Boycott/ Oust Fernandes, Jordan, and Kimmel?
Thoughts of MZ and a Bi-Bi Protester  (in Italics)
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Posts and e mails urging students to boycott Jane Fernandes, I King Jordan, and Karen Kimmel and/or demanding that Gallaudet dismiss them for a variety of reasons, such as unethical conduct, harm to Gallaudet reputation among the media, committing actions destructive to Gallaudet’s academic standing, and so forth are popping up more now than before.  The anger and betrayal felt by the Gallaudet Community is totally understandable. Fernandes’ recent attack on the new bilingual program in a newspaper article doesn’t help at all.
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However, by doing all this, are we jeopardizing Gallaudet’s accreditation status, which is already on probation?MSCHE has cited that the campus climate remains very poor, with deep divisions within the community.Â
Are there more appropriate means of remedying the situation without going to the extremes above that would cause more concern by MSCHE?
Â
Can we feel comfortable enough to speak out to the Administration and the BOT and say that these three people are a threat to Gallaudet simply by being back on campus? Can we do it in a way that does not jeopardize accreditation?
Â
This is MSCHE’s first glimpse into the divide that is gripping Gallaudet and this nation. They have a lot to learn and must learn it from Deaf Experts in the field of Bilingualism. (They must be made aware that their comment regarding “not everyone will want to be bilingual” is a statement from someone that is not educated on what “bilingualism” means in Deaf Education.) MSCHE must also know that what is taking place on the campus of Gallaudet is a positive movement forward that cannot be jeopardized by losing accreditation. MSCHE must also be educated that there will be some unrest within the campus community until everyone has had a chance to go through training on what Bilingualism means and how it is defined. This is something that takes time. It will be hard for some people on campus to accept because it goes against how they were raised, how they think, and what they have been trained to believe. The damage caused by audism will not be repaired overnight. It may take up to two years or longer for Bilingualism to be implemented and fully understood.    Â
Hundreds of years of fighting against groups that want to “fix” and “control” Deaf education have caused this divide. The Protest brought the world together and empowered the Deaf Community to finally say loud and clear that ASL must be protected and audism must be stopped. Fernandes and Jordan were big players in seeing that Gallaudet never became Bilingual. This has caused so much damage in Deaf Education around the USA. A leader must lead for the mission of the University, not for their own purpose.
Tenure only secures jobs for those that do not jeopardize the reputation and creditability of Gallaudet. The question is now that they have been hired back, how do we appropriately get them out without doing any further damage to the already sensitive state of accreditation?
Â
It’s an interesting contrast between the people I’ve spoken with who consistently commented on the high morale and good spirits of the Gallaudet community. Just who did MSCHE speak with? Probably a minority. This shows that MSCHE consults all parties equally, with no favoritism, with no regard to the size of the group itself.
Â
Think about this.. How would MSCHE feel if they see the act of ‘retaliations’ among Gallaudet members against those who have different ideas, i.e.,  JKF, IKJ, and KK, which may include boycotting of their classes by students who are within their rights or possible dismissals of the three tenured employees. These may be interpreted as intolerance to diversity among us.  Not if it is presented properly to MSCHE
Â
We don’t want to see Gallaudet’s accreditation going down the drain. Please be aware this is a possibility. The fact that MSCHE found a deeply fragmented and hostile campus climate is ominous
Â
Would it be worthwhile pursuing a win-win solution? A mandatory requirement for all members of the Gallaudet Community to participate in an ongoing workshop exploring the diversity of deaf people and their various communication styles. In workshops, the pros and cons of each communication mode in comparison with ASL may show the light to the skeptics while emphasizing that English is being promoted stronger than before due to the increased academic rigors. This is all part of Bi-Bi training. It might be a simple token gesture for right now to help MSCHE see that Gallaudet is dong this. However doing these types of trainings are only a very small part of becoming Bilingual and take years of training for all Stakeholders to truly understand.
Â
These diversity workshops will show MSCHE Gallaudet’s intensive efforts to improve the relations between the opposing members of its Community. Don’t you think we owe it to Gallaudet to give this a sincere try, in an attempt to minimize any potential damage to Gallaudet accreditation?Â
Commentary: Many people feel these three administrators should be ousted due to the extensive damage they caused to Gallaudet and its Community. This may not be the best approach. Can they resume work at Gallaudet peacefully without distressing the community and aggravating the tension on campus further? It doesn’t appear to be the case. Should the persistence of these adminstrators in agitating the Gallaudet Community, like Fernandes and Jordan did with the media interviews after they stepped down from their administrative positions occur, this may derail the tremendous progress Gallaudet made this year under Davila and Weiner Administration. If so, what can be done about that?  Hopefully frictions between all parties will be resolved amicably. However, I must admit I have serious reservations, in the light of JKF’s latest public criticism of Gallaudet few days ago.
