A Letter From a Kappa Gamma Alumnus

From: The Skull
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 04:14:17 -0400

We just came back from Gallaudet where we met and talked with committed
protesters in their new headquarters: SBG Office in HMB. They all were
busy working on logistics and strategies to maintain their momentum. The
entire HMB building looked like the city of sleepless protesters.
Students were everywhere keeping watch over their locked building. Some
were sleeping to get quick rest and some didn’t look like they would
need to sleep for a long while.

One dedicated faculty member impressed us very much. She felt very
protective of the protesting students and didn’t want to leave these
students in the harm way. She was still busy explaining things calmly to
a group of attentive protesters as we got ready to leave HMB around 3.30
AM. As a person of color herself, she understands and appreciates the
relentless fight for social justice. She is a fearless and outspoken
leader.

A very proud and cheerful African American staff woman was there too.
She was probably the only staff member brave enough to stay involved
with the protesters without wearing a brown bag over her head with the
“I’m scared to show my face” sign written on it. Like a good shepherd,
she was busy encouraging the protesters to keep going. She’s a wonderful
mentor to many of these young protesters.

Matt Malzkuhn and Jason Lamberton were the most visible alumni we could
find in the building. They were busy planning strategies and helping
protesters solve problems in between talking patiently with us. They’re
dedicated to the cause. They want to make sure that the protesters can
feel and see the support of alumni. They don’t work for Gallaudet and
feel that the standard threats made to staff members and student workers
will not work on them.

Some protesters said they were disappointed to see Mr. Robbage resign as
SBG vice president after Carl Pramuk threatened him and Noah Beckman by
saying that their involvement in the protest could hurt their education
and employment at Gallaudet. Student Affairs had made similar threats to
other protesters like Ryan Commerson. Protesters said they don’t trust
the Judicial Affairs headed by Carl Pramuk’s “best friend” who was very
unpopular in Indiana deaf school before coming back to Gallaudet last
month. His name is Hilel. Protesters said that Mr. Pramuk has no respect
for students and their rights.

Board of Trustees have elected to do nothing. They left the
administration to take care of the crisis. Protesters felt that the
momentum was on their side. They knew that the administration will soon
lose control of the situation and be forced to negotiate with the
students. They knew that if more students are arrested and injured it
will backfire on the administration because it will get their angry
parents, relatives, and friends involved in the protest.

In 1988, Kappa Gamma Fraternity students played key roles in the DPN
protest. They were everywhere doing little and big things for the
protest. Now the situation is different. DSP students are the most
visible male leaders in the protest. They’re proud to show their green
and white colors. Kappa Gamma alumni lament that their young brothers
are confused and selfish but are proud of few Kappa Gamma boys like
David Simmons and Michael Higgins who are fearless and active in the
protest.

Protesters are working on many surprises for the administration. They
are well armed with digital video cameras to counter untruths by
Gallaudet’s PR office. They need more students, faculty, alumni and
friends involved to accomplish their objectives. They are confident they
will get BOT to reopen the presidential search process. Watch out fore
more updates. Don’t miss history in the making! It will be an
interesting semester.

Skull