Naysayers Wrong About Gallaudet
After the victory of Unity For Gallaudet, naysayers claimed that Gallaudet would become more exclusive, insisting that Fernandes was ousted for ‘Not Deaf Enough’ based on the stakeholders’ ’intolerance to deaf diversity’. They predicted with culturally Deaf people overtaking Gallaudet, it’ll be a place where deaf people using other communication methods won’t be welcome.
Yet Gallaudet continues to promote more diversity among its stakeholders than ever before. The President and the provost are fluent in ASL, having graduated from deaf schools and Gallaudet. Davila became deaf as a boy whereby Weiner came from a Deaf family. More culturally Deaf people are promoted to higher positions, something largely denied them in the past.
Earlier this year, Michael Chorost and Josh Swiller, both oral deaf using cochlear implants were hired. Michael Chorost is well known for a prestigious award-winning book he authored, “Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human”. Josh Swiller is also an author of a book “The Unheard: A Memoir of Deafness in Africa”, a narration of his Peace Corps experience.
“When Chorost and Swiller first sat down for an interview with Inside Gallaudet, they had just begun teaching at the University and had recently glimpsed what would become an ongoing dialogue about change. In the first three-hour session of “The History of Change,” their presupposition that the signing deaf community is in danger had been passionately debated. Although a premise of the class suggested that extinction was a very real possibility for the community, about two-thirds of the students vehemently disagreed…… We study how [other communities] prosper through oppression and how the deaf community could learn from them,” (1)
In this course, both teachers and students are learning more about each others’ worlds. The Deaf Community is evolving as it never has in the past, with more and more deaf children being cochlear implanted. The current technology and laws are redefining the Deaf community, not just with regard to cochlear implants, but also with the advent of better digital hearing aids, newborn hearing screening tests, early intervention programs, and the popularity of mainstreaming programs. The students’ understanding of the new brave Deaf world is more imperative than before, especially those who will become teachers, counselors, and leaders.
Curtis Pride, a well known profoundly deaf professional baseball player, has begun working at Gallaudet where he’ll be coaching the baseball team. Like Chorost and Swiller, Curtis is an oral deaf whe will be learning sign language at Gallaudet [edited].
So, naysayers, what were you saying about Gallaudet being too exclusive?
P.S. Thanks to a reader, I need to clarify about Davila’s signing. He signs ASL fluently, but he tends to use SEE/PSE in public. MZ
References: (1) http://news.gallaudet.edu/?ID=14281
Famous, Deaf Coach Taking Over Gallaudet’s Baseball Program|NewsChannel 8
After the victory of Unity For Gallaudet, naysayers claimed that Gallaudet would become more exclusive, insisting that Fernandes was ousted for ‘Not Deaf Enough’ based on the stakeholders’ ’intolerance to deaf diversity’. They predicted with culturally Deaf people overtaking Gallaudet, it’ll be a place where deaf people using other communication methods won’t be welcome.
Yet Gallaudet continues to promote more diversity among its stakeholders than ever before. The President and the provost are fluent in ASL, having graduated from deaf schools and Gallaudet. Davila became deaf as a boy whereby Weiner came from a Deaf family. More culturally Deaf people are promoted to higher positions, something largely denied them in the past.
Earlier this year, Michael Chorost and Josh Swiller, both oral deaf using cochlear implants were hired. Michael Chorost is well known for a prestigious award-winning book he authored, “Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human”. Josh Swiller is also an author of a book “The Unheard: A Memoir of Deafness in Africa”, a narration of his Peace Corps experience.
