Open Letter to Dr. Tom Humphries By Former Board Member of SDDCS

Dear Dr. Humphries,

 

I have been following the Gallaudet situation carefully since last May.  I am very disappointed with you and Board of Trustees for your indecisiveness regarding the current Gallaudet crisis.  It is clear that the Board is not doing its job by being reluctant to have an open and honest dialogue with students and faculty since last week. 

In addition, the Board is very much aware that a majority of the students as well as the faculty opposed the selection of Jane Fernandes as the next President prior to the Board’s decision last May. 

 

Right now,

Gallaudet

University is out of control and I. King Jordan and Jane Fernandes have failed to unify the stakeholders of the university and, in fact, have been even more divisive with their actions, such as utilizing the alumni email roster without allowing the alumni association the same access. 

I am aware that you are one of the most vocal supporters of Jane Fernandes.  Since the Gallaudet community has already been damaged beyond repair as long as the current Board of Trustees remain, I urge you to resign as Board member for the sake of the best interest of not only the university but of the worldwide deaf community as well.

Sincerely Yours,

Denny Voreck, M. Ed.

Former Board Member of

San Diego Deaf Community Services

Tent Cities and Rallies Mushrooming All Over USA!

Ten tent cities so far now 

 We will not be silenced! The country is hearing us loud and clear. The support for Gallaudet FSSA is growing by leaps and bounds. Please spread the word with your friends and your local media.  elizabeth

TENT CITY MAP: Deafeye Blog

RIVERSIDE TENT CITY: http://www.terisentelle.com/vlog/gallyrally.html

CANADA TENT CITY: canucksforfssa.wordpress.com

DENMARK TENT CITY: frontrunners_gallaudet

FREMONT TENT CITY http://www.joeybaer.com/video/bayareafssa.mov

SIOUX FALLS TENT CITY  Deaf Kitchen  

FREDERICK TENT CITY Frederick United For FSSA: Frederick’s Own Tent City 

LOS ANGELES TENT CITY: Joey Baer’s ASL Vlog » Los Angeles Tent City (ASL Vlog) 

ST. AUGUSTINE TENT CITY: gallaudet protests » Blog Archive » St. Augustine for FSSA!

SAN DIEGO TENT BEACH:   Jared’s Rambling Thoughts: San Diego Tent Beach in support of FSSA!  

 NORCAL TENT CITY

 AUSTIN RALLY Human Chain Rally  

MINNESOTA RALLY Joey Baer’s ASL Vlog » Minnesota GUAA supports FSSA! (ASL Vlog) ;                     www.signcasts.com

INDIANAPOLIS RALLY Indy Deaf For FSSA!:  

Rally At 3:30 PM HMB Atrium

RALLY at 3:30pm in HMB atrium.

Come and support us!
Thank you for all of ur support!
Gallaudet Unity
–vphreak

Gally’s Ban On Staff Interpreters Despicable, says a HUG student

Oh boy…

It’s been a couple of days.  “Where have you been?!” you ask (or not).  Thinking.  Thinking a lot.  This protest has brought out a lot of emotions in a lot of people, which is evident by the students who are currently sitting in HMB, refusing to leave until a change has been made.  At first I didn’t support what they were doing.  I’m still not sure I support it fully.  There are so many pros and cons to this.

One of the biggest cons, and the one that is upsetting me most, is that the people locking down HMB are forcing everyone on campus to be involved in the protest by cancelling classes.  The protest should be a choice, and this is not a choice.  I am paying a LOT of money to be at this school, and I have the right to my own education.

However, the actions of the adminstration are, well… Dispicable.  They’re banning interpreters from helping out, hosting lavish parties in the midst of a campus crisis, our campus police used physical force to break through a human chain.  What is this?  What is going on with my school?

SBG’s vice president and director of academic affairs have already resigned.  Their president and ethics and conduct directors are talking about withdrawing from the university.  Some reports claim as many as ten students have already left.  The university is in chaos.

The only thing making me feel even slightly better is that I’ve offered up my interpreting services.  Regardless of my personal opinions about the protestors’ current behavior, being unable to communicate with reporters is ridiculous.  The appropriate people know how to contact me, and I hope they will.

Unity for Gallaudet?  I hope so.  Sat Oct 7. 2006 ayala920’s Xanga Site

Reprinted with permission by the author

1st Letter of Financial Mismanagement to BoT From Former G.U. Administrator

Bernard A. Holt
[Address withheld]

Board of Trustees Member
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Ave, NE
Washington, DC 20002

February 1, 2004

Dear Member:

I asked Dr. I. King Jordan and the University’s Board of Trustees to conduct an investigation at Gallaudet University.

