Transcript of Ryan Commerson’s Message This Am

Here is an English translation:

“Letter” to Gallaudet Community

Submitted by RC on Tue, 2006-10-24 07:38.

Again, another sleepless night here. Its 2:30 a.m. and I have received e-mails from people in SAC (Student Academic Center) who are pumped up and ready to do something. This is deeply inspiring. I couldn’t be there because I am here in my room working on another project.

As I have been involved in this protest these past three weeks, I have seen an expansion in the number of people who understand the cause of the protest. When I talk with people, I always tell them to research the issues, think about their positions, and ultimately make their own decisions about where they stand. After that, the number of people who have come up to me saying they understand and now support the protest has grown considerably larger. The rallies are not a good indication of the number of people who support the protest.  Everyone has other commitments: school, Greek organizations and so forth. Some students who support the protest are taking classes with professors who do not, this puts them in a tough spot.

Some of my teachers support the protest.  And I do feel fortunate that my department supports the protest, but there are still risks that I am taking. Other people are in a different situation. We can’t expect everyone to attend the rallies. We do not get updates everyday. Its hard to keep the rallies exciting, you never know when things are going to happen. I understand this.

There were rumors that the BoT [Board of Trustees] is coming [to meet on campus] this weekend–no confirmations.

Honestly, those who are protesting everyday are tired.  It’s not fun. It’s not a game.  It’s real and its hard.

It’s hard hard work.  They are exhausted, fatigued–mentally emotionally and physically exhausted. There is a lot of work involved. People who support the protest are growing. We don’t know how many of Gallaudet’s 1800 students support the protest, but I have a strong feeling its over 1000. I am wondering if it’s possible for everyone who supports this protest, to put everything on hold and go out and inform the world how many students are truly involved and support this protest. Its time for everyone who supports this protest from students, faculty, staff, alumni and administrators to come out and make this happen.

I know there are some administrators out there who are secretly supporting us. This is serious house cleaning.  There has been too much degradation, too much corruption. We must do something that will stop this dirty business. He [Board member Ken Levinson] actually said that deaf people were dumb, the deaf people who use sign language. He has been on the BoT [Board of Trustees] for 16 years.  He said YOU people who use sign language–YOU are dumb. Do we want that kind of attitude on the BoT?

They [Board of Trustee members] still have business relationships with Gallaudet.  Honestly, they have to go.

Basically, I am asking–I have been fighting for you for the future.  I’m fighting for my bosses. I’m fighting for the teachers support services staff–even for some administrators. I’m fighting for all of you.

Can you understand the magnitude of this? Can you say: “OK, I will give my full unwavering support for this”?   I want to see 1000 people at the gate tomorrow. Can you do this for us, for yourself, for your family, for future generations of deaf children? Can you?

Show the world that JK [Jane Kelleher Fernandes] is wrong about the number of protestors being small. JK is living in a falsely imagined fairy tale–a dream. She does not understand. She is in denial. I think we need to help her understand. Are you with me?

I hope I see over 1000 students and a large number of faculty, staff, alumni and administrators walk out of class, out of their departments, out of their offices. I want you to drop everything you are doing after you see this VLOG. Drop your pen, drop your comb, drop whatever you are doing. If you’re doing a report, drop it. Stop, get up, and walk out. Go to the front gate. I hope I see you tomorrow [Wed., Oct 25]…Actually, today [Tues., Oct 24]

(End Commerson message)

Hearing DC Blogger Criticized Fernandes’ Interview.

Even though Dr Fernandes was given soft ball questions in this heavily moderated interview held by Washington Post yesterday, a well known hearing blogger was able to see through her responses.  Here is his not so glowing commentary of her answers. elizabeth

Gallaudet’s Fernandes Gets Snippy in WaPo Chat

Post chats have never been good for university presidents. Just last
year American University’s Ben Ladner was accused of cherry-picking
questions
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/10/20/DI2006102001223.html)
to avoid anything below the level of fawning adoration, and yesterday
embattled Gallaudet University president-select Jane K. Fernandes
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/10/20/DI2006102001223.html)
did her cause no justice by confirming what many of her detractors have
claimed as her biggest flaws — that she’s divisive and insensitive.

While saying she wanted there to be dialogue between her opponents and
herself, she also expressed surprise that anyone would oppose her: “As
the first deaf woman president of Gallaudet, my appointment should be
cause for celebration. This protest is against me.” We’re not experts
in conflict management, but telling the people protesting against you
that they should be celebrating you is probably counter-productive.

