Finally Reading the Opposing Side about Gallaudet Protest

Finally, I've found some information about the opposing sides, some anti-protesters, some opinons about the Protest other than what we've heard over the last two weeks. This will be also sent through Northwest Indiana Deaf E-News email.

It's interesting how the opposing side has a perspective that is different. However, both parties agree that the search and selection progress is flawed. The point some argue is if Glenn Anderson (a black, Ph.D holder person) had been in the final three and JKF was still selected over him, what would happen? If Ron Stern (Superintendent of New Mexico SD) was selected?

Many feel that the protesters already started too late and that they're fighting a losing battle because they decided to up and start 2 days after the announcement of JKF's selection. Whereas, some groups started in April when the final three were announced. There was a group called COSC - Coalition of Organizations for Students of Color. They were composed of NBDA (National Black Deaf Association), APA (Asia-Pacific Association) and several other organizations. FSSA (Faculty, Student, Staff and Alumni) was a part of it. After several organizations pulled out, COSC fell apart, thus creating different arguing parties that is not resolving the crisis.

What we have is a small subculture of human culture (hearing culture is considered subculture as well), where deaf people, friends and relatives know about each other. Does it serve us purpose to become active while fractured? How will it help us be better human beings standing on equal footing in the real world? Perhaps it is where we fail as "white" people, we did not break away from the "shackles" still taught in generations to accept other people as humans. We see something different from us; therefore, they're not human. Smaller subcultures are sensitive to changes that take place and they react accordingly, rather than thinking it through.

How did this happen? Historically, presently and possibility in the future?

How can we be able to keep up with the changes and still remain who we are? Primarily deaf people with a visual/manual language that fit us well.

How can we ensure that our community and language is still valiant and strong into the future? Audism is a word to place power upon discrimination of being unable to hear.

There are many ways to consider solutions to things that are changing presently for the future.

From DeafDC.com Blog: there are two DOE (Department of Education) documents that provide telling clues about the situation happening at Gallaudet over the last 8 years.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/summary.10003306.2005.html
http://www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/2006plan/edlite-g5edagallaudet.html

Some point out that if the reports about Gallaudet were that terrible during JKF's reign as Provost of Student Affairs - why not protest then? Why now after 8 years are the students protesting??? Relevant point.

The students have the right heart, but the right reasons other than ousting JKF??? Why not in 2000, when the enrollment started dropping, the education materials not equalivant to pre-1988 standards? We could find ways to ensure our equality in the real world, could we???

I still stand by the decision to request JKF's resignation, if the reports above say much about Gallaudet's future, what left is there for us as a premire Deaf university in the world?

Umm...