The Role of BoT in Protest

Gallaudet’s Board of Trustees have caused this crisis.  I will explain why:

1.  Their diversity policy is poorly written, and is weak.  It could have ensured diversity was present at the presidential search committee process- that the finalists recommended are diverse, of people with color and with qualifications expected.

2.  They could have ensured that the PSC provided at least 6 (something like that)candidates for consideration by the community- so that the BOT would not be as stuck as it was when it only got 3 from PSC, and having at least 6 would most likely have offered people of color, highest possible qualified candidates, to name a few reasons why limiting to a small pool of selectees do not work.

3.  Their policy of communicating with external stakeholders must only go through the President’s office.  Unfortunately, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, students, congresspeople, etc etc are considered “external”, when they should be “internal” stakeholders.  This is not considered “inclusive”, but rather- “exclusive”.

4.  Only 35 percent of trustees are alumni, so 65 percent of trustees do not really have the pulse of the university- I can not imagine that there could be 65 percent of trustees being alumni- and be as capable of running the university. We have Stephen Hlibok, who has run many millions of dollars financial portofolio and is connected to financial world, we have alumnis who are engineers, connected to the Federal government, and I could go on.  It is the connection to the University that’s missing at the BOT level, partially causing this crisis. 

5.  The Chair of BOT is not an alumni so any bad news it needs to break to the stakeholders- it will not be as easily received any better than if an alumni Chair breaks these news.

6.  A lot of Board activities are not transparent. If they are, we would have known that these activities understand our issues, are in the open and on campus communicating with the stakeholders. American University board of trustees now have at least two forums on campus to ensure trustees are connected, and communicating with stakeholders.  Right now it only meets three times a year

I could go on, and I hope you get the point.  The trustees choose the president, Drew. This is the cause of this crisis.  So, I truly hope the board will reform itself, to be more inclusive, accountable and transparent.  Add nonvoting trustees that are representative to the stakeholders (faculty, staff, and students).  Meet with Gallaudet stakeholders at least twice a year.  Establish a whistleblower’s policy. 

At that point, I will believe we have moved forward. If the trustees does not do any reform, the crisis continues.  The sooner it reforms itself, the crisis would then be over. Any president can come aboard and do a good job because he/she reports to the board and the board is connected to the stakeholders and any “dirt” would be uncovered without reprisals.

The mediators and arbritators or outside investigators all does not solve the crisis, but they may propose a more temporary solution. I invite you to my line of thinking, that the more perament solution to this crisis would be a true reform of the Board of Trustees, and immediate healing will begin at that time.

This would be a victory for all sides and the healing would begin.

Very Respectfully,

Paul Singleton

an excerpt of his post at GallyNet-L listserv 

GALLYNET-L@gallynet.org

reprinted with permission by the listserv moderator

e mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com

4:30-4:45PM Press Conference at Hyatt Dulles

Meet at Hyatt Dulles at 4:30-4:45 TODAY for a press conference

Subject: Press conference and candlelight vigil

Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2006

Finally got the information…..

Meet at Hyatt Dulles at 4:30-4:45 TODAY for a press conference, that
will start promptly at 5 p.m.  The address is 2300 Dulles Corner Blvd,
Herndon VA 20171.  Please spread it as fast as you can…
Look on Mapquest for directions…bring a candle for lighting at dusk
This will be a peaceful aassembly outside the hotel. Spread the word to

all!

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=2300+dulles+corner+blvd&city=herndon&state=va&zipcode=

Or:

http://tinyurl.com/y383uj

3:23PM On Way To Greet BoT

Off we go to Dulles to greet the BoT.

-jennie

Mishkazena An Ex-Oralist

Some of you don’t know who I am. I guess it’s because  I am ordinarily a private person. 

Growing up, I was 100% oral. When I first arrived at Gallaudet at the age of 17, I knew no signs except two: Gallaudet and College, taught me by a local deaf person, as well as the manual alphabet I learned from a book.

Gallaudet changed my life. Not only did it give me my newfound deaf identity, it also instilled in me a deep pride in being deaf. I never went back to the old oral ways and traveled forward on the exciting journey to an enriching life as a proud deaf person.  For my personal, educational and professional growth, I thank Gallaudet. I also thank Gallaudet for enabling me to become a strong civil rights advocate, something I’ve been since the age of 21.

When I joined the deaf cyberworld late last year, I read with concern the stories of my former professors and colleagues at Gallaudet where I also taught for almost six years before leaving due to an illness. These people I know personally and professionally and whom I still to this day hold in high regard. I listened to the students with increasing concern. As an adjunct faculty member, I’ve always had respect for the students and encouraged them to speak freely. Even though  I haven’t taught in over ten years, I still hold in my heart a special place for Gallaudet students.