I do find a big irony. Last year MSCHEÂ stated Gallaudet cannot be one for all, due to different communication methods. Now MSCHE wants everybody to get along, even though they still use different communication methods. Is this even possible? MZ
Thoughts of MZ and a Bi-Bi Protester  (in Italics)
Â
Posts and e mails urging students to boycott Jane Fernandes, I King Jordan, and Karen Kimmel and/or demanding that Gallaudet dismiss them for a variety of reasons, such as unethical conduct, harm to Gallaudet reputation among the media, committing actions destructive to Gallaudet’s academic standing, and so forth are popping up more now than before.  The anger and betrayal felt by the Gallaudet Community is totally understandable. Fernandes’ recent attack on the new bilingual program in a newspaper article doesn’t help at all.
Â
However, by doing all this, are we jeopardizing Gallaudet’s accreditation status, which is already on probation?MSCHE has cited that the campus climate remains very poor, with deep divisions within the community.Â
Are there more appropriate means of remedying the situation without going to the extremes above that would cause more concern by MSCHE?
Â
Can we feel comfortable enough to speak out to the Administration and the BOT and say that these three people are a threat to Gallaudet simply by being back on campus? Can we do it in a way that does not jeopardize accreditation?
Â
This is MSCHE’s first glimpse into the divide that is gripping Gallaudet and this nation. They have a lot to learn and must learn it from Deaf Experts in the field of Bilingualism. (They must be made aware that their comment regarding “not everyone will want to be bilingual” is a statement from someone that is not educated on what “bilingualism” means in Deaf Education.) MSCHE must also know that what is taking place on the campus of Gallaudet is a positive movement forward that cannot be jeopardized by losing accreditation. MSCHE must also be educated that there will be some unrest within the campus community until everyone has had a chance to go through training on what Bilingualism means and how it is defined. This is something that takes time. It will be hard for some people on campus to accept because it goes against how they were raised, how they think, and what they have been trained to believe. The damage caused by audism will not be repaired overnight. It may take up to two years or longer for Bilingualism to be implemented and fully understood.    Â
Hundreds of years of fighting against groups that want to “fix” and “control” Deaf education have caused this divide. The Protest brought the world together and empowered the Deaf Community to finally say loud and clear that ASL must be protected and audism must be stopped. Fernandes and Jordan were big players in seeing that Gallaudet never became Bilingual. This has caused so much damage in Deaf Education around the USA. A leader must lead for the mission of the University, not for their own purpose.
Tenure only secures jobs for those that do not jeopardize the reputation and creditability of Gallaudet. The question is now that they have been hired back, how do we appropriately get them out without doing any further damage to the already sensitive state of accreditation?
Â
It’s an interesting contrast between the people I’ve spoken with who consistently commented on the high morale and good spirits of the Gallaudet community. Just who did MSCHE speak with? Probably a minority. This shows that MSCHE consults all parties equally, with no favoritism, with no regard to the size of the group itself.
Â
Think about this.. How would MSCHE feel if they see the act of ‘retaliations’ among Gallaudet members against those who have different ideas, i.e.,  JKF, IKJ, and KK, which may include boycotting of their classes by students who are within their rights or possible dismissals of the three tenured employees. These may be interpreted as intolerance to diversity among us.  Not if it is presented properly to MSCHE
Â
We don’t want to see Gallaudet’s accreditation going down the drain. Please be aware this is a possibility. The fact that MSCHE found a deeply fragmented and hostile campus climate is ominous
Â
Would it be worthwhile pursuing a win-win solution? A mandatory requirement for all members of the Gallaudet Community to participate in an ongoing workshop exploring the diversity of deaf people and their various communication styles. In workshops, the pros and cons of each communication mode in comparison with ASL may show the light to the skeptics while emphasizing that English is being promoted stronger than before due to the increased academic rigors. This is all part of Bi-Bi training. It might be a simple token gesture for right now to help MSCHE see that Gallaudet is dong this. However doing these types of trainings are only a very small part of becoming Bilingual and take years of training for all Stakeholders to truly understand.
Â
These diversity workshops will show MSCHE Gallaudet’s intensive efforts to improve the relations between the opposing members of its Community. Don’t you think we owe it to Gallaudet to give this a sincere try, in an attempt to minimize any potential damage to Gallaudet accreditation?Â
Commentary: Many people feel these three administrators should be ousted due to the extensive damage they caused to Gallaudet and its Community. This may not be the best approach. Can they resume work at Gallaudet peacefully without distressing the community and aggravating the tension on campus further? It doesn’t appear to be the case. Should the persistence of these adminstrators in agitating the Gallaudet Community, like Fernandes and Jordan did with the media interviews after they stepped down from their administrative positions occur, this may derail the tremendous progress Gallaudet made this year under Davila and Weiner Administration. If so, what can be done about that?  Hopefully frictions between all parties will be resolved amicably. However, I must admit I have serious reservations, in the light of JKF’s latest public criticism of Gallaudet few days ago.
