Response To Dr Bob Johnson’s Open Letter

Hello all,

Dr. Bob Johnson’s letter has really hit the nail and I am simply following up to his comment as to what we can do to change Gallaudet University. This is exactly like a game of chess. The Horse takes the Bishop while the Rook takes the Pawn. We need to go after the Queen and checkmate the King. Hopefully, This will help all of us understand what is really happening….

PSYOPs – Psychological Operations campaign. It is not really a difficult subject to understand, but many try to make it overly complex and in the end failed to understand it at all.

PSYOP basically have two functions. “To Persuade and to Inform.” Persuasion is important. But supplying information is more powerful.

This is a comprehensive effort with several aims: To build protester’s support for their voices being heard, counter Gallaudet PR propaganda, unnerve IJK & JF’s troops, and loosen the Gallaudet Administration resolve to fight

A comprehensive PSYOP campaign with strategic (aimed at IKJ and JK) as well as tactical (aimed primary at BoT) operations should work. Some operation has been done but the protestors are not fully able to utilize this effectively.

First, any political, legal, informational or economics action can be psychological in nature, and therefore part of a strategic PSYOP plan at the national level. Second, any informational action in the peaceful protesters sphere of influence can be psychological in nature as part of the protestor’s PSYOP plan. Third, any protestors action on the theatre of protesting can be part of the tactical PSYOP plan. Really good folks with great psychological minds understand the psychological nature of the theatre of protesting.

This is exactly what we need. There is INFORMATION WAR going on and the protesters, without the advice of the professional PR cannot match the highly paid PR people Gallaudet administrators are getting advice from. Our goal is to not lose the “information war” and we need to do something to make this happen.

This means that a strategic campaign aimed at telling the world why fighting Gallaudet University is not evil but more of shedding out the truth.

Right now, there is two different things happening on Gallaudet Campus. OVERT and COVERT. Overt, done openly and without any attempt at concealment and Covert, not intended to be known, seen, or found out. So far we are seeing the protestors doing the Overt campaigning while we are seeing Gallaudet administrators doing the Covert campaigning. This is not fair. It’s time that we turn the tide over. It’s time for the protestors start thinking of Covert methods. We need to split the plan into two halves.

The goals of PSYOP should be aimed simply at countering the propaganda Gallaudet University administrators are spreading. The PYSOP Deaf Voice Warriors job is to set the record straight. Congress and Public Opinion are vital to the protestors, a carefully constructed group, and so it is a vital that the world know in general, know the truth about why protestors are fighting IKJ and JK as well as the BoT decision..

EX.. Washington Post is the media center, the Gallaudet “Hollywood.” The highly regarded newspaper Washington Post is there, many news and international news organization center get their information from Washington Post. If you want to get words out to the people outside of Gallaudet world – you want to work through them.

The intensive Gallaudet University PR propaganda machine requires countering with factual information that JK in every way a despicable person – a horrific leader who did not care about deaf people, an unjust person, a terrible listener, an untrustworthy administrator and a liar in everything she says. This is not the leader we want to lead us into the next generation.

It is the Deaf Voice Warriors goal to aim to point out these truths and strip JK of support from the world outside and elsewhere. We need to form a cooperative effort out of Washington Post and NPR to counter continuous Gallaudet propaganda.

We need to get words out to the general population (Congress, Parents and others) that noted IJK and JK faulted in their reasoning and justification. We need to find ways to put this out through plays, radio, TV shows, magazines, newspapers and letters to the editors of different newspapers where the Board of Trustee lives or different cities. At the end will be a chorus of Voices (Should I say signs) in all media denouncing Gallaudet University’s administration and Board of Trustee.

We can do it like a political campaign’s media advisor suggesting talking points for Gallaudet protestors and others who would counter Gallaudet propaganda. We can do four or five information points every day or two for leaders of the protestors to use in public interview, press conference, and statement. We can do this twice daily news conference will be held and specifically invite the Post. The participants might even go to the offices of the Post to hold the news conference. This will show that the protestors, faculty, other organization really speak with one mind.

Alumni’s and folks from all over the world can help by writing to their cities plays, radio, TV shows, magazines, newspapers and letters to the editors. This will help generate world opinion on Gallaudet University’s behavior toward the protestors.

It’ll be magic to watch all this unfold. Of course, Deaf Voice Warriors, You will be satisfied with accomplishment because you sure as hell won’t get any recognition. But you would have achieved the PSYOP goals. Let’s turn this around should the BoT still decide to keep JK. This battle can be won easily.

Voices from the Storm,

Byron Bridges

reprinted with permission by the author

email contact: mishkazena@aol.com

We Have “Won”

In this game, we have “won”.  We have to add the quotation marks because
the demands has not been met YET.

Same idea as in football game where Ravens are leading 63-0 over
Steelers in 4th quarter with 5 minutes to go (hey Steelers fan, it is
only an example and you guys won Super Bowl the last time   At that
point, we can say that Ravens have “won” because no team has come back
from down 0-63 in 5 minutes to win the game obviously, but not
officially yet.