As a DPN protester, I was outraged upon hearing how Jordan attempted to have 100 protesters arrested last May and the final straw for me was the new controversial policy “Restrictions of Students’ Expressions” established last June.  These went against my personal beliefs as a deaf civil rights activist. Oppression and censorship were the reasons I opened my personal blog to Gallaudet Community.

I am formerly oral and I support Unity for Gallaudet.

I can attest personally that this protest has nothing to do with ” Not Deaf Enough” or a “deaf identity crisis”.

Fernandes does not have the skills to be a good President. Furthermore, in the last few weeks , she has proved that she lacks  the capacity to resolve the crisis.

Elizabeth Gillespie

Class of 1980 and 1987

Adjunct Faculty, Biology Department 1989-1995

Citizens Advisory Committee, Laurel, MD 1997-2004

Lighthearted Trivia: many asked me why the name MishkaZena. It is actually a combination of two pet names: Mishka, my doberman, and Zena, my cat. I do have a penchant for odd names

BoT Held Hostage By Brueggeman?

“Not only is the question before you concerning the position of the President, but likewise, the acting Chair of the Board who has held the board hostage in moving forward these recent weeks to intervene and respond to the crisis. This is unacceptable. I sincerely hope you have exercised your rights to hire an attorney separate from that of the GU Administration because the Board’s own integrity is seriously at stake.”  an excerpt from the letter by Ms Farinha Mutti below

October 26, 2006  Dear Board of Trustees,Gallaudet University:

May this correspondence serve as an addendum to my letter sent on October 16, 2006.Attached please find the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Task Force Report, The Leadership Imperative (September 2006).  I believe the expertise and advice provided in the report for Boards of Universities contains the key points necessary for the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees to address the challenge ahead.  The challenge is “in order to support the societal transformation that surely will occur in the coming decades, higher education institutions must demonstrated a renewed commitment to strengthened governance and leadership” (pg. 50).   I am concerned that, due to the recent events at Gallaudet, the damage done by this ongoing crisis has skewed any rationale used by the Board for its decision to approve Dr Fernandes last May.  Your decision five months ago may not be the decision you need to make now.   

My questions for the Board’s consideration are below: Ø      This point forward, does Dr. Fernandes have the right leadership to help Gallaudet recover? The crisis has evolved to point where Leadership is imperative to restore the integrity of this institution. Dr. Fernandes’ integrity has been likewise compromised by this crisis, in addition to the faculty and the students.Ø      Was Dr. Fernandes’ overall personnel file (from date first hired to the present) given to the Board by current President I. King Jordan for review by ALL members of the board prior to deciding her appointment last May and/or prior before signing any contract in order to make an fully informed decision? (Overall personnel file should have included any disciplinary actions and/or letters of complaints that the Board members were not made aware of at the time of the selection was ratified by the Board). Ø      Does Dr. Fernandes possess the kind of leadership skill to handle a hostile work environment?   If she is the result of the hostility, will her appointment perpetuate the problem, rather than resolve it? Will this hostile environment create an increase in the number of students dropping out or withdrawing due to a post-protest traumatic experience?  This needs to be carefully assessed in order to determine the question: “What’s the harm in allowing Dr. Fernandes to carry out her duties for one year?”  

Ø      Does the Board’s vision and mission for Gallaudet’s future match the “Leadership Imperative” charge that is really needed now? A board must clearly convey the responsibilities it expects the President to fulfill, but it also must establish the conditions that generate success.  How successful can you possibly be with the selection you made, being that you certainly have failed to create conditions to end the crisis at hand? If you have answered no to any of the questions above, then the Board needs to vote to end this crisis with a new plan of action involving steps to bring in, new leadership from the outside.   Not only is the question before you concerning the position of the President, but likewise, the acting Chair of the Board who has held the board hostage in moving forward these recent weeks to intervene and respond to the crisis. This is unacceptable. I sincerely hope you have exercised your rights to hire an attorney separate from that of the GU Administration because the Board’s own integrity is seriously at stake.Growing alarmed while the clock ticks…Community-StakeholderEmployer of Gallaudet GraduatesSheri Farinha Mutti, CEO