“When Chorost and Swiller first sat down for an interview with Inside Gallaudet, they had just begun teaching at the University and had recently glimpsed what would become an ongoing dialogue about change. In the first three-hour session of “The History of Change,” their presupposition that the signing deaf community is in danger had been passionately debated. Although a premise of the class suggested that extinction was a very real possibility for the community, about two-thirds of the students vehemently disagreed…… We study how [other communities] prosper through oppression and how the deaf community could learn from them,” (1)
In this course, both teachers and students are learning more about each others’ worlds. The Deaf Community is evolving as it never has in the past, with more and more deaf children being cochlear implanted. The current technology and laws are redefining the Deaf community, not just with regard to cochlear implants, but also with the advent of better digital hearing aids, newborn hearing screening tests, early intervention programs, and the popularity of mainstreaming programs. The students’ understanding of the new brave Deaf world is more imperative than before, especially those who will become teachers, counselors, and leaders.
Curtis Pride, a well known profoundly deaf professional baseball player, has begun working at Gallaudet where he’ll be coaching the baseball team. Like Chorost and Swiller, Curtis is an oral deaf whe will be learning sign language at Gallaudet [edited].
So, naysayers, what were you saying about Gallaudet being too exclusive?
P.S. Thanks to a reader, I need to clarify about Davila’s signing. He signs ASL fluently, but he tends to use SEE/PSE in public. MZ
References: (1) http://news.gallaudet.edu/?ID=14281
Famous, Deaf Coach Taking Over Gallaudet’s Baseball Program|NewsChannel 8
December 8th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Yes, that is really the good news to know that the deaf American community do not apply the practice of excluding and mariginalizing the deaf subgroups from hard of hearing to oralists to cochlear implant users.
Some deaf people expressed such concerns to me about what the real qualification and experience Curtis Pride will bring to the Gallaudet baseball team. Pride lacks the coaching experience!
The real difference between the professional playing and coaching.
See and wait until the Gallaudet presidential selection became official next spring 2009.
I personally do not trust the Gallaudet BOT presidential search chairperson.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I honestly think that Gallaudet’s baseball team might actually be below Pride considering he played in the majors for what, 20 years?
I bet he could land coaching jobs at much more competitive schools.
I applaud Gallaudet for reaching out to people from oral backgrounds.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
With declining enrollment, this is the only realistic path Gallaudet can take at this time. In a sense, perhaps ironic, this is going to fulfill Jane Fernandes’ vision of Gallaudet.
Perhaps the next President will exemplify this—as it appears that the deaf culture stalwarts from deaf schools are going to become the minority in the years ahead.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Anonymous, I don’t know the BoT presidential search chairperson personally, but have heard good things about him, especially as a businessman.
Anon, yes, Pride would be better off working for a bigger university with a well established strong baseball team. Their loss, our gain.
CNW, to be serious with you, Gallaudet had always been inclusive. If not, I wouldn’t have been admitted as an oral student along with other students. Many deaf professors with oral backgrounds were hired, too. When I was there last year, I saw a tremendous diversity among the students and faculty. Gallaudet knew over one decade ago that they will be facing changing demographics in the student body and planned accordingly. Even the state schools for the deaf experienced tremendous changes over the years.
The interim presidential appointment of Davila as the president reflected the embracing of inclusion, considering that he grew up as a hearing boy until he became deaf. Gallaudet hadn’t shown any new changes regarding diversity since Fernandes stepped down with two exceptions: the removal of the glass ceiling for the culturally Deaf employees and better communication accommodation for culturally Deaf students, both for the first time.
December 8th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
This is just the beginning of lots that will test the credibility of Gallaudet’s existence in the 21st century. The burning question remains at that: are certain persons at Gallaudet truly embracing diversity? I’m talking about taking on this with fervor rather than just grinning and bearing in doing so because they just have to. There are still lots of lingering issues needing to be confronted.
December 8th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
How long is Davila going to be president anyway. I mean, they took ayear to CHOSE Fernandes and fifteen minutes to find him. He is past his prime. What happend to this so called search.
Another issue, Gallaudet has plummeted in enrollment. Why is that. Certainly if Davila was such a great president he would have students banging down the doors and not during a protest. When Jordan and Fernandes were in the enrollment was up.
Openly Gallaudet has always been inclusive, behind the doors I think not. It was a nice try to bring back the past and Fernandes but without students Congress may have no choice but to close the doors.