I do find a big irony. Last year MSCHEÂ stated Gallaudet cannot be one for all, due to different communication methods. Now MSCHE wants everybody to get along, even though they still use different communication methods. Is this even possible? MZ
October 19th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
When the MSCHE mentions “campus climate”, they are not saying that there is unrest and social disruption. I think we are falling for Jordan and Fernandes’ trick by believing this.
The term “campus climate” first became a widely used term at Gallaudet in 2001, a long time before the protest. See:
http://pr.gallaudet.edu/otg/BackIssues.asp?ID=1573
As the issue of On the Green shows, the term “campus climate” has to do with “establishing an atmosphere of trust and collaboration” amongst the administration, faculty and staff.
This is a different, though related issue, and I think we are allowing Jordan and Fernandes to fool us into believing that the MSCHE is concerned about dissent amongst the students.
Dissent is healthy, and protesting, done properly can be a very healthy thing.
Let’s not let them trick us into backing down.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
We the Deaf are tuned for relationship. American Sign Language (ASL) is our tool for nourishment of otherness. The English language belongs to this otherness that we must master best through ASL. Gallaudet University has big, huge, enormous responsbilities to tell the truth, and the simple premise of MZ’s blog is that we must protest the return of the triple K’s (King, Kimmel and Kelleher-Fernandes).
October 19th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Whoa, I don’t see MZ as advocating anything, she’s advising caution before we members of the Gallaudet community take any rash action. And I personally don’t think Kimmel should be lumped in with Jordan and Fernandes.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
I dont think it is a good idea for students/staff/faculty to protest Gally AGAIN. That will make Gally LOOK bad. My best suggestion is to forget protest. Dialogue is the best solution.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
yes I agree with you meow…
stay out of trouble
peace
October 19th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
A quiet boycott of their classes would be highly effective and would not cause any accreditation problems. Suppose no one, or not many students registered in their courses, then that means they would not be able to continue to teach.
Something like this already happened before when students boycotted registration of a professor’s class after the unveiling of the Audism Mandates and an article appeared in the Buff ‘n Blue about him. He was put on involuntary sabbatical and one year later the university asked him to leave due to not serving the students.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Enough with the big “if’”. Why not the Gallaudet community take up the public airwaves like sitting down with Oprah and other public personalities to educate the general public WHY the three K’s ought not to return to Gallaudet campus. So the MSCHE peopole could see the prisms thru concerned individuals.
Gallaudet University is another academic institution which have to let any kind of dissenting thoughts/actions within the three K’s.
Why not the Gallaudet faculty take up the formal resolution to send the message to three K’s that are too soon for those individuals returning to the Gallaudet campus? Let the Gallaudet community heal in their own time.
The Gallaudet Faculty Senate have much right to raise such an issue about three K’s returning to the campus and probably sabatoge the accreditation process.
Students have to organize themselves thru stealth operation to urge other students not to sign up for any of three K’s classes.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
October 19th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
In this case, all we need to do is to sit back and let them hang themselves by letting them talk and talk. Document their statements. And the students have the option of not taking their classes.
But really, we cannot penalize people for what they’re saying… The First Amendment protects people’s freedom of speech. JKF has every right to say whatever she wants, and we have every right to disagree with her.
This could be a blessing in disguise, if the students and other faculty handle this appropriately, really.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Like most people, I view the two articles from both Drs. Jordan/Fernandes as being divisive and disrespectful of Gallaudet as an institution and as a community.
However, people coming to a university should be able to engage in debate with people who have contrary ideas. Academia has traditionally been recognized as a place where contrary ideas should be held, fostered, debated and encouraged.
This notion is called “academic freedom”. As much as we may disagree with their public statements, they do give voice to that particular period of time.
Check it out at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_freedom
It seems to me that relevant to this particular situation, this notion of Academic Freedom has to be a two-way street. Only though the pursuit of knowledge via open and reasoned debate is there any hope for the truth to come out. All we hear right now is rhetoric from both sides.
There are people like Messrs. Schroeder and Riley that seem intent on ensuring that Gallaudet subscribes to the viewpoint that ASL is THE answer to everything deaf-related.
Now this may be correct, but the only way that can ever be universally accepted is through critical and open discussions.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
I don’t think some of you will ever learn.
First, when Riley says protesting is healthy if done in the right way is qa joke. Do you all really believe in your heartsd that the last protest was done “right”, honestly.
Schroeder saying this is all the more reason for a protest is another joke.
Some of you are taking the presence of I. King Jordan, a president honored by most, and Dr. Fernandes way too personally. And I mean PERSONALLY in the strongest terms. These individuals despite what you want everyone to believe are well-educated and respected people. More than I can say of Brian Riley. (one sentence deleted due to the libelous nature) I might add Riley, I believe, is still “persona non grata” at Gallaudet.
It now turns out that Fernandes was right about the divide that has existed at Gallaudet. This divide is not dissappearing anytime soon. However, Gallaudet will dissappear when it loses its accreditation.