Fernandes also claimed to have “a vast amount of support from what I
see as a ’silent majority,’” despite the fact that she has been the
subject of two no-confidence votes
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/20/AR2006102001271.html),
the first when she was selected as provost and the second coming in May
after she was selected to become president, as well as a recent vote
where 82 percent of the faculty voted for her to resign or be removed.
She described the presidential selection process, then said “After such
an exhaustive and comprehensive process, it boggles the mind how
students or faculty could believe the decision can be overturned.”

Photo of lil’ protester by Flickr user Dottielou

She also was taken to task about saying the protesting students were
engaged in “anarchism and terrorism”
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/18/AR2006101802035.html),
which again is not exactly the way to get on somebody’s good side. To
her credit, she said terrorism was the wrong word to use, but added
that, “Perhaps it would have been better to use words like ‘discord,’
‘tumult,’ ‘riot,’ and ‘insubordination.’” While the first three words
are accurate if a little exaggerated, “insubordination” sounds more
martial, like she’s a general whose orders can’t be questioned.
Probably not the aura to give off when students complain about your
leadership style.

Fernandes later seemed to walk right into another of the criticisms
students have had, that she doesn’t know what the protest is about: “I
know there are two demands – I resign and no reprisals. But a protest
has to be FOR something, so I want to LISTEN to those involved. I want
you to tell me what you are FOR.” It seems pretty obvious what the
students are for: Fernandes’ resignation. Throughout the protests and
the chat Fernandes has been trying to shift the focus from herself to
other issues, but the students weren’t biting.

Whatever other issues there are at the nation’s premier deaf
university, such as race and the changing definition of being deaf,
students seem united in their opposition to Fernandes. More
importantly, though, she doesn’t seem to want to address their claims.
Fernandes certainly didn’t help her cause with this chat.

Posted by Andrew Wiseman (http://www.dcist.com/staff.php#dcist_andrew)
in News (http://www.dcist.com/archives/news/)

http://www.dcist.com/archives/2006/10/24/gallaudets_fern.php

Faculty Wants Formal Investigation of PSP and Changes

Trustees Plan Special Meeting on Sunday

Gallaudet University’s board of trustees will hold a special meeting
Sunday if they can ensure the security that will be needed, according
to Chairman Brenda Jo Brueggemann.

Protesters at the school for the deaf in Northeast Washington, who want
incoming president Jane K. Fernandes to resign, have been calling on
the board to meet to resolve the school’s problems.

Demonstrations started in May when the board announced that Fernandes
would be president as of Jan. 1.

The agenda for the meeting is not complete, and other details are not
finalized. If security can’t be ensured, the date could change,
Brueggemann said.

Protests continued yesterday, and there was a candlelight vigil
supporting eight people on a hunger strike.

Also yesterday, faculty voted to recommend investigating the
presidential search process, and to ask for an independent mediator,
add term limits and periodic evaluations of the president and to
increase the sign language requirement for tenured faculty.

– Susan Kinzie

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/23/AR2006102301211_pf.html

Or:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/23/AR2006102301211_2.html

DISTRICT BRIEFING
The Washington Post
Tuesday, October 24, 2006; Page B02

Two Meetings Tonight

Presidents of student organizations need to meet today @ 8 (sub, flex
a/b)

Students who were arrested need to meet today @ 9:30 (sub, flex a/b)

9 PM Rally at Marketplace

There’s going to be a rally at 9 in marketplace

Jennie

Gally Audism Shocked Hearing Graduate Student

The Buff and Blue
[Gallaudet University]
Volume CXV
Sunday, October 7, 2006
Special Edition #6

WHERE ARE OUR RIGHTS?
Written by Andrew Jones

I sit in HMB as a hearing graduate student in protest of an oppressive
and unresponsive deaf university.  How did I get here?

It started in high school.  I was taking Freanch classes to fulfill my
foreign language credit,but in every class I was focused on the ASL
class across the hall.  I dropped French in my second semester almost
immediately to start ASL classes.  Luckily I met a deaf person soon
after who would become a friend to me and introduce me to the Deaf
community and Deaf culture.

