It's wonderful to see that people are expressing their freedom to speak freely about the selection of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes as the 9th president of Gallaudet University. Many of the websites and blogs are seemingly one sided, without presenting the other views or links with the exception of mentioning a few times about those "JKF supporters." Although I think
About Deafness is trying to maintain a neutral position by presenting both sides of the issue. Yet she gets some
flack for trying to present the other side. This is what a dialogue is all about? Seeing both sides and trying to find an amicable solution that has the potential to benefit everybody and not about the dominance of Deaf culture or Deaf-centrism. It shouldn't be about that.
The next closest blogsite that tries to balance both viewpoints would be the
DeafDC . But when Adam Stone presented a view that shed a
favorable light on Dr. Jane K. Fernandes he got the usual tongue lashing from anti-JKF protesters even though he also wrote a favorable blog piece about
Ron Stern being the "rockstar" almost two weeks earlier.
BTW, how come we are not hearing condemnation from the
FSSA or other student leaders about an incident when a student protester(s) tried to
force one deaf student (while held hostage in a car) to sign a paper (against JKF?).
Anyway, about
Joey Baer. In Joey's 3rd video installment called "
Unity" he uses an old video tape of I. King Jordan at the time of DPN in order to purposely use him as an example of the "double standard" of how IKJ signed (SEE/PSE) and talked at the same time which is anathema of what ASL is about. If I'd be so bold, I'd say that Joey was mocking in a facetious sort of way about IKJ's signing ability in order to introduce an old ASL sign "double standard" in his video. Then in the next clip at the end it showed the very fluid style of ASL of Greg Hlibok's. This was done, imo, to help see the contrast in signing styles between IKJ's (i.e. linking it to JKF's similar signing skill and style) to that of Greg's as being better.
I thought this wasn't all about ASL or Deaf culture in this selection process, Joey. Apparently, it seems to be according to him and those who support Joey Baer.
Also, about
Jean-Pierre E. Mbei. His recent writeup had the bullseye flavor with the aim to shoot down IKJ while he's up. Is this all about "unity"? If so, then I don't know what "unity" is nowadays.
Mbei's writing seems to be a veiled attempt in trying to compare known dictators around the world when it comes to the handling of finances by IKJ. From
GallyNet-L today in his beginning diatribe about IKJ:
Poor leadership always has poor ending, no matter how much financial fortune one has amassed, and put in the coffers of the organization.
It's only poor leadership because he supports JKF? Supposed Ron Stern was chosen instead, would such a condescending spew come forth? A rhetorical question there.
Mbei then proceeded to compare the handlings of great finances at Gallaudet University headed by IKJ to that of known dictators like Adolf Hitler, Ida Amin Dada, Saddam Hussein, and the failed corporate America CEOs such as Enron and WorldCOM. How droll...and quite invective.
But Gallaudet University had to survive over the past 20 years by being more financially independent when the federal government began reducing monies allocated to the university where at one time as much as 82% of the money received went for operating cost. Each year became a challenge for Gallaudet to come up with more money to help pay employees, maintenance cost and new buildings because every year the amount of money from the federal government went down. This forced Gallaudet to become more creative with their monies and investment. And because of IKJ's efforts and others, and his contacts with alumni and people with large purses, Gallaudet University now has an
endowment fund worth over $165 million dollars. The interest income alone generates $4 million a year. They plan to spend the income interest on new programs and scholarships.
What many don't note is that in 2004 there was $146 million in the endowment fund. And in 2005 it increased to $165 million. In one year Gallaudet University managed to increase their endowment fund by $19 million dollars. Doesn't matter you say? Perhaps closing down Gallaudet University would be a better option? Kick the guy while he's down when he was instrumental in helping keep Gallaudet University afloat in times of belt tightening. And at the same time was able to expand and improve the campus and university programs. Ever since the construction of the Kellogg Conference Hotel back in the early 1990’s, private donations supported all new construction on campus including the Student Academic Center and also the Sorenson Language and Communication Center.
Kick him while you can.
Somehow I don't hear Mbei complain about the new Field House additions. Yet students used the FH as a place to protest. How ironic. No complaints about the wasteful use of Gally's money to build a brand new and very impressive FH annex? (note the sarcasm). Or even complain about several other new buildings that were built (sans the library which is woefully untouched) and the revitalization of the Old Jim building? Kick IKJ whiles he's down for doing such a bone headed move. Maybe the old gym, the deteriorating Chapel Hall, the dinky "olympic" sized swim house,and the crumbling Old Jim building should've been sufficient instead? Kick him while you can for not keeping those old Gallaudet University's buildings to give the campus the "old timey" feel of neglect.
So, who is creating the divisiveness with bitter words, false lies, mocking attitudes and insinuations? I guess the old saying is true, "Kick a man while he's down." If you want to call that process "unity" then I guess you better go for the jugular and keep kicking for all its worth. At least the FSSA is trying to go about in a respectful way toward everybody.
What people would rather see is pure and wholly
confirmed facts. FACTS! FACTS! Not innuenedos. Not insults. Not speculations. Not comparison to other dictators. Not lies. Not the insinuation. Not conspiracy theories about Freudian slips by IKJ. What I have been reading and seeing lately, many of the negative actions and comments were perpetrated more times by those who are against JKF and, eventually, IKJ and then over to the BoT. When you look at the timeline immediately after the JKF 9th president confirmation you saw a massive emotional outburst from protesters revealing their true inner selves with "She doesn't say 'Hi'" or "Not deaf enough" to trying to rationalize why the BoT failed or the process was flawed that hinges on conspiracy theories in some cases.
As people have said, there are two sides to every story. But what I've been seeing lately is nothing short of disgusting. No wonder the outside world won't understand what's going on. And no wonder,
sparse national media coverage continues compared to the real DPN movement back in 1988 which exploded into a firestorm that the media went totally agog over it.
This "unity" thing isn't going to work if students and alumni (or FSSA in some cases) in visible positions on the internet (ie. "bloggers" et al) in support of the protest continue to smear IKJ, JKF or the BoT in such a way without having any meaningful dialogues, then this will go down as one of the worst protest in rememberance. All because, frankly, the outside world will continue to see anti-JKF protesters as a bunch of sore losers! The media who report the news and the people who watch them do not really understand the difference between a deaf president and a Deaf president. Yet, I keep seeing denials that this isn't about having a Deaf president but it's really about the, shhhhhh, controversy surrounding the appointment of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes. A dragnet I'd say.
But hey, please continue with the smear jobs anyway and let the world at large see for who you really are. We still have a Provost appointment to do next. So, perhaps you can use your energy and influence instead to leverage Dr. Anderson into that position since he cannot be president? That is, if he wants to be the provost.