My guess is if Gallaudet wants them out, and not just the radicals, they will have to honor their tenure or pay them off. Either way it is not going to “cure’ the problems at Gallaudet. Fernandes was the one person who was willing to face these problems head on and Jordan put in many years of dedicated service at Gallaudet.
Any way I see at as a hopeless cause if certain people cannot come together in unity rather than division.
Protesting will just make the division grander.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
“How would MSCHE feel if they see the act of ‘retaliations’ among Gallaudet members against those who have different ideas, i.e., JKF, IKJ, and KK, which may include boycotting of their classes by students who are within their rights or possible dismissals of the three tenured employees.”
These will be like a giant magnifyng glass hanging over the war wounds inflicted upon JKF, IKJ, and KK by the protesters.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
#9
Everyone agrees that academic freedom is a wonderful thing, however the three K’s have violated standards of academic integrity.
It is proper to ask them to leave and it is very proper to boycott their classes
October 19th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
An examination of how other universities handle their controversial, unpopular or divisive personalities in their faculties would be interesting.
Deep Ears is right. In most cases the university respectfully asks them to resign and offers them assistance in finding other positions through a variety of methods, such as good recommendations.
The fact that they want to return makes me uneasy. I cannot see how this will be viewed favorably by the present faculty or students. When one has a thorn in one’s foot, the immediate response is to get it out, not talk diversity and try to learn to live with it.
October 19th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Strikes, boycotts and protests make our democracy the most powerful around the world. Martin Luther King marched in 1963 and AGAIN in 1965. If he was still alive, he would march again and again. We need to stop worrying about the image of Gallaudet University because we need democracy there. In 1984, a graduate school professor at Gallaudet University told me in my face that democracy is a difficult concept to teach the Deaf.
October 19th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
I agree with Deep Ears’ suggestion. Simply do not register for their classes and just watch them. Pundit is right too, document what they say. They will go.
Do it with grace.
October 19th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
I agree with Deep Ears, Deaf Pundit, and Neil. Why give these people a platform? Why give them more reasons to write more articles, hold more press conferences, gain more attention? Considering how quickly some members of the media found our blogs and essays last time, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of those three were asked to comment on the post here and the discussion in these comments.
The protest had a valid core: Fernandes was not worthy of being promoted at all, and should not have been offered the job. But the PR campaign outside campus was poorly handled; rightly or wrongly, MSCHE considered last year’s protests as a factor in their decision regarding Gallaudet’s status. I’ve talked with enough people on campus to know that there *is* a divide, and it still simmers under the surface, even if morale is up. Any protest or overt action at this point will most likely have NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. My advice? DON’T GO THERE.
Instead, follow Deep Ears’ excellent advice: if you don’t like the instructor, course, or style of teaching (and this is true for any instructor or professor), the solution is simple: don’t take the particular section/course. Considering that students have tons of required courses, either general or for the major, it really shouldn’t be a problem to juggle which classes you’ll take immediately and which you’ll take the following year. Occasionally, you’ll get stuck (for example, History majors are required to take Historical Methods, or at least they were when I was a student), but in general, you *can* avoid certain teachers.
So a quiet boycott consisting of students refusing to enroll under these teachers is the most effective “protest” method. Anything else will lead to further chaos, and possibly unpleasant consequences for all.
October 19th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
When I referred to “protesting” and “dissent” in post #1 I was referring to a boycott of Fernandes’, Jordan’s and Kimmel’s classes. Nothing else.
I am in full agreement that a quiet boycott is the way to go.
October 19th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I think a two or three-pronged attack without protesting would suffice. Something on the order of students and others (on their own time!) can write hundreds of letters to the Board and President Davila and not letting up. Student leaders can ask for meetings with Davila, the Board. Another thing that can happen is some of the terriffic deaf student, staff, faculty and alumnus writers (and very knowledgeable) can contact the media. Parents should jump in, too. I see cries from some quarters for a protest and while I fully understand the concept of protesting, I think it would not be timely/appropriate because all other options have as yet to be exhausted. If all of the above idead and any other you can think of come into play, it will look like a protest without being one, lol.
October 19th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
The best way of handling this situation is to simply not register for any classes taught by these tenured people… That may be difficult, if they teach a class required for a degree, and no other choices exist, but a grievance can be filed with the Dept Chair or Dean to get the class offered by a different professor.
No one needs to risk their own academic standing or graduation to make a statement.
October 19th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Oh please, do not discuss about another protest at this time, as it is very last thing to think about and should not be done in a temptation way trying to solve this three professors issues. In fact, I am sure many aluminis having experience of one or two professors they dislike in their college days. Yet, the students have to learn to TOLERATE any type of differences or dislike/like that professors may have. Just take classes and learn the difference and learn how to respect each other at time of earning class credits for your sake to receive degree. I ask please stop crab theroy forever for anybody who are simply different than you.