Specifically, I requested the President and the Board look into the circumstances surrounding the use of $4 million dollars in additional federal funding the University received in 2002 for security, and to review several personnel issues. I was stunned to learn the process I was trying to follow, to have my complaint investigated by the University, was seriously flawed. I found the University does not have a mechanism setup to review this level of complaint, and has refused to even discuss it with me.

At this time, I am again asking the board to investigate the entire compliant I sent Dr. I. King Jordon [sic] and the Board Chairperson; and additionally to look into the incredible, unbelievable circumstances surrounding my position being abolished as the Director/Chief of the Campus Police, Physical Plant Department, and the Office of Risk Management and Insurance; and the elimination of positions held by older employees on campus.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Bernard Holt
Former Director of the Gallaudet University
Public Safety/Physical Plant Departments and
Office of Risk Management and Insurance

Comment: Mr. Holt told me the BoT ignored this letter. elizabeth

2nd Letter of Financial Mismanagement to BoT From Former G.U. Administrator

May 10, 2004

To the Board of Trustees:

As you meet this week, I hope you will consider my request for a full investigation of my complaints, (of which some are listed below and in the attached letters). To date, I have not heard a word from you. Below is another personal experience I have had with re-organizations at Gallaudet University.

My job as Director of Campus Police and Risk Management was abolished after I refused to lie to Congress about how 4 million dollars in additional federal appropriations was spent; and for refusing to make changes to the Simplex Camera and Access System at Central Receiving, so an administrator could go into it on weekends without being bothered by a Security response. Within weeks of refusing to lie to congress, I was called into Denise LaRue’s office, and as she choked back the tears, told me my job was abolished, without an explanation, and after years of dedicated and devoted service to the job and the University, I was sent on my way like so many other older employees.

Is this the way the Board wants employees treated?

I have a few more questions you can ask the administration.

1) After the big reorganization, what excellent investigation did Denise LaRue conduct at the Transportation Department that had the administration take the department away from her, and put it back under Fred Kendrick; and now reports directly to a Vice President.

2) What ever happened to the new tractor at the NW campus before the
buildings and grounds were sold? Please don’t tell me it was surplus.

Respectfully,

Bernard Holt
Former Director of Campus Police, Physical Plant and Risk Management

Thursday, May 13, 2004

Personal Comment: Mr. Holt told me the BoT also ignored this second letter. Why was there no action taken up by BoT to investigate this serious allegation?  elizabeth

Gally Administration Lied To Congress, A Former GU Administrator Claims

Former Gallaudet University administrator Bernard Holt was reached by telephone today in his Maryland home [...], Friday, May 12, 2006 providing additional information pertaining to the copy of letter and the copy of an e-mail that was released earlier today.

Holt says that $4 million of federal funds had been appropriated to the university by Congress, in order to hire 16 new security officers and purchase new equipment. When the money was not spent for the proper purpose, Fred Weiner, the Special Assistant to university president I. King Jordan, drafted a letter to Congress wherein he stated that the university attempted to hire new officers but was unable to.

From Mr. Weiner’s statement [Weiner is pronounced with a long "I" and rhymes with "finer."]:

“While awaiting approval of federal funding, the Dept. of [Public] Safety (DPS) [spent] significant overtime among its current officers in order to provide enhanced security coverage. Since the appropriations have been approved, DPS has found it a challenge to hire people at the estimated salary level. That was used as the basis for Gallaudet University’s FY 2002 request. As a result, the salary level has been raised to attract qualified personnel. We have recently hired five security officers, and with recent turnovers in the DPS, there are 14 officer vacancies that need to be filled. We also plan to hire trainers to maintain and enhance officers skills.”

Weiner asked Holt to verify a range of claims in his letter he was preparing for his letter to Congress, but Holt refused, saying that it was simply not true that the university had “found it a challenge” to hire new officers.

As Holt explains: “I went to my boss and I said, ‘This isn’t true’, because we had already interviewed approximately 60 people and we had 16 people that were highly qualified and waiting to be hired.” Holt explains further that Weiner had sent him the statement in an e-mail and asked him to verify the statement in reply.

Holt said that he refused to verify the claims in Weiner’s statement and that further, the situation was such that if he didn’t reply to the e-mail, Weiner could claim that Holt agreed with the statement, because Weiner had given him a chance to object, but did not. That then would be an indirect lie on Holt’s part, and would be the ethical equivalent of lying to Congress, he explains.