December 8th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
CNW, Deaf of Deaf parents always have been the minority. Ever since I was a freshman at Gallaudet 45 years ago, there always have been more DOH’s than DOD’s, although the visible leadership roles often were taken by DOD’s.
The decline of enrollment at Gallaudet, along with the increase at NTID, is a worrisome trend that signals more needs to be done about the structure and curriculum of Gallaudet in order to update it regarding current needs of employment.
December 8th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Curtis Pride doesn’t have any CI’s. He is oral Deaf and it is great to show the world that Gallaudet accepts everyone from every background. Curtis is learning sign language. He is also able to recruit, which is an important part of a coach’s job. We don’t criticize when Gallaudet hires hearing people. Judge Curtis Pride by how his team does on the field over the next few years.
December 8th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I just got back home. I’ll respond to the posts later.
But I need to state that the enrollments were already declining years prior to the presidential appointment of Fernandes. Davila invested the majority of his time as the interim president in cleaning up the mess left by Fernandes/Jordan Administration. He pulled up the academic rigors when he revamped the curriculum and raised the academic bar on enrolling students. It was only this year that the academic probation of Gallaudet was removed. As it took many years for Gallaudet to deteriorate prior to the appointment of Fernandes, it won’t take overnight for Gallaudet to shine again. I see Gallaudet sailing on its right path.
Of course we can always agree to disagree.
Later.
December 8th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Gallaudet Athletics wrote, “Judge Curtis Pride by how his team does on the field over the next few years.”
What about on and off the field in the next few years? Education and grades matter as much as character. Take this from one who were on both sides priorities-wise.
Gallaudet baseball has one of the most difficult challenges in all of deafdom. Within the spectrum of sports baseball players are another breed almost always requiring year-round training and other considerations. Many have very mainstream mindsets and are very fickle about fitting in Deaf society. I see similarities in ice hockey and certain sports heavy with individuals from the mainstream. They come with high, real-world expectations.
Deaf schools athletes often play multiple sports during high school years due to extremely tiny enrollments (the largest nowadays has no more than 200-250) enrolled). Very small!
That’s the common reality confronting Gallaudet. I have been sitting on the hill watching this scenario unfold leaving many scrambling for position. It’s all old news to me. Old hat, really.
In terms of results in competition real benchmarks for Gallaudet Athletics are found in the Capital Athletic Conference and in the NCAA postseason. Filler non-conference games are mostly good for morale. I’m in favor of Gallaudet once again increasing rigors in admission standards immediately. Whatever it takes, really.
December 8th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Interesting article. Don’t mean to go off point here, but…
The acceptance of diversity at Gally begs the question, “Is that going to be enough to get Gally past dwindling enrollment figures and get current with the employment picture of today and the near future?”
One has to look at why more deaf students are looking to NTID or a hearing college as a college choice. Employment picture looms large, especially in this day and age. So, career choice is being taken far more seriously than 20 years ago.
Plus, tuition costs have skyrocketed, and that is another sobering factor in college choice. Students will want more bang for their college loan bucks.
Lastly, many deaf students are coming from the mainstream education experience and fewer students from deaf schools. Do mainstream graduates come to college with higher expectations?
I realize that college is a place to become oneself away from family influences, to develop not only skills for a career but also skills for social interaction. But developing career skills to land the first paying job that launches a career will be the first and foremost priority in today’s student’s mind.
December 8th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
There is a poster at Western Oregon University that reads “Diversity doesn’t mean equality.” Diversity means cultural competency for open mindedness, understanding and appreciation. Unfortunately, many people have been possessed by a distorted image of Gallaudet’s own position, and so failed to appreciate the signal contribution Gallaudet offered to understanding of our being Deaf. Thank you, MZ, for aiming to do for our image of Gallaudet what we Gallaudetians did for our image of being Deaf. One of the reasons why our ideas were so influential on humanities was because these were already much interested in and influenced by American Sign Language (ASL).
