Paddy Ladd speaks out at London Tent City

Commentary: Paddy Ladd mentioned something significant which I wasn’t aware. He mentioned in the American mainstreamed universities, including Havard, in this year,  nine presidents have resigned or stepped down as a result of staff/student concerns. For people overseas, they are pretty versed on the real issues of the protest. elizabeth

Student News
Times Online October 23, 2006
Global deaf fury hits London
Brilliant writing for students by students

[Photo caption:] British students join the global debate over
heavy-handed US police treatment after more than a hundred students are
arrested at a deaf institution, STEVE EMERY was on hand to witness the
protest

[Article:]

The UK deaf community joined a worldwide show of support for over 130
deaf students who were arrested last week at an American university.
British protestors staged a tent city in Central London, to join 65
around the world, they are furious with the appointment of a
controversial college president for the world’s premier deaf
university.

The support was timed to coincide with the march of 4,000 people on
Capitol Hill in Washington DCon Saturday, the culmination of months of
campaigning by staff, students and alumni against the appointment of
Jane Fernandes as the new president of Gallaudet University,
Washington. The university is the very centre of the international deaf
community.

The campaign has spread around the globe after students at Gallaudet
rejected the proposed new president. Last week police arrested 133 of
500 students camped on the university campus in protest. The tent city
forced the university to be temporarily closed and has inspired
sympathetic encampments to be errected around the world.

Contrary to some reports, the campaign against the new president is not
because Fernandes is ‘not deaf enough’. “This is a smokescreen fed to
the media by Fernandes herself,” said Tent City UK’s Niall McCormack.

Campaigners cite a reputedly rigged selection process, and concerns
about Fernandes’ administrative capabilities. Widespread calls of
concern requesting that Fernandes not be chosen were issued to the
presidential search committee prior to the appointment.

“We also want to show solidarity to our deaf brothers and sisters who
have found themselves arrested for peaceful protest,” said student
Tomato Lichy, “Fernandes has described this extensive peaceful protest
as anarchy and terrorism. Such language is not only highly
disrespectful of those in the world who are genuinely suffering the
effects of terrorism, but also indicates the authoritarianism of her
management style on the campus in the past 11 years.”

Lichy stated, “Because Gallaudet University is the only deaf university
in the world, its influence, and thus its leadership issues take on
increased importance in representing the aspirations and the public
image of deaf communities internationally.”

Dr Paddy Ladd added: “In the USA this year, the presidents of nine
mainstream universities, including Harvard, have either been fired or
resigned as a result of staff-student concern. Deaf people should have
the same right to high expectations of those who govern them, as
hearing people do. 82% of Gallaudet’s academic staff voted for
Fernandes’ removal, so basic principles of governance are at stake.”

A letter calling for Fernandes’ resignation signed by many UK deaf
leaders will be delivered to the US Embassy on Monday.  It was
addressed to Robert Holmes Tuttle, US Ambassador, the Gallaudet
University’s Board of Trustees, and Fernandes herself.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3561-2417845,00.html