October 19th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Looking at what FSSA done great damages by let professor MJ and Ben walked out and protest during the approx. time of study/final exam week. These professors in fact acted aganist the intergity of academic at GU, thereofere MJ and Dr. Behan shall let go for good. They did extensive damage already resulting negative media.
October 19th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
#21,
You’re being silly. MJ and Dr. Behan (sic) were not extensively involved in FSSA in May 2006. They continued to teach their classes and uphold their complete academic responsibilities.
October 19th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
As an academician with tenure who are protected and how can one be removed because of philosophical differences? There were no crimes committed, and if there was, the people would have been gone. I understand the “heat of passion†issues towards the three individuals; however, what legal ways can be done to prevent them from completing their employment obligations? Gallaudet University is a very diverse environment and we have people who support and do not support ASL. This notion happens at every college and universities, examples are: political, religious and social issues. If Gallaudet wants all faculty members to use American Sign Language and Gallaudet will have to find funds elsewhere because the United States federal government will not fund Gallaudet using this philosophy. .
Is it best to ignore those people and go on with classes and make the most of the Gallaudet experience? I understand many people’s anger towards the three; nevertheless, we have excellent members of the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees, alumni, and students who will keep a closer eye on those three individuals.
We cannot protest on everything and we have to chose our battles wisely.
October 20th, 2007 at 12:47 am
Stephen Hardy,
You didn’t read MZ’s post carefully and you didn’t read all the comments, because the answer for you is already there.
Everybody already knows and agrees with your point about accepting philosophical differences, but that has nothing at all to do with Jordan, Fernandes or Kimmel. It’s a different issue.
The issue is that they violated academic intergrity. That is a valid reason to revoke their tenure.
This is the commonly accepted standard, that tenure can be revoked because of certain circumstances and certain kinds of violations.
October 20th, 2007 at 6:00 am
To Deep Ears and others,
The only people truly violated during the protest were the students who were trying to get an education and go through finals while others took it upon themselves to distrupt this process. The protest itself violated academic integrity!
This is what MSCHE see’s.
As far as academic integrity goes for the “three K’s” it seems they were right all along in saying it is a time for unity instead of division. Time will prove that the negative, staunch deaf culturalists need to change and not anyone else.
Unity not Division.
October 20th, 2007 at 6:15 am
If there were a few students who disagreed last year, then blame it on Jordan because he is the person that caused the protest to be necessary. The protesters closed down the campus as a very, very last resort, which was necessary and proper.
October 20th, 2007 at 6:22 am
Unity not Division!!! Stop dividing!!
October 20th, 2007 at 6:31 am
Stop misrepresenting the facts. Jane Fernandes is the dishonest person who is spreading division. We proved to the world in 2006 that we stand for Unity for Gallaudet.
Last week Jane Fernandes attempted to divide the community *again* by attacking the bilingual policy, which is very well supported at Gallaudet.
October 20th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Hopeless
JKF and IKJ attempted to divide the campus when they started using “Not Deaf Enough” when the real issues were flawed presidential search and inept leadership. Many people with oral backgrounds and hearing people on campus supported the protest for these two reasons. If “Not Deaf Enough” was true, these oral people, including me, wouldn’t have supported the protet. Many people united to form a protest. Deaf, HoH, oral, hearing, C.I. users, mainstreamed, deaf schools, white, black, brown, straight, gay… It was a beautiful thing to witness.
Then IKJ and JKF kept bashing Gallaudet and deaf people in the media afterwards. Where were their unity? Their honesty?
October 20th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Elizabeth,
Not back to this again, NOT DEAF ENOUGH was created by the original protesters and continues today when supporters like Carl Schroeder and company bash deaf people who are oral or have CI’s.
Fernandes wanted an all inclusive Gallaudet. Come to think of it so didn’t the board who appointed her. This wasn’t something dreamt up one day by Dr. Fernandes. It was a vision of the BoT. \
The sad thing is if Gallaudet does not become all inclusive, with everyone respecting each others beliefs, it will continue its downward spiral.
We need to stop trying to change others as much as trying to start changing the way we look at others.
Start with love, the most powerful of all emotions. No one can attack someone who loves.
What I am seeing is attack, hate and self-rightousness. There is no room for this if Gallaudet is to move forward.
When you see a fault in someone or something most likely it is because you see yourself with the same faults.
You want to continue attacking that is your perogative, however, your happiness and serenity will be the only thing that will be lost.
October 20th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Interesting to see who is REALLY unhappy here *smirk at “sick of conflict”*
I doubt very much Elizabeth is unhappy or bitter. She had been simply stating facts as they are. And there is no real division except in deaf people who ALREADY reject their Deafhood journey for different path to their own dismay. How pitiful.
October 20th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I wasn’t just talking about Elizabeth.
Oscar, you are a perfect example. Stating that someone is in dismay and pitiful because of a journey they are on, their own journey I may add, one that you have no idea about is proof that it may be you who is fearful and not happy with your own journey. Only you Oscar know this and can answer it.
I learned long ago that if people, places and things are bothering you, it is your own attitude that needs rearranging. Not anyone else but YOU!
