BoT Firm Despite Messages From Stakeholders
Statement from the Board of Trustees
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Campus Community
FROM: Dr. Brenda Jo Brueggemann, Chair, Board of Trustees
SUBJECT: Stament from the Board of Trustees
On behalf of the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees, I write to say that our foremost priority must be to reopen our campus so that Gallaudet University can move forward with its fundamental mission of education.
Ninth President
All Board members have received messages from people suggesting that we could end this apparent impasse by asking Dr. Fernandes to resign. The Board will not do that. Our decision to support Dr. Jane K. Fernandes as the ninth president of Gallaudet University stands. We look forward to her tenure as president beginning January 1, 2007. The Board has no plans to re-consider this decision.
We conducted a fair, open and transparent search for a new president and we selected Dr. Fernandes as the strongest candidate. The University needs a sense of continuity from Dr. I. King Jordan’s presidency to that of Dr. Fernandes and if she were to resign, the result would be years of uncertainty, permanent instability in the governance of the institution, and many other long-term and negative consequences. The Board has stated, and re-stated, that Dr. Fernandes is our choice and is the most qualified candidate to run the institution.
Dr. Fernandes deserves to be given the chance to assume the office we have appointed her to. She will not take up her full duties as Gallaudet University’s president until January 2007, and has thus not been given the opportunity to show what she can do as president. The Board will not remove Dr. Fernandes from a position she has not yet started.
The Deaf President Now movement and Dr. I. King Jordan’s presidency have been defined with the slogan, “Deaf people can do anything but hear,” and this message has inspired thousands of people who are deaf or hard of hearing to do just that. We cannot send this message to deaf children and at the same time send a message to Dr. Fernandes and other deaf adults that we will not give them the same chance to show what they can do.
We ask that you respond to Dr. Fernandes’ invitations for opening and continuing dialogue about issues of concern facing our community and we ask that you contribute your perspectives on how these issues can be addressed.
The Board will monitor Dr. Fernandes’ performance carefully-as any university president’s performance should be monitored.
Protest Investigations
In regards to the events in the Hall Memorial Building on Friday, October 6, 2007, we have retained former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct a full investigation and we have asked him to report the results to us. We will take any necessary actions, as indicated by the results of this investigation, promptly on conclusion of his report.
Presidential Transition Team
The work of the Presidential Transition Team (PTT) will begin soon. We are committed to the successful transition of Dr. Fernandes to the Gallaudet University presidency. We call upon all members of the campus community to take responsibility for the future of Gallaudet University by working with Dr. Fernandes and us to give her the chance she most definitely deserves to show what she can do.
Thank you for you attention to these important matters and for your ongoing support for the future of Gallaudet University.
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This seems to be from several days ago. Would be good idea to date the stuff you post.
It’s? I thought that was the update edition of the other one. Thanks for letting me know and I’ll doublecheck
Right, that was sent a few days ago. I was at Gally when it was sent. I am now home and heartbroken. I certainly hope others can take up to this and come to Wash DC to put an end to this oppressive system run by IKJ and JKF.
Trust me, Trust Jane, trust that Gallaudet will be fine with Jane’s guidance. The Deaf needs to relax and embrace diversity.
Deaf always have embraced diversity. There had always been students with different backgrounds. Like me. I was 100% oral when I first came to Gally and so did many of my friends. So what the heck are you talking about?
Clerc Center demonstrated the extent of damage created during Fernandes’ administration in their open letter few days ago. We know about the decline of academic programs the last five years of Fernandes as Provost, with the last year earning a failing grade. Her track record the last eleven years reflects poor performance already. So how can Gallaudet be fine when when the previous programs deteriorated under her supervision?
Melody, should I trust you or should I trust thousands of people especially the faculty who have spoken? Hmm, is that a tough question to ponder? I guess not. Trust the majority!