NorCal
Center on Deafness

4708 Roseville Road, Suite 111

North Highlands, CA95670Email: SFarinha@Norcalcenter.org CC:      U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spelling            U.S. Senator John McCain            U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey            U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein            U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer            Ollie Cantos, Director, Domestic Policy, The White House            Jeff Rosen,
U.S. National Council on Disability            NAD President, Bobbie Beth Scoggins            Hearing loss Association of America, Brenda Battat            CAD President, Richard Ray
California Coalition of Agencies Serving the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Ed Kelly, Chair           NorCal
Center on Deafness, Board of Directors, Angela Lee Foreman, President

            NorCal
Center on Deafness, staff            DHH-CommUNITY.com, Team            FSSA            Steven A. Mutti, Alumni            Ken Kresse, Director,California
Center for the Law & the Deaf
California
State
University, Northridge,

National
Center on Deafness, Director, Roz Rosen            NTID, Vice President, Alan HurwitzAll other Stakeholders of the Gallaudet – Community, Students, Faculty, and Alumni           
Washington Post           
Washington Times

Reprinted with permission by the author

elizabeth gillespie’s e-mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com

BoT Meeting Without Jordan!

As a current president of the university, Jordan has the right to participate in the BoT meetings, though he doesn’t have a voting power. The selection of the new president is supposed to be free of influence by the current president, and yet we have an admission of his interest in working with BoT upon selection of the new president. His participation presents a tremendous conflict of interests.

How can BoT be able to discuss the current crisis with the president on the board,  totally committed to the appointment of Fernandes?

We must object to the continuous involvement of the current president in the BoT meetings so they can discuss this without undue influence of a president violating the policy of the neutrality of the current president.

Please show professionalism and maturity in your e mails

Contact List for BOT

Dr. Brenda Jo Brueggemann, Acting Chair
(614) 268-3555
brueggemann.1@osu.edu

Dr. Cynthia Ashby, Trustee
(404) 656-2596, (404) 651-8507 fax
cashby@doe.k12.ga.us

Susan J. Elliott, Trustee
sjsuz@aol.com

Dr. Tom Humphries, Trustee
thumphries@ucsd.edu

Frank H. Wu, Trustee
frankhwu@wayne.edu

Benjamin K. Soukup, Jr., Trustee
(605) 332-0822
bsoukup@c-s-d.org

Dr. Harvey Goodstein, Trustee
hgoodstein@cox.net
(480) 538-8306

Cheryl Heppner, Trustee
(540) 667-9367
cheppner@nvrc.org

Pamela Holmes, Trustee
Pam.holmes@captelmail.com

Nancy Kelly-Jones, Trustee
Nancy.Kelly-jones@illinois.gov

Richard Kinney, Trustee
lrkinney@wi.rr.com

Pamela Lloyd-Ogoke, Trustee
Pamela.Lloyd@ncmail.net

The Honorable Ray LaHood, Trustee
RayLaHood@RayLaHood.com

The Honorable Lynn Woolsey, Trustee
Email address located at: http://www.woolsey.house.gov/

The Honorable John McCain, Trustee
Email address located at: McCain.senate.gov

elizabeth gillespie’s e-mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com

Let BoT Hear From You!

Explain to them it is the majority of the university who are against Fernandes as a president, not just the students. Use the factual sheet Updated Factual Sheet For Protest

Tell them that the university administrators exhibited a callous disgard for the welfare of its students, even after some were injured by the misconduct of dps, ppds and special cops, even though these actions violated the university policy on staff conduct.

Brentwood Gate Fiasco

?Surprising? The Sleeping Students Pleases Jordan

(jordan’s reaction)

1:30 PM Urgent E-Mail From Gally Professore (from a faculty member)

From A Faculty Witness At MSSD Gate

(from a faculty member)

These are very disturbing (from students)

Chris Corrigan kicked in the groin area (from students)

Ryan, Chris, and Delia Speak Out (from student leaders)

Intimidation

More on Reprisals and Gallaudet-Suzy Rosen Singleton (alumnus)

Please show professionalism and maturity in your e mails 

BoT Contacts:

Dr. Brenda Jo Brueggemann, Acting Chair
(614) 268-3555
brueggemann.1@osu.edu Dr. Cynthia Ashby, Trustee
(404) 656-2596, (404) 651-8507 fax
cashby@doe.k12.ga.usSusan J. Elliott, Trustee
sjsuz@aol.comDr. Tom Humphries, Trustee
thumphries@ucsd.eduFrank H. Wu, Trustee
frankhwu@wayne.eduBenjamin K. Soukup, Jr., Trustee
(605) 332-0822
bsoukup@c-s-d.orgDr. Harvey Goodstein, Trustee
hgoodstein@cox.net
(480) 538-8306