Holt continues: “I have the paperwork to show what I’m saying.”

Holt explained that not long after refusing to agree with Weiner’s statement to Congress, he was told his position was being eliminated, but that later his position was filled with someone who was already employed at Gallaudet.

Holt says that Gallaudet’s Board of Trustees has never completed a single investigation into the matter, in spite of his repeated requests that they do so

By Brian Riley

MishkaZena Met The Protesters At HMB Last Night.

When the students barricaded them in HMB, I was in FL. I left FL Sunday AM and covered the protest Sunday night in a SC hotel. Last night we stopped by HMB on our way to home.

The spirits there were absolutely electrifying. Not only were there many students, alumni and faculty were there, too. It was great meeting old faces again and I had the pleasure of meeting Ryan, Noah, Layota,  Delia, and Leah in person. One respected deaf faculty member whom I knew well described how proud she was of the students.  I nodded in agreement, watching the students.

I’m still brain dead from the long trip, so this may not be a great entry. I’ll try my best putting down my thoughts.

When I stopped by Gallaudet and entered HMB, I felt a strong sense of belonging. Gallaudet is my second home, as I know many of you can relate to that nostalgic feeling.  Gallaudet was where I learned sign language and deaf culture. Gallaudet was where I developed my new identity as a Deaf person. It was a place where I taught for some number of years before I resigned.

Outside, near the side door of HMB, a volunteer was grilling hamburgers. Few yards away, a cameraman was filming an interview with a reporter and Chris Heuer. Many protesters were mulling around in few big groups, chatting and relaxing. The weather was very comfortable.

Inside HMB, near the side door, stood tables with free food for the protesters. The next room provided free liquids. The contribution of the food and liquids were deeply appreciated. Please keep up with the donations for these energy-sustaining supplies, so the protesters can continue their work.  HMB was very tidy and organized. The protesters have done a great job taking over the janitorial work! Some rooms were converted to protest rooms, such as media room, communication room, homework room, and meeting rooms, etc. My first impression after I looked around was how well the students organized the first floor of the HMB. The atmosphere inside the HMB was very calm and peaceful.

Inside the atrium, there were multiple tents. Down the hall to the other end of HMB was an area where many students wrote on papers their feelings regarding the conflicts facing Gallaudet now. It was very touching, reading all these personal messages posted on the walls and I regretted not bringing along a camera. I hope someone will take pictures and share them with the Internet readers.

I talked with many students. Leah gave a small presentation explaining how Jordan tried to manipulate the students by pressuring them to sign the contract. Another student later described his experiences how one teacher tried to force him to put down his poster and remove his shirt against his will in a classroom, even with the majority of the students supporting his actions. He remained firm and his teacher gave up. I am not sure I remembered all what he described correctly, but the attempted oppression did happen. I was disturbed to hear the interference of the faculty member on the student’s expression.

Several students and an alumnus wrote down messages for the Internet readers. I’ll post them shortly.

Overall it was a great visit. It was inspiring to see the students proud, assertive, and very strong. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to stay long, but I hope to return real soon. This time I’ll bring my camera!   elizabeth

Oh, another thing I almost forgot.  The students informed me about the bomb threat that morning.  Again? I asked, shaking my head in disbelief.  I asked them how the bomb threat was handled by the security guards.  This time they didn’t come in, but the DC police did and they were very courteous as they understood it was a peaceful civil disobedience.  There were four or five interpreters in HMB,  probably volunteers, so there were no communication barriers this time. The students were concerned about leaving the bldg and running the risk of getting handcuffed afterwards and they were assured by the D.C. police officers that they will not be arrested. The students were very cooperative and left the bldg so to let the police and their bomb-sniffing dog do their job. Afterwards, the students returned to HMB.  elizabeth

Oh, one more thing. I met Noah when he was talking to his mom through VP. He was gracious enough to interrupt his talk to jot down a message for my blog, even though I told him I’ll wait until he is done with his mom.  While he was composing a message, I informed his mom  she should be very proud of her son for his activism on Unity for Gallaudet and she beamed with pride, nodding in agreement. I assured her that there are a lot of people at the HMB, not just students, but also the faculty members and alumni and we chatted for a while until Noah completed his message on the note.  elizabeth

A Comment from FSSA Rep. Las Vegas

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”The poet and philosopher, George Santayana
Sadly, BOT and IKJ administration did not learn a lesson from DPN, a historical event at Gallaudet in March, 1988.

Denny Voreck

FSSA Rep. Las Vegas