaudet University since he had been there for about a year or so prior to my arrival. He was the only person I knew on the whole campus. Soon after arriving I finally met him after so many years apart. He began to introduce me to a few people but soon quickly noticed a pattern of him avoiding me. I couldn't figure out why he acted like that. I soon found out he had joined a fraternity and once in he was lost in his own world of getting accepted by his own frat boys in the Alpha Sigma Pi or the "Cobra" fraternity. This was early on in 1988 when I first arrived. I shrugged it off and continued to make friends,  learned about the Deaf community, ASL and continued my studies. I never had any desire to join a fraternity in the first place though I had gotten a few offers which was kind of funny looking back. I felt that joining a fraternity was simply too "clique-y" for my own taste simply because of my independent nature. I had better things to do than to worry about getting "accepted" by an organization.

Joke: Why did a frog hop across a busy road?
Answer: He was taking a leap of faith.

Back in 1990 or 1991 fake "FROG fraternity" t-shirt was set up as a joke aimed at fraternities and soroties when I was a student in Gallaudet University at the time it happened. Check out my blog piece I did in 2006 "One FROGgy year at Gallaudet University."

Back in around 1990 or 1991 on the campus of Gallaudet University there was this new independent “fraternity” group who called themselves “FROG” with the Greek capital letters phi (F), rho (R), omicron (O), and gamma (G) or (Φ­РОГ ). When finger-spelled it is spelled out as the letter “F,” “R,” “O,” along with an upside down “L” to look like the capital Greek letter “rho” which spells "FROГ."

This was a fine and dandy thing except that some of the fraternity members on campus were whining about the fact that “ FROГ “ was not a legitimate Greek organization. Probably because somebody misunderstood what this whole "FROG" thing was about. I remember hearing about this complaints and just laughed over it. The hilarity was over the fact that some of the campus fraternity members actually felt threatened by a group of people who wanted to sell green T-shirts with large greek letters that spelled "FROГ" on the front. This was never meant to be an official Greek organization. The people who brainstormed this idea just wanted to sell T-shirts to make a point and for people who are proud to be independents and not frat members. It was Robert Johnson, creator of Sextoon who was killed last year in a car accident, who helped set up and organize this short-lived ad hoc “Greek” organization.

This ad hoc "Greek" organization, "FROГ," was all about poking fun at the Greek organizations during their infamous Rock Festival weekends.

The beauty of FROГ was that anybody can join, except for members of legitimate Greek organizations on college campuses. Also, no hazing is required to be a member. Just buy the T-shirt and, voila, you're a member of the Greek "FROГ" organization. Ribbit. Ribbit.

But this Wirick case raises some serious questions on the possibility of these "Deaf on deaf" and even "Deaf on Deaf" avdism charges that do exist on campus although I would suspect it's a rare thing if not uncommon when compared to 1990.  Newer students may feel vulnerable because of their oral/aural upbringings or because of their cochlear implants who may get rejected because of that. Again, not a common practice, I believe. Some students are able ignore this problem while others, like Wrick perhaps, dealt with it differently. This is reminescence of how students who got bullied would retaliate in the wrong way against his/her oppressors. But this time is different, we have the ever pervasive internet, new words being invented to describe select oppression, and new groups over the internet that help create more fear and suspicion or create a false sense of unity that have perhaps helped foster bullying attitudes on the campus of Gallaudet University. What are the factors here that contribute to this attitude of elitism by the few on the campus of Gallaudet University?

Something to think about. Is elitism a serious problem on campus thinking it's justified to have these, though rare, examples of Deaf on deaf/hh oppression? Maybe it's not a rare thing and it's more common than one would think?

If there are Deaf people who have actually accused Tayler Mayer, owner of Deafread, of being an "avdist" then we can certainly expect Deaf students (maybe some faculty members?) who have accused other deaf/hh and perhaps some Deaf students of avdism as well whether directly or indirectly. Pretty silly but it does happen. Just look at Tayler Mayer as an example of that elitist attitude.

But the question here is what is helping promote or encourage that kind of an oppressive environment on campus? Would some of the more highly sought after fraternities or sororities such as KG (Kappa Gamma) or PKZ (Phi Kappa Zeta)  be somewhat or partially responsible in helping establish and promote that kind of an environment over the years where they are sometimes seen as an "elitist" members? What about sport jocks such as the football team? Wrestling? Baseball team? What about counselors who do not seriously take these types of oppression against new students who do not necessarily "fit in" in the general sense of the word here. Would it be possible that some of the Deaf faculty members may also help contribute to this environment on campus as well? Maybe some organizations or groups seen over the internet could have been indirectly responsible in helping encourage that "oppressive" environment on campus in an elitist sense? Maybe it's an "entitlement" or heirarchy thing like being a 7th, 8th or 9th generation Deaf person. Who knows? Perhaps Wrick exaggerated his claims in order bring attention to himself? Perhaps not and everything he said was true?

I think the Wrick's case brings up more questions than not on what's happening on the campus of Gallaudet University that led him to act that way. And that "unity" and acceptance on campus was never really the case in Wrick's eyes.

What do you think?