A Deaf Man Becomes President
The time is January, in an election year. The setting my first American Sign Language class, in fact my first class at all, in over sixteen years. Before the end of class I would receive my first writing assignment; a research paper on “Deaf President Now”. Having limited experience with the deaf community, I was completely unknowledgeable on the topic. During a year with a plethora of presidential hopefuls, I assumed that “Deaf President Now,” was a campaign slogan of a candidate I was unaware of. Upon my initial research, I was surprised to learn that “Deaf President Now,” was a protest on a deaf university campus. Gallaudet University, located in Washington D.C., was established in 1864 by an Act of Congress when President Abraham Lincoln signed a charter for the only university in the world that catered to the deaf and hearing impaired (Gallaudet 2015). After over a hundred years in existence, run by hearing presidents, Gallaudet University became the site of an enormous protest represented by the local deaf and hearing impaired community, including both students and teachers and expansively reached the national deaf community gaining even broader support (Gallaudet 2016). The passionate protest was in response to the election of a new hearing president; the protesters adamantly demanding that the university should be run by a deaf or hearing impaired delegate (Andrews 2013). Although the discussion and desire for a deaf leader was not a modern conception, the organized revolt against the Board of Trustees of Gallaudet University on March 6, 1988, sparked a series of events that resulted in the appointment of the first deaf president, after a week of protest marches and rallies that ended victoriously (Gallaudet 2016). In modern times, this revolution of the university students and staff is referred to as “Deaf President Now,” and the collective group of assemblies and demonstrations is called DPN week. Upon the unscheduled press release from the Board of Trustees, announcing their selection of Elizabeth Zinser, the only candidate who was not deaf, as president of the University, the “Deaf President Now,” enthusiasts not only caused disturbances on campus, but ventured to the Mayflower Hotel, where the Board of Trustees were convening, and insisted on overturning what they considered an inappropriate decision (Gallaudet 2016). Jane Spilman, chair of the Board, was unmoved by the challenges and was rumored to have made this statement, “Deaf people are not able to function in a hearing world” (Gallaudet 2016). Although she denied this remark, the protesters could not erase her harsh words from the mind and the unrest between the board and the “Deaf President Now,” advocates escalated (Gallaudet 2016). Over the next few days, the campus became a protesting platform; blocked traffic, class boycotts and numerous speeches and rallies vocalized the “Deaf President Now,” demands; which included: Zisner’s resignation as president and the appointment of a deaf president, Spilman’s resignation, a board of trustees, comprised of at least fifty-one percent deaf board members, and no repercussions for the detractors (Gallaudet 2016). As the days passed and the disagreements continued, the “Deaf President Now,” supporters remained avid in their pursuits. By the fourth day of dispute, the controversially selected Zisner, arrived in Washington D.C., and spoke with the student sponsors regarding their demands; the meeting ended in gridlock as neither side would budge (Gallaudet 2016). As a result of Zisner’s refusal to resign, the movement intensified and gained nationally televised attention. On the fifth day, after board member Greg Hilbok appeared on “Good Morning America,” the “Deaf President Now,” movement gained support on a national level, and assumedly lead to …show more content…
The Board of Trustees continued to sort through the incongruities yet to be settled, and eventually named I King Jordan the first deaf president on March 13, 1988 (Andrews 2013). After eight days of continuous protests and a conglomeration of student, faculty and national support, the “Deaf President Now,” group had found success in their endeavors. Not only, did Zisner resign as president, making way for the first deaf president to preside over university procedures and finances; Spilman also resigned from her position, and was replaced by deaf board member, Phil Bravin (Gallaudet 2016). The original requests of “Deaf President Now” were coming to
The time is January, in an election year. The setting my first American Sign Language class, in fact my first class at all, in over sixteen years. Before the end of class I would receive my first writing assignment; a research paper on “Deaf President Now”. Having limited experience with the deaf community, I was completely unknowledgeable on the topic. During a year with a plethora of presidential hopefuls, I assumed that “Deaf President Now,” was a campaign slogan of a candidate I was unaware of. Upon my initial research, I was surprised to learn that “Deaf President Now,” was a protest on a deaf university campus. Gallaudet University, located in Washington D.C., was established in 1864 by an Act of Congress when President Abraham Lincoln signed a charter for the only university in the world that catered to the deaf and hearing impaired (Gallaudet 2015). After over a hundred years in existence, run by hearing presidents, Gallaudet University became the site of an enormous protest represented by the local deaf and hearing impaired community, including both students and teachers and expansively reached the national deaf community gaining even broader support (Gallaudet 2016). The passionate protest was in response to the election of a new hearing president; the protesters adamantly demanding that the university should be run by a deaf or hearing impaired delegate (Andrews 2013). Although the discussion and desire for a deaf leader was not a modern conception, the organized revolt against the Board of Trustees of Gallaudet University on March 6, 1988, sparked a series of events that resulted in the appointment of the first deaf president, after a week of protest marches and rallies that ended victoriously (Gallaudet 2016). In modern times, this revolution of the university students and staff is referred to as “Deaf President Now,” and the collective group of assemblies and demonstrations is called DPN week. Upon the unscheduled press release from the Board of Trustees, announcing their selection of Elizabeth Zinser, the only candidate who was not deaf, as president of the University, the “Deaf President Now,” enthusiasts not only caused disturbances on campus, but ventured to the Mayflower Hotel, where the Board of Trustees were convening, and insisted on overturning what they considered an inappropriate decision (Gallaudet 2016). Jane Spilman, chair of the Board, was unmoved by the challenges and was rumored to have made this statement, “Deaf people are not able to function in a hearing world” (Gallaudet 2016). Although she denied this remark, the protesters could not erase her harsh words from the mind and the unrest between the board and the “Deaf President Now,” advocates escalated (Gallaudet 2016). Over the next few days, the campus became a protesting platform; blocked traffic, class boycotts and numerous speeches and rallies vocalized the “Deaf President Now,” demands; which included: Zisner’s resignation as president and the appointment of a deaf president, Spilman’s resignation, a board of trustees, comprised of at least fifty-one percent deaf board members, and no repercussions for the detractors (Gallaudet 2016). As the days passed and the disagreements continued, the “Deaf President Now,” supporters remained avid in their pursuits. By the fourth day of dispute, the controversially selected Zisner, arrived in Washington D.C., and spoke with the student sponsors regarding their demands; the meeting ended in gridlock as neither side would budge (Gallaudet 2016). As a result of Zisner’s refusal to resign, the movement intensified and gained nationally televised attention. On the fifth day, after board member Greg Hilbok appeared on “Good Morning America,” the “Deaf President Now,” movement gained support on a national level, and assumedly lead to …show more content…
The Board of Trustees continued to sort through the incongruities yet to be settled, and eventually named I King Jordan the first deaf president on March 13, 1988 (Andrews 2013). After eight days of continuous protests and a conglomeration of student, faculty and national support, the “Deaf President Now,” group had found success in their endeavors. Not only, did Zisner resign as president, making way for the first deaf president to preside over university procedures and finances; Spilman also resigned from her position, and was replaced by deaf board member, Phil Bravin (Gallaudet 2016). The original requests of “Deaf President Now” were coming to