My undergraduate major was cultural anthropology with a minor in ethnic
studies.  Throughout college I was increasingly involved in the Deaf
community of Dallas, volunteering a the Deaf Action Center and
participating in events as much as possible.  I became deeply concerned
with so much oppression that I saw that Deaf community faced with,
especially people of color in the Deaf community.  Racism is definitely
an issue to be faced, as is audism.

Unfortunately I have to say that I was shocked when I arrived at
Gallaudet.  I expected a deaf utopia, a totally signing university.  At
first I became confused upon seeing many employees of the university
that did not sign.  I was stunned to find out that some classes were
taught through an interpreter–I thought the point of going to a deaf
university was to have direct open communication.  I have been here
since July and this is barely the tip of the iceberg.

As many of you know, just yesterday morning DPS broke in and assaulted
students on a supposed report of a bomb threat.  I was here.  I was
inches away from every body that crashed against a wall, florr, or
metal rail.  I smelt and felt the pepper spray a floor away from where
it was sprayed.  Worse yet, none of the intent of DPS was communicated
with the students.  Everyone seemed to be ignored.  The students became
an obstace course and were dehumanized in an officer’s attempt to
silence our protest.  There was a bomb threat?  Funny, I did not hear
that until hours after the break in yesterday night.  In emergency
situations communication is absolutely crucial; if the intent of DPS’s
entrance had been communicated, perhaps no students would have been
hurt.  Audism physically hurt our students yesterday morning and
Gallaudet denies that anything happened.

That audism is so firmly rooted in this university is appalling.  I am
deeply saddened that some have become so numb to its reoccurrences as
to ignore it.  It cannot be ignored any longer, and hearing students
must take their part in dismantling such a system.

This protest is about civil rights.  Many hearing students have told me
they do not feel it is their place, that this is a deaf protest.  I
understand and repect that perspective, but from my point of view,
protectingand fighting for civil rights is everyone’s duty.  You do not
have to be deaf to fight to end it.  We must fight not for each other,
but with each other.  As Anthony Robbins said, “You see, in life, lots
of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know.
Knowing is not enough!  You must take action.”

[Photo of protester giving speech in American Sign Language]

[Lower right of page:]

If the Metropolitan Police comes,
please remember to:

Go to the Atrium
Remain calm
Stay with others
DO NOT RESIST

UNITY FOR GALLAUDET!

http://www.joeybaer.com/files/specialed6.pdf [unofficial link]

Or:

http://eyethstudios.com/bnb/index.htm [unofficial link]

———————————————————————————————————

(End of Buff and Blue reprint)

———————————————————————————————————

“Audism”–definition:

An attitude based on pathological thinking which results in a negative
stigma toward anyone who does not hear; like racism or sexism, audism
judges, labels, and limits individuals on the basis of whether a person
hears and speaks.

(Humphrey, Jan and Bob Alcorn, 1995, So You Want To Be An Interpreter:
An Introduction to Sign Language Interpreting, 2nd ed., H&H Publishers,
Amarillo, TX, page 85)

http://www.amazon.com/You-Want-Interpreter-Introduction-Interpreting/dp/0964036770

GallyBuster Claims I Misunderstood Fernandes.

There is no misunderstanding.

I still stand on my words and so do my peers who watched the videoclip . Anyone who saw that videotape obviously can see Jane signing ‘threatening to be shot’  with the a sign of a gun pointing to herself.  Fernandes Threatened By A Person With Gun? A Videoclip Included

Though she didn’t use the word gun verbally, her sign language said it all. She shouldn’t have used the sign for gun if she meant a different meaning of shot. Fingerspelling, yes. Signing  gun pointing to one’s chest, no.  Nice try, though, but  it doesn’t work on people fluent in ASL. You may try to mislead the clueless public, but please leave it to the deaf people to interpret what they see on the tape. The meaning is very obvious to us, thank you.  There is no misunderstanding. We got it the first time. We got it the second time.  Please don’t insult our intelligence.

Incidentally, look at the timing: Terrorism, Anarchy, and Gun? All in one day? No wonder why the BoT is afraid to go to the campus without the escort of security personnel.

Yes, she was trying to paint a violent picture of the peaceful protesting students. Again she had harmed both the Gallaudet University and its students with her unprofessional statements.  Again she proved that she does not have the credibility to be a leader worthy to take up the reins of this world renowned university and has shown no inclination to resolve the conflict. Her reckless and improper statements on that day were designed to create a wider chasm between her and the whole Gallaudet Community while she attempted to gain the sympathy of the public as a victim.  So far I fail to see any sincere attempt to draw the Gallaudet Community closer and move toward a resolution between her and all the entities of Gallaudet Stakeholders.