December 8th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Intolerance to diversity by some stakeholders were exposed by the protest, including Fernandes’ audistic claims of ‘Not Deaf Enough’. Audism, reverse audism, and racism weren’t addressed sufficiently during the Fernandes/Jordan Administration and hopefully they will be with the incoming president.
Please don’t confuse the permanent position with the interim position. It’s unfair to compare the length of presidential searches for Fernandes and Davila.
Thanks, Gallaudet Athletics, for the clarification. I was thinking of his child who is using cochlear implants.
Dianrez and Ann C, yes, Gallaudet is facing a new wave of deaf mainstreamed students unaccustomed to deaf settings. Likely Gallaudet will continue to evolve in a response to the changing demographics of students. Even more reason to pick a president who is capable of showing excellent leadership accepted by its stakeholders.
December 8th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Hi Carl,
‘Diversity doesn’t mean equality’ That’s a good quote.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I was going to ignore the comments created by ignorant fellas about Gallaudet but after reading carol and CNW’s comments, I just had to respond.
1. the declining enrollment at Gallaudet is not unique. in fact, many colleges/universities are facing the similar situations. some pointed to the current economy as the main factor. but at gallaudet, yes, the enrollment has been noticeably down and frankly, to me, it is good news! for years, gallaudet has been known as the school with a revolving door for anyone else in particular to enter and leave.
fernandes and jordan does not care about the quality of academics. they cared about the numbers, numbers and numbers. the classes that i had at gallaudet lacked stimulation, challenging and innovation. i had a couple of professors who dished candies to the students who answered the questions correctly as if we were in kindergarten!
and i had been in touch with students at gallaudet, they had told me that the quality of academics has been elevated to a point where the admissions truly screened applicants and chose well-qualified applicants to enter gallaudet. to me, that is good news. the applicants that failed to enter gallaudet can always enter NTID/RIT for all I care!
2. about curtis pride: someone indicated that he lacks coaching experience. i had to burst out laughing at this notion, really. curtis has been heavily involved with professional baseball teams all over the country and not only that, he also established his foundation that deals with literacy and mentoring.
curtis already interacted with the world’s best coaches in baseball frequently — which is something that Deaf athletes notably lacked the most. his ability to share his wealth of experiences to deaf players at Gallaudet is going to be immeasurable.
3. carol, gallaudet’s board of trustees has already reported that they are opening the presidential search and why do you fabricate and complain about things that were not even there in the first place?
R-
December 9th, 2008 at 12:49 am
I’m looking forward to seeing what Pride does with the Gallaudet baseball team. that the baseball team’s sucked for so long is such a shame.
December 9th, 2008 at 1:41 am
I wish to clarify on part of enrollments. I meant to say high school enrollments of 200-250 at most at deaf schools and 600-750 for K-12. Even these figures are what I realize to be way too low here.
December 9th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
There are few factors why Gallaudet’s enrollment numbers dramatically decline.
The first factor is the federal law allow NTID/RIT to admit deaf foreigners which Gallaudet used to have the entire monopoly on the admission of many deaf foreigners (overseas) for many years.
That changed the admission playing field for Gallaudet and NTID in many ways.
The second factor is the rising tutiton cost at Gallaudet University within reduced congressional monetary fundings.
Gallaudet could not possibly provide any direct federal fundings to cover deaf foreign students’ tutiton after the GOP Congress in 1996 discovered about many foreigners admitted to Howard University of Washington, DC at the expense of U.S. taxpayers.
That’s how the deaf foreign student enrollment numbers at Gallaudet University have been sharply decreased.
More and more state VR counselors hardly bother to send their own clients to Gallaudet University and prefer them to be educated at community college or state university or in-state university.
Those factors have been understandably played in Gallaudet ‘s dramatic enrollment number drop. The current state of American economy is another factor, too.
RLM
December 9th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I depend on you to make sure Gallaudet BOT is on the right track. I trust you completely.