October 20th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
*smile* I rest my case. You made a good point there.
October 20th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Elizabeth,
You are right about Gally-Net. It’s just a bunch of losers who want to shut down Gallaudet University. The worse one is Bradley Hoke, who is trying to spread poison everywhere. Bradley is none other than Jeffrey Hardison, one of the former diversity fellows, who’s actions doomed Jane Fernandes Presidency.
October 20th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I went to the Protest last fall and stayed three weeks. I am a hearing parent. I saw the violent acts that Jordan and Fernandes did to the protestors both physically and through the media.
Jordan was the cause of the Protest. He simply would not provide appropriate mediation to begin with. He kept the BOT isolated from what was going on. All letters that went to the BOT went through his office first. Most did not make it to the BOT. The students wanted to have meaningful dialogue. You know who they were left to dialogue with?? Jordan and Fernandes. Hello…something fishy there??
The whole presidental selection was a set up by Jordan. For those of you who were not there at the Protest,especially during the month of Oct., 2006, it is not fair for you to blame the Protesters for the state of accreditation at Gallaudet. You had to be there to understand what was taking place. Reading about it second-hand did not tell the full story.
Gallaudet has been set up by Jordan. He knows how to work the system and continues to do so today by working himself and Fernandes back into Gallaudet. They are a threat to Bilingualism.
To be a Bilingual Deaf University means that you respect ASL and English as two separate languages. If you are a professor whose skills in ASL do not meet a specific standard, then you simply must use an interpreter in order to teach. No more sim-com. No more mixing the languages. Clarity in both ASL and English is what bilingualism means. Respect that each are equal in their own way.
Jordan and Fernandes, in their efforts to say that Gallaudet will not be inclusive if it becomes bilingual, is nonsense. I have seen first hand how bilingual education is very successful and does not divide the community once everyone is on the same page and have had the opportunity to be educated on what bilingualism means.
As long as Jordan and Fernandes have access to Gallaudet, they will continue with the damage that they have done for the past 20 years. That is how many years ago Gallaudet should have become bilingual.
October 20th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Three cheers for Hearing Mom!
October 20th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Only one person said Not Deaf Enough and Fernandes made it seem that the majority shared this sentiment. She showed her dishonesty.
Carl and his friends know I had an exclusive oral background and they accept me as a good friend. Incidentally, some of them, including Carl, attended oral schools.
Jordan didn’t become deaf until in his early twenties and he served 19 years as Gallaudet President. What about Davila? He didn’t become deaf until he was eight years old and he is the current president. Fernandes grew up oral and worked at Gallaudet for many years as an administrator, including Director of Clerc Center and Provost. I learned sign language when I went to Gallaudet and afterwards I worked there for many years. And you claim Gallaudet isn’t inclusive??? Thanks for the laugh.
One consistent theme I notice among pro fernandes people is that they get real nasty with personal innuendos. The golden rule with discussion, anytime anyone gets nasty and personal, it’s due to their failure to respond with a good logical response.
Oscar, thank you for defending me while I was out. I appreciate it very much.
October 21st, 2007 at 11:30 am
Mishka Zena,
It is you who has been attacking people personally as witnessed through your blog with the constant obssession to attack Dr. Jordan and Fernandes. It seems you would be happy, maybe, if they were to suffer a slow death because of the way they see things aren’t in coordination with your beliefs.
If you want me to believe that life at Gallaudet is a spiritual joy it is not going to happen. Oral students at Gallaudet are being oppressed by deaf culture.
If you never learned ASL you would know how it feels when you are made to feel less than by deaf culturalists. People like Carl Schroeder would be attacking you.
As for Dr. Fernandes, it is true she grew up oral and spent her life devoted to teaching ASL and helping all deaf people. This you cannot dispute unless your in denial. Seems to me the personal attacks have gotten the better of you!
One question to you.
When was the last time a major institution or organization invited you to speak to their constituents? That’s what I thought!
It is easy to sit behind your blog and cast your dislike for someone but when it goes back to you, you critcize the same thing you are guilty of yourself.
If Gallaudet continues down the same path, without a major change it will not exist in the future. Students can go to too many fine universities for their education without all the BS.
October 21st, 2007 at 1:25 pm
I am sorry you are so bitter and angry about people like Carl and his friends. I wonder why you feel this way when they accepted me, even when I was learning sign language. Believe me, I was verrrryyyy oral when I first went to Gallaudet. They taught me ASL. Maybe it is because I had a good attitude toward them instead of looking down on them.
For your information, Fernandes doesn’t use ASL. She uses SimCom, meaning she signs in English order, using her voice. That’s not ASL at all. Jordan and Davila don’t use ASL either.
It’s in extremely poor taste for an ex-presidential appointee (think of a poor loser) who criticized the actions of the new president to the media while being employed by the institution. If this happens to another university, the person will be terminated immediately.