In our game between protesters seeking social justice, what is right and
the truth VERUS IrvingBots, JF, IKJ, Jordan admin hell bent on
maintaining the status quo, the game ends when our demands are met. 
There is no time-keeping/timer in this game.

The current score showing that we, the protesters, have routed the
status quo, more like 200-0 in football score terms as we got full
support allover the world, Tent City everywhere, key deaf leaders
writing letters giving support and so forth.

Since the game is not over yet and they give us no mercy so therefore we
continue to run up the score and giving them no mercy at all.

Keep running up the score…  Until demands are met…  No mercy on them…

Only demands are met will the fat lady sings!

We understand when Ryan mentioned that students are exhausted, et al, we
need to prioritize and re-channel our energies into the right cause and
maintain on daily basis to the point where our Freedom of Expression,
Freedom of Speech and the right to speak out becomes part of our daily
life (even when this game is officially over as our demands are finally
being met, we will still be on tap to use our rights and speak out in
the blink of an eye if needed at all the times).  Students, you are all
learning something new everyday by living right into it and you all
interact with faculty, staff and alumni everyday which is priceless into
itself and same time doing the right thing for YOUR best interest, so
nothing is lost in continuing protests.

One idea here is students can start talking with staff members on the
campus about the protest and social justice and ask staff for their
support.  There are 800 staff members on Kendall Green so protesters can
feel free to talk each and every staff members about it.  We know that
admin has put “fear” in campus to the point that staff members are not
willing to protest in public.  However I can assure (I am staff member
myself) that there are so many staff are supporting this protest in big
way, but not in the public way.  So feel free to talk with each and
every staff about this.  I support this protest the big way because it
is obviously the right thing to do and the truth deep down in my heart. 
I always support little people for the right reason.

If BoT is so stubborn and still not listening to us, campus-wide strike
will have a huge impact on BoT and that should make BoT do something to
get rid of status quo once for all and our demands are being met.

That is why it is important for each “public” protesters (fac, students,
alumni, concerned supporters) to talk with each Gally staff and
gathering their support to the point that we can stage campus-wide
strike which I believe will be enough to make BoT do something right to
meet our demands.

Fear only exist in our minds.  You know the phrase “The only thing to
fear is fear itself” which is like one created the “fear” in our mind
which tends to be overblown.    That is part of IKJ’s game plan is to
put MBI/climate of fear into workplace to the point they are like deer
standing in the middle of road in front of incoming headlights.   
Frozen and do nothing…   With growing support for our right cause and
we keep running up the score, giving no mercy on status quo as status
quo keep shooting their footless foot, staff and other people can start
feel more comfortable putting fear aside, compartmentalize it and start
joining public protest and possible stage campus-wide strike against
IrvingBots, JF, IKJ admin et al.  In short, we have “won”, just that the
demands are not met yet.   I have ZERO fear with the current status quo
so should you all.

Time to dump “fear” into trash can and start fighting for the right
thing and the truth.

Keep running up the score…  Until demands are met…  No mercy on them…

Only demands are met will the fat lady sings!

Unity for Gallaudet… Forever!

Jamie Clark, ‘87
Gallaudet Staff member
Network Manager, ITS

GALLYNET-L@gallynet.org

reprinted with permission by the listserv moderator

email contact: mishkazena@aol.com

Update: I Will Go to Campus Today

I will go to campus today and meet with many others today, including Jared, Tayler, Coco, Coyner, Elisa,  Ryan and others!   It’ll be great to see old faces and yet many new faces. This protest have brought all of us, some friends, some virutal strangers, closer together.  No matter what our communication styles, no matter what our ages, we all want to see one thing: Gallaudet to be free from oppression and injustices so it can thrive in the future.

 I’ll stop by at the front gate first, SAC, then to the field house for the rally.  Of course, I’ll bring my camera and capture all the new changes since I was there last Sat.

I was told by several people that the atmosphere is quiet and tense. Let’s hope we will get good news soon.

Update From FSSA Donation Center

Hello there!!

Many people have contacted me requesting information and updates for
donation of supplies to support our protesters here at Gallaudet. First
of all, I’d like to thank everybody for their devoted support and
thoughtfulness deep from their hearts in ensuring that we have what we
needed to survive through the difficult and emotional time at
Gallaudet.

I am posting an update today about the supplies donation because I
needed to let you know that everything is put into hold for a short
time. I am sure you are aware that the BOT will reach a decison about
our current situation, and possibly a major announcement will be made
today. If they decide to remove JK, then there will definitely be a
celebration, in a worst case they might not do anything to improve our
situation and JK is still president, I would hate to think what will
happen.

So, we’re hanging in tight today till we get news from the BOT later
today.

The tent city and the protesters at other gates pretty much have
everything they needed for now. Once things change and the situation is
different, I’ll definitely let you know of any new information about our
supplies.

Many thanks for supporting us!!

Let’s pray we get the result we want from BOT today!

Anybody can contact me for further information regarding this matter by
emailing me at bluesun@tmail.com

Unity For Gallaudet!!!