 If you are getting upset, perhaps you should suggest Jane to practice caution when speaking to the media.

A Contemporary Gally Trend: Misinterpreting

Mishka Zena: “What is Jane doing? All this talk about anarchy, terrorism, and now guns? This is a peaceful and civil protest. Why is she trying to portray the protestors as out of control and dangerous?”

Everybody’s starting to upset me. They continue to pull things out of context, and interpret things literally. They are choosing to ignore situational context, which is crucial to examining things in the light. (Read the blogs!)

Yes, in NBC 4 News video, Jane K. did say, “I’ve been threatened to be shot, yes”. But this was simply an answer to a reporter’s question. Look at the video again! EMPHASIS: Jane K. did not say anything about guns. This figuratively means she has been threatened by the protest to accept defeat, which she says she will not do. And besides, how else do you sign “SHOT”? Of course, the verbial sign is iconic of guns. I can see where the misunderstanding took place. GALLYBUSTERS

Two Videoclips of DPS Misconduct At HMB Raid 10/6

I watched the videoclips closely. These are different from the shaky vclip shown several weeks ago.

these are much clearer

 

First videoclip: it shows two dps trying to force their way through a human chain, one somewhat roughly and the other one dps reaching out for his mace. The students were peaceful and organized. Why was the DPS getting his mace?

 

Second videoclip: Mace3.wmv..  It shows two dps in the stairway along with students on both ends. I think the students were blocking them from going up or down the One DPS has his mace on his hand while the other one was reaching for his mace.  As the students were there first, why was one holding the mace while the other one reaching for his? As you can see, the students were peaceful and talking among each other. They weren’t violent at all.    

Hi all,

I wanted to show you how DPS treated us yesterday.

  http://www.vphreak.com/fssa/vids/

Peace.wmv is human shield and DPS break through…

Mace3.wmv..  Watch carefully!  DPS holding mace spray in their hand.. 
Another dps getting his mace ready…

I couldn’t film the rest with mace cuz I stepped back for my safety…

Thank you for all of ur support.

Paul
–vphreak

NBC 4 News Has It Wrong

I spoke with Ryan several times this morning, the latest only one hour ago. The protest is still on and the request for people to come for the walk out still holds.

When will the news get it right?  Who has been feeding them misinformation?

Please call the media and inform them.

NBC 4- WRC-TV4

202) 885-4111

News Tip Line

elizabeth

NEWSBREAK – Students promise to end peaceful protests

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Gallaudet Students Vow To End Peaceful Protests Report: Board Of Trustees Could Hold Sunday Meeting  Protesting students at Gallaudet University in northeast  D.C. say they have called an end to peaceful  demonstrations as of today.   Students continue to block all but one entrance to  Gallaudet in opposition to the appointment of incoming  President Jane K. Fernandes.  Demonstrations started in May when the Board of Trustees  announced that Fernandes, who was then provost, would be  president as of Jan. 1.  Some students and faculty members have called for  Fernandes to resign, but she has said she will not step  down.  Monday night, hundreds of students held a candlelight  vigil for eight students who are on a hunger strike.  Ambulances were called Sunday afternoon after five of  the students reported feeling faint, but the students  refused treatment and left on their own.  The Washington Post is reporting that the school's board  of trustees will hold a special meeting on Sunday at the  university if their security can be guaranteed.  The faculty voted Monday to recommend the investigation  of the presidential search process and to ask for an  independent mediator. They also want term limits and  periodic evaluations of the president and to increase the  sign-language requirement for tenured faculty.  SOURCE: NBC 4 News (Released 10.24.2006) Credited to a reporter for contributing to this news from  Washington, DC  

Hunger Strike Protesters on Liquids Only

The Gallaudet University posted a statement that the hunger strike protesters are substaning on liquids, juicies, chicken brooth, and high protein energy drinks.  I know for sure that is not true.

 I asked several protesters last Sat and they told me all they drink are liquids, fruit and vegetable juices, and chicken broth. That is all.  I remember several protesters offering them soup with vegetables and meat in it and they politely declined the offers.  Similar offers for more substantial meals were also turned down.

 I went inside their supply tent and I didn’t see any high energy protein drinks.

 Elizabeth