Again this is a character I noticed among Fernandes supporter.. that they do the attacking on a personal level. I address the issues instead of attacking you or others personally. If you persist with the personal attacks instead of addressing the issues, your comment will be deleted.
You keep referring to deaf politics. Only Fernandes, Jordan, and others kept saying the protest is all about deaf politics, ignoring the statements from the majority it is all about flawed presidential process and repressive management by intimidation.
October 21st, 2007 at 2:00 pm
I think your memory is a little short when you say the protest was about a flawed PSC or repressive management. In the very beginning the protest about Fernandes was soley about deaf identity politics. You know very well it was only when the protesters looked foolish did they finally came up with those two issues.
As for being bitter or angry, I am in a perfectly serene state. I haven’t tried to bury people as some of you are ten feet under. Only your conscience knows why you feel it necessary to batter people who you feel are not worthy of any recognition. The continued attacks on Jordan and Fernandes will only boost the fact that there won’t be harmony at Gallaudet.
You can delete this message, however it hasn’t attacked anyone.
October 21st, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I have been following the issues long before the protest, discussing with all the sides. The majority spoke of severe oppression, audism, and racism. A small minority focused on deaf politics, but the majority were more concerned about management of intimidation and flawed presidential search.
If Fernandes and Jordan exhibit good sportmanship, then there wouldn’t be any issue. Instead, they kept attacking Gallaudet and Deaf Community through the media repeatedly after they left Gallaudet. Apparently they aren’t familiar with the concept of accountability.
I sleep with a clean conscience. I don’t know how they can, after conducting many unethical and irresponsible actions that hurt Gallaudet and Deaf Community they claim to love. Well, actions speak louder than words. Think about the classical Biblical story: King Solomon and the baby.
Since an university is supposed to be democratic with shared governance, I wouldn’t want to lead an university if the majority of the stakeholders rejects me. The fact that they ignored the majority indicated a strong belief in dictatorship, which MSCHE blasted them for. I suggest that Fernandes and Jordan refrain from lashing out at Gallaudet and Deaf Community through the media and start working on healing, with the Community, just like MSCHE ask of us. If you had read my post, I propose a win and win plan.
From talking with you and other pro fernandes people, I know you love arguing and beating the proverbial horse to dust, as evident from several blogs and GallyNet. Well, I am not interested in that as I have better things to do. As stated previously, we’ll have to agree to disagree. Accept with dignity and grace that Fernandes and Jordan lost. It’s over and done with. Life is too short to be bitter and angry. It’s gorgeous outside. Take a deep breath, relax, and go for a long stroll in the woods, enjoying the changing foliage and the crisp air. Have a nice day and good bye
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:13 am
MZ, thanks for bringing this to our attention as I absolutely agree with the real issue of improving the integrity at Gallaudet, or at any sites at any rate.
Just we do not try to proscribe them directly; rather we make the current administration see why these people should be part of the educational commmunity (and the goal of unity!). We want to avoid looking like we are censoring the very people for their ideas, which will put us on the wrong side of the academic freedom issue.
We all have seen it is due to their lack of moral principles and the professionalism which is expected of them. We want to make clear that it is not an academic freedom issue, but a character of the university issue.
Not a Gallaudet issue but for any university. We need to reason carefully like we do with damaged goods now that Gallaudet is under an initial period of probation with MSCHE. The primary goal is to create a community of people who extend on both the knowledge and experience to pass onto future generations. It is NOT to provide a comfortable landing spot and secure for the old boys (or girls in Jane and Kathy’s case) when their other gigs do not have good results.
Do we prod for the administration to give an answer in reaction to the possible return of these people who may be in tune? Quite a challenge to restore! The best way I see is to turn this protest to them, the CURRENT administration and the Board of Trustees and ask, “why do you think so little of our education that you are bringing in these people of obvious low integrity and misplaced values to teach us?â€
Keep peace….
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:44 pm
To All Of You,
Here is a direct quote from Fernandes on the subject on biligualism and ASL at Gallaudet.
Jane K. Fernandes: At Gallaudet, we plan to welcome all kinds of deaf students to campus. We will continue to uphold our bilingual ASL-English philosophy. In the future, as there will be many ways to be deaf, we will strengthen programs designed to teach Sign Language to deaf or hard of hearing students who don’t know it and increase the level of support we provide to them
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:03 pm
“Then IKJ and JKF kept bashing Gallaudet and deaf people in the media afterwards. Where were their unity? Their honesty?”
Ok, if IKJ and JKF kept bashing Gallaudet and Deaf people in general, then why are they still teaching at Gallaudet after they retired/resigned?
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Bobcat,
well, she showed her true colors this year, repeating bashing ASL and Deaf people : /
Her statements were quoted in this blog: http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2007/10/16/fernandes-blasts-gallaudets-new-bilingual-policy/
Again, for those who may not have read carefully, I suggest perhaps we should explore the idea of everybody on campus take mandatory diversity workshops. It’s my wish to see everybody co-existing in harmony as we work hard to pull the accreditation status of Gallaudet back into good standing again and move on to a challenging and exciting future.