Cheryl Heppner, Trustee
(540) 667-9367
cheppner@nvrc.org

Pamela Holmes, Trustee
Pam.holmes@captelmail.com

Nancy Kelly-Jones, Trustee
Nancy.Kelly-jones@illinois.gov

Richard Kinney, Trustee
lrkinney@wi.rr.com

Pamela Lloyd-Ogoke, Trustee
Pamela.Lloyd@ncmail.net

The Honorable Ray LaHood, Trustee
RayLaHood@RayLaHood.com

The Honorable Lynn Woolsey, Trustee
Email address located at: http://www.woolsey.house.gov/

The Honorable John McCain, Trustee
Email address located at: McCain.senate.gov

Patricia M. Kunkle, Executive Assistant to the President/Board Liaison
Patti.kunkle@gallaudet.edu

elizabeth gillespie’s e mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com

Signs of Halloween

This is the Halloween weekend
When boldness cannot be without;
In this anticipated Halloween weekend,
The queens and kings shall come out
Some fearfully masked in browns
Some showing their bravery crowns
And some exposing their broken spirits
To signal something special at the end.

– Zendun, the Deaf and Dumb

_______________________________________________
GALLYNET-L@gallynet.org
reprinted with permission by the listserv moderator

email contact: mishkazena@aol.com

Gally Recruiter: I Cannot Focus

October 27, 2006

Dear the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees,

    “I can’t focus.”  These are the first words of Ryan Commerson’s letter
to the Gallaudet community on September 17th, 2006, shortly before this
protest was re-ignited on October 2nd.  I am 1,700 miles away in Colorado, and
like Ryan, I can’t focus.
   

The growing Gallaudet protest has struck a chord inside me, it
reminded myself of a familiar feeling. Deja-vu. It was if I had seen this in a
movie before. I just made the connection tonight.  It was the captivation of
the 9/11 tragedies that has striking similarities with the horrible events at
Gallaudet University.  The whole country was numb in shock.  Our eyes were
glued to CNN for four straight weeks.  It was unreal.  America, our home, was
violated.  It was attacked by terrorists.  It was the first time in a long
time that America was united, in feeling the pain and fear together in all
communities across the country and the world.  U.S. Flags and patriotism
started popping up everywhere. It wasn’t until I had arrived at Ground Zero at
the three month anniversary of 9/11 that I was overcome with the enormous
reality of the tragedy. It wasn’t a movie after all. It really happened. I was
inside Ground Zero.
 

   I am feeling the exact same thing right now. I’ve been glued to the
computer screen , checking blogs constantly for updates of the Gallaudet
Protrest.  My entire mind, spirit and body is consumed by the protest.  It is
becoming into the fourth week now. Right now, I am so sick to my stomach in
disgust, I could throw up. This can’t be for real.
Gallaudet is the home of the deaf community worldwide.  It is always open with
welcoming arms to all sorts of deaf people. There is no other place like it.
Where else could one go to fully understand, and be fully understood?  It is
our own special world, a place we call “home”.
    Gallaudet is not just an university. It is a family.  I met my
brothers and sisters, my mothers and fathers, my daughters and sons at
Gallaudet, they are my friends for life.  It is a huge intertwined family,
full of a thousand connections.  What other human population has such a global
network on a personal level?
 

   It is amazing, how our paths cross in the deaf community.  I met Ryan
Commerson when I was 13 years old. He told me about MSSD, and how there were
deaf people there just like me.  I bribed my mother to let me go to MSSD, and
from there, my life changed. Ryan held the door open for me.  To deaf culture
and American Sign Language.  With my “excellent” speech, I could pass as a
hearing person.  I admit, walking into the deaf world was a brutal transition,
not being fluent in ASL.  The challenge was well worth it, I found my world,
where I was welcomed. Where I belonged.  It is a very beautiful world. Thank
you, Ryan.
 

