rioters bloc
13th October 2006, 04:39
Hey people,
Just thought you might be interested to know about the students at Gallaudet university in Washington DC. Gallaudet is the only university in the world geared specifically towards students who are deaf. There have been protests at the university by students, faculty, staff and alumni that started last May, but have picked up in the past week. The staff/student coalition disagrees strongly with the choice of the new university president and feels that she cannot fix all the problems at the school and that she will not be a good advocate for the deaf community. There are particular issues around racism and audism.
Since last Thursday the students have been occupying some of the main buildings on campus and campus police, who do not know sign language, have tried to break it up and pepper sprayed some of the students in the process. This is particularly problematic because in the past a student has died because security officers handcuffed him and so he couldn’t communicate. The University Board of Trustees is refusing to meet with the coalition that has 2 demands – that the search for a new president be reopened and that there be no reprisals for anyone involved in the demonstrations. This is a very big issue for the disability rights community.
The students are demanding to participate in the choice of the president – some of the politics is quite anarchist-ish. And they are very militant. It’s quite inspiring.
The reason I know about it is because the conference I’m going to in the US is happening at Galluadet. So, at Carol’s suggestion, we are trying to organise to support the students by getting the conference moved or something.
Check out:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6100600405.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100600405.html)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6100800964.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/08/AR2006100800964.html)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6100901142.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100901142.html)
The 2nd’ and 3rd are more recent, but the 1st has more details.
And here’s an open letter from the National Association from the Deaf on the issue
Posted October 6, 2006
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) regretfully concludes that, contrary to what Gallaudet President I. King Jordan told attendees during his Opening Ceremonies keynote address at the NAD Biennial Conference last July, there is indeed a crisis at Gallaudet.
Yesterday, the Gallaudet Board of Trustees told the president of the Student Body Government, Noah Beckman, that "we are at a stalemate" and "we can't meet one of your demands". For whatever reason, the Board regards itself as currently unable to resolve the burgeoning crisis at Gallaudet. Even five Open Letters issued by the NAD could not help resolve these tensions.
The students, despite their love of Gallaudet and their many efforts, also are not in a position to end the current stalemate. Likewise is true for the faculty, staff and alumni.
Today, the University issued a press release containing ominous words:
"We will take whatever steps are necessary to restore order to campus" and a further one stating: "The D.C. Police may be called in to remove the dissenters."
This is, by any definition, a crisis.
The NAD stands by the principles articulated in our Open Letters of last spring and summer. In those Letters, the NAD supported the faculty, staff, students, and alumni and called upon the Gallaudet Board of Trustees and administration to exercise decisive leadership to heal and restore trust to the campus and the worldwide Gallaudet Community.
Healthy dialogue with all interested campus and external constituencies cannot begin until trust is restored. For that reason, it is vital that the University immediately cease any confrontational tactics toward campus faculty, students, and staff. Again, as stated earlier, the courage and wisdom of members of the Gallaudet Board of Trustees is critically needed to resolve the ongoing crisis of leadership and trust at Gallaudet University.
Sincerely,
Bobbie Beth Scoggins
President
National Association of the Deaf
Nancy J. Bloch
Chief Executive Officer
National Association of the Deaf
National Association of the Deaf
4630 Fenton Street, Suite 820, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3819
301-587-1789 TTY, 301-587-1788 Voice, 301-587-1791 FAX
http://www.nad.org ~ [email protected]
Just thought you might be interested to know about the students at Gallaudet university in Washington DC. Gallaudet is the only university in the world geared specifically towards students who are deaf. There have been protests at the university by students, faculty, staff and alumni that started last May, but have picked up in the past week. The staff/student coalition disagrees strongly with the choice of the new university president and feels that she cannot fix all the problems at the school and that she will not be a good advocate for the deaf community. There are particular issues around racism and audism.
Since last Thursday the students have been occupying some of the main buildings on campus and campus police, who do not know sign language, have tried to break it up and pepper sprayed some of the students in the process. This is particularly problematic because in the past a student has died because security officers handcuffed him and so he couldn’t communicate. The University Board of Trustees is refusing to meet with the coalition that has 2 demands – that the search for a new president be reopened and that there be no reprisals for anyone involved in the demonstrations. This is a very big issue for the disability rights community.
The students are demanding to participate in the choice of the president – some of the politics is quite anarchist-ish. And they are very militant. It’s quite inspiring.
The reason I know about it is because the conference I’m going to in the US is happening at Galluadet. So, at Carol’s suggestion, we are trying to organise to support the students by getting the conference moved or something.
Check out:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6100600405.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100600405.html)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6100800964.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/08/AR2006100800964.html)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6100901142.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100901142.html)
The 2nd’ and 3rd are more recent, but the 1st has more details.
And here’s an open letter from the National Association from the Deaf on the issue
Posted October 6, 2006
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) regretfully concludes that, contrary to what Gallaudet President I. King Jordan told attendees during his Opening Ceremonies keynote address at the NAD Biennial Conference last July, there is indeed a crisis at Gallaudet.
Yesterday, the Gallaudet Board of Trustees told the president of the Student Body Government, Noah Beckman, that "we are at a stalemate" and "we can't meet one of your demands". For whatever reason, the Board regards itself as currently unable to resolve the burgeoning crisis at Gallaudet. Even five Open Letters issued by the NAD could not help resolve these tensions.
The students, despite their love of Gallaudet and their many efforts, also are not in a position to end the current stalemate. Likewise is true for the faculty, staff and alumni.
Today, the University issued a press release containing ominous words:
"We will take whatever steps are necessary to restore order to campus" and a further one stating: "The D.C. Police may be called in to remove the dissenters."
This is, by any definition, a crisis.
The NAD stands by the principles articulated in our Open Letters of last spring and summer. In those Letters, the NAD supported the faculty, staff, students, and alumni and called upon the Gallaudet Board of Trustees and administration to exercise decisive leadership to heal and restore trust to the campus and the worldwide Gallaudet Community.
Healthy dialogue with all interested campus and external constituencies cannot begin until trust is restored. For that reason, it is vital that the University immediately cease any confrontational tactics toward campus faculty, students, and staff. Again, as stated earlier, the courage and wisdom of members of the Gallaudet Board of Trustees is critically needed to resolve the ongoing crisis of leadership and trust at Gallaudet University.
Sincerely,
Bobbie Beth Scoggins
President
National Association of the Deaf
Nancy J. Bloch
Chief Executive Officer
National Association of the Deaf
National Association of the Deaf
4630 Fenton Street, Suite 820, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3819
301-587-1789 TTY, 301-587-1788 Voice, 301-587-1791 FAX
http://www.nad.org ~ [email protected]