October 24th, 2007 at 12:25 am
MZ,
In regards to my recent post #42 on ur blog, I am embarrassed for an oversight that I am glad to address them in this reply:
I want to thank Brian for being quick to notice my typo (or a blunder of mine?) on the situation about the 3Ks returning to Gallaudet campus to teach. I meant to say “Jane and Karen’s case,” rather than “Jane and Kathy’s case.” At the time while composing, I was thinking of Katherine Jankowski’s situation.
I am sorry, KJ. I know you leave a great mark behind for all you have done at the Clerc Center. Thank you for your commitment while at work, and how you encouraged empowerment among many staff members, students, and parents alike. I am saddened to see you part, although I wish you the greatest success in your next undertakings. We all know you will do fine! Good “lucky†luck!
Now for my other blunder, I was and still am preoccupied with the extreme fire going on around us in So. California. It seems like hell was raised from earth. No one seems to know which way the fire is jumping. Yesterday DSP was closed so was today, and tomorrow. Some staff members’ homes are threatened. Kinda chaotic especially when we prep for a trip to ASLTA conference at Tampa, FL. Yes, the airport is still open…guess that is to encourage many to leave town! There are more than half million people in SD County under evacuation order (not to mention other counties). Some of you are far away, but some are pretty close to us. As I am in Riverside, we smell all the burning smoke; even it gets into our eyes. When outdoors, paging, I find ashes get onto my keyboard! Now you understand what I am going through!
Anyway, I need to clarify when I was saying” …why these people should be part of the educational community….†it should read: they should *not* be allowed to return to Gallaudet, but in that sentence above I “sounded†to mean that they should be allowed to return. No, I do not agree to the 3 Ks’ return to Gallaudet. As I was thinking in terms of “integrity,” in remembering Condoleezza Rice’s situation when I learned from a friend about the possibility of her return to work as an academic professor (she hinted that from time to time!) It was shared that the Stanford University might offer Condi Rice a job back when she is done as Secretary of State. Rice has been a professor since 1981, and then served as Provost from 1993 to 1999. The Stanford community thinks in spite of her past historical connections with Stanford, she presided over the most disastrous foreign policy since the first Adams administration and she is not a good candidate for getting a job there. Well, Condi WAS a professor at Stanford where she served as a provost, and she has an experience or two to share with her students.
In this analogy, this is where we need to make our argument for the Ks’ return carefully. The issue is not about them coming back, but the issue of the entire university and its image. Consider the probationary status.
The new staff Gallaudet brings must have the hunger for humane, responsive, Deaf-friendly leadership. That being said, there is one situation that still remains upper most in the minds and hearts of the Gallaudet stakeholders who feel the image is a real serious issue. One should not be blind to image problems. At the same time though– 90% of image is what is underneath. Do a good job with the substance and then you only need that 10% polishing work to make Gallaudet’s image excellent.
The previous Gallaudet protest has been an event based in Deaf activism; our children deserve better top to bottom, and vice a versa. They deserve staff with high morale, professionalism and intelligence; we are working to make sure they have it. We take great deal of support from the Deaf activism that was demonstrated last year at Gallaudet. We represent the true dream of Deaf leadership. We expect that the next person(s) who work at Gallaudet take on the challenges and have qualities that would serve as excellent role models for our Deaf students, be committed, and passionate about empowerment, equality, and offer an opportunity for a strong Deaf America.
Students learn from all kinds of professors, teachers, academic leaders, and the past that make a good leader! Let us not make the same mistake twice regarding 3Ks and imminent plans of protesting on campus once again. Accept my apologies for a misleading post of previous #42.
Thank you for the opportunity that I am being “heard.”
October 24th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
“Accept with dignity and grace that Fernandes and Jordan lost. It’s over and done with. Life is too short to be bitter and angry. It’s gorgeous outside. Take a deep breath, relax, and go for a long stroll in the woods, enjoying the changing foliage and the crisp air.”
The truth is Fernandes and Jordan haven”t lost yet in the eyes of the public. Remember most medias are on their sides so I would appreciate if protesters would take a deep breath, relax, and go for a long stroll in the woods, enjoying the cherry blooms in spring. Stopping dragon breaths would be very helpful…..smile…..
October 24th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
#47
You’re wrong. The general public thinks that Fernandes wasn’t a good fit for Gallaudet.
The media has generally been sympathetic to the protesters. The stopped saying “not deaf enough” a long time ago after we taught them that it was illogical.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
To # 47:
My experience is that most of the pro-Unity for Gallaudet groups are going forward-while most of the Pro IKJ-JKF groups are the ones who continue to be angry and bitter. Most of the negative (and bitter and nasty) comments I have seen (and experienced myself) are from the Pro-IKJ-JKF groups.
They are the ones who need to relax and get on with life.
Raphael J. St. Johns C-87, G-00
December 6th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
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