  I couldn’t go back to where I came from. Once you’ve had better, you
can’t accept any less.  I ended up attending Gallaudet, dashing my childhood
dreams of going to Michigan State.  I am not a militant. I met deaf people
from all walks of life.  I even had my own group of hard of hearing friends.
Jane K. Fernandes wants to create a “new order of deaf people.”  She wants
Gallaudet to become inclusive.  Gallaudet IS inclusive. It always has been and
always will be.
After I graduated with my bachelors, I became a recruiter for the Admissions
Office.  I met Noah Beckman when he was a high school junior.  I personally
visited his home in New Jersey and took him out to dinner.  He was a
Gallaudet “must recruit”, he had high SAT scores and a great personality, may
I add.  Who would have known, that he would end up fighting to save Gallaudet
University. You make me proud, Noah.
    Alison Aubrecht is my sorority sister, and when I was researching my
options for graduate schools, she told me about her wonderful experiences with
the Mental Health Counseling program.   Her piece of advice opened my mind to
pursuing a graduate degree at Gallaudet.  It was well worth it, I had an
entirely different experience than during my undergraduate years.  Truly
enriching. Thank you, Alison.  I am also very proud of our great professors in
the Department of Counseling, for making a stand against the abuse from the
Administration.
    It is a very small world. I am connected with these leaders in
different ways. Like how I am with thousands of deaf people from all over the
world.  I spent an entire 10 years of my life at Gallaudet.   When people ask
me where I am from, I say I am from Gallaudet.  Gallaudet gave birth to who I
am now, and opened many doors of opportunities for quite an interesting life.
I am forever connected to Gallaudet.
        Gallaudet is in grave danger. We are not going to let anyone take
Gallaudet away from us.  We will not allow Jane K. Fernandes to become
President of the University.  We are not going to give up our home.
 

      I.K.J., you are an embarrassment.  You have turned your back to us.
In fact, can I now say how I hated your motto, “Deaf people can do anything
but hear”? Of course, everyone knows this. I think this is especially fitting
for you, Irving King Jordan.  You have showed us that you can use your power
as the President of the University to do anything you want, but you just can’t
seem to hear. Hear our desperate cry for help.
    To the Board of Trustees: surely JK’s buyout clause ($800,000 or
however much it is) is a bargain for this crisis to come towards an end.  The
damage has gone much too far for it to be nursed by a band-aid.   Why can’t
you see that we are doing this protest out of our pure love and dedication for
Gallaudet?
  

  The world is watching. The world is waiting.  Waiting in suspense.  I
am not going to sit on the sidelines any longer. I’m not going to sit glued to
the computer screen anymore.  FSSA, I join you in the protest. I have to see
this with my own eyes.   Ryan, I am dropping my comb.  I am dropping my pen.
I am flying to D.C. today.

With much love for Gallaudet,

Jennifer Peterson, U ’01 & G ‘04

Reprinted with permission by the author

email contact: mishkazena@aol.com

ABC7: C.I. Protesters Speak Out

ABC 7 News at 5 pm–WJLA-TV, Washington, DC,
Friday, October 27, 2006, segment began at 5:28 p.m.

KATHLEEN MATTHEWS (anchor): The stand off between students protesters
and administrators takes a new turn at Gallaudet University.

LEON HARRIS (anchor): Tonight, both students who use sign language and
those who have cochlear implants are coming forward in opposition to
Jane Fernandes.

MATTHEWS: The protesters say they are united in their fight and John
Gonzales is live outside Gallaudet with the latest on what those
protests–or where those protests are now headed.  John?

JOHN GONZALES: Well Kathleen, in the past, Dr. Jane Fernandes said that
this protest really has more to do with students discriminating against
other students who use those cochlear devices.  Well today, members of
the deaf community who use that device are joining in on the fight
against the incoming president.

WILLIS MANN (voice of interpreter): There’s no such thing as a “New
Deaf Order.”

GONZALES (pre-recorded): Gallaudet alumni with cochlear implants came
to the school today to prove to Dr. Jane Fernandes that this protest
has nothing to do with the division between those who use the fairly
new technology versus those who don’t.

MANN: With my implant, I’m still accepted in the world of the deaf.

GONZALES: These devices, which were first seen about ten years ago,
connects the brain to the auditory nerve, allowing the deaf to hear
sound.  Dr. Jane Fernandes is a huge proponent.  But these alumni who
use them say there’s no such thing as “not deaf enough.” And they, like
the students and most of the faculty here, want the search process
re-opened.

LEWIS SCHWARZ (voice of interpreter): She has not really acclimated
herself in the deaf community.  I feel like she’s isolated from us.

ALAN SHEFFIELD (voice of interpreter): And I hear Jane Fernandes, you
know, saying that the protest is because she’s not deaf enough, I’m
thinking to myself: How could she say that?  We are the same.

GONZALES (live): Back here live now.  We’re told that this was the
final press conference and march before the entire Board of Trustees
meets in what they’re calling an “emergency meeting” this Sunday.
Faculty members and students tell us this is unprecendented and they
expect something to happen.  Live at Gallaudet University, John
Gonzales, ABC7 News.

email contact: mishkazena@aol.com