The Deaf Comedian, Vikee’s Open Letter

I am the only Deaf person in a small town in southern Illinois. I wanted dearly to be part of the tent city protest and to support whatever needs to be done. The pictures I submitted are my tiny contribution to this cause.

We are ALL in this together, regardless of where we live…small towns, big cities, east, west, north south…..we are one and the same…we want UNITY FOR GALLAUDET!!!!!

Altho I left Gallaudet after 4 months in 1970, it wasn’t until years later, when I returned for the class of 1974’s 25^th reunion, how important it was to be in touch with former classmates who shocked me by remember me even though I stayed for so brief a time. I was an oralist, raised in a mainstream environment, not learning ASL until I entered Gallaudet in 1970. It was an experience I never forgot. Not only that, but that began my lifelong search for my own identity, deaf related or not.  At the reunion, I discovered a connection, a bond or a kindred group spirit that I had been looking for most of my life. The class of 1974 welcomed me warmly, and since then, I have been in touch with quite a few of these old classmates.

Since then, I have been back to Gallaudet several times, once for 10 weeks as a resident artist at MSSD and for various events or workshops that are theatre related. I just LOVE the fact that everywhere I went, people signed. My soul always felt free there, because I could finally be my total DEAF SELF that I cannot find elsewhere.

I will say, though, in all honesty, there are some depts. That needed a total makeover. DPS is one. The people who either run the place or work there are inept, audist and barely sign if any. I found myself at times arguing with those people because of some legal blah blah, blah and was always amazed at their outright ignorance. That dept needs to be thrown out, cleaned up and rebuild from the bottom up! These are just one extreme examples of what I DID see as an outsider.

My fear is that Congress will get involved, and if they are like most hearing people who’s only contact with deaf people is by accident, then there’s a chance we will lose something that has been there since 1865. WE CANNOT, WILL NOT, DO NOT want to see this happen.

Gallaudet is precious to the thousands of us who are alumni or former students. Gallaudet is our life, our heritage, our legacy, the one place we look at for validation of who we are. It’s time to allow our community and culture to evolve, become and grow….

Board of Trustees…………..PLEASE STOP THIS MADNESS!!!!!

Vikee Waltrip E ‘74Actor-Artist-Adventurer