Jeanine (Gingras) Wiesblatt, student
SBG Director of Projects
Member of Gallaudet Tent City committee

The Petition: Only 2,500 More Signatures to Go!

Since October 17 we got over 3,000 new signatures.  Only about 2,500 more signatures to go.  We need your help to achieve the goal of 10,000+ signatures out of 15,000 Gallaudet alumnus plus our friends, family, neighbors, coworkers and so on.  

Signatures: 7,497

Goal: 10,000

Sponsor: Matthew Lockhard (a concerned stakeholder of Gallaudet University)

Gallaudet University President Search Process

The petition reads:

We, the alumni of Gallaudet University and members of the Deaf community, endorse the following petition:We recognize that the students of Gallaudet University have staged a protest to the process that resulted in the selection of the University’s 9th president. The Student Body Government has issued an official statement with two demands:

1. Have the presidential search process re-opened.

2. No reprisals for students, staff, faculty and alumni.

Over 3,000 new signatures in the last few days, thank you but we still need about 2,500 more signatures.  You’ll see many people you know who have signed the petition.

No, you do NOT need to put down your street address.  Just your name and your hometown, zip code as well as your email address for the verification purposes, that’s all.

Certainly, you can sign as an ANONYMOUS if preferred.  Absolutely!

If you haven’t done yet, please join us in signing the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. Please sign here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/654622934

Please forward this to your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, whoever who support and agree with the aforementioned petition. 

Thank you very much!

UNITY FOR GALLAUDET

The End of a System

We have to destroy this system.

Do you ever wonder if maybe it’s not just the case here that individuals who occupy these positions, these Offices, were corrupt before they occupied them?  Maybe it’s also the case that this system–built as it was and is upon the foundations of colonialsim and the colonial mindet (translation: Masters looking out over Slaves)–automatically sets about corrupting those who were once good and decent individuals.

Of course I’m not going to name names here, or make a direct accusation of any kind against any standing Administrator at Gallaudet.  What I’ve said above is meant in the most general sense, really.  I’ve lost at least one former friend to Administration, plus I find myself unable to become friends with another individual who was formerly an administrator.  I’ve seen–and thus I know–that people undergo changes when they make the transition from Faculty to Administrators (and back).  These changes, in my experience, have not been pleasant–neither to me nor the Administrator undergoing them.

I think that this system was built to maintain power only at the highest levels because the history of the Deaf in America echoes the histories of all minorities once colonized: the relationship between Master and Slave.  I think that prior to 1988 we were slaves to the ideas and ideals of the Hearing.  We were starting to come sharply awake as we approached that year, and then in an explosion of awareness and victory we started to realize who we were and what we could be–all at the same time.  But then we were drawn to sleep again, because we tried to channel all of that newfound, beautiful, enormous energy into the cold, stone passageways of this system.  Gallaudet wasn’t built to foster the growth and development of Deaf Culture–it was built to get deaf people away from hearing people.  Deaf Culture was a side-effect of that original purpose.  These schools were never meant to bring you together and make Deaf people grow together.  They were meant to keep us locked away and invisible.

And that’s why we went to sleep.  This system took on a life of its own–a dark mirror-image to the life we took on as our own during DPN–and  started sucking the energy for creation we discovered back then right out of us.. practically as soon as IKJ officially took office.  What else do you think has driven people to such insane lengths to stop this protest?  It’s the system’s jealous and terrified–albeit delayed–reaction to the euphoria of DPN.  I think this system feels that it failed miserably when the students won in ‘88.  It cannot and will not allow itself to be defeated again.  If the students win one more time, there will be no remanent of the Master.  A whole mindset will have died, and with it any hope the concept of colonialism might have had for a future.

I think that if we destroy this system, we will defeat a powerful force of corruption in and of its own right.  And maybe if we can do that, the people who eventually come to occupy various administrative positions here will take care of themselves.

heuer_chris@hotmail.com

reprinted with permission by the author

email contact: mishkazena@aol.com

Gallaudet Protest on Wikipedia, Free Encyclopedia

Gallaudet United Now Movement – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gallaudet United Now Movement

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	This article may not be compliant with the content policies of Wikipedia. To be compliant, it must be written from a neutral point of view and must not include unverifiable, unsuitable material, or original research.
Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page.

This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

The Unity for Gallaudet Movement is a protest movement started by students, faculty, alumni and sympathizers who do not support the presidency of Dr. Jane Fernandes for Gallaudet University starting Janurary 2007. I. King Jordan, Gallaudet University’s previous president who was brought into the office as a result of the ^[1] Deaf President Now Movement announced his retirement for the end of 2006. His successor was narrowed to three possible candidates – the two that were eliminated were Ronald Stern and Stephen Weiner, leaving Fernandes the presidency. It is alleged by the protestors that Fernandes unpopular,questionable election is a source of campus and community-wide contention and protest.^{[citation needed]}

Contents [hide] 1 Spring Protest 2 Fall Protest 3 October 13, 2006 4 Aftermath 5 External links 6 References

[edit] Spring Protest

On May 1, 2006, Celia May Baldwin, the chairperson of Board of Trustees announced the 9th president of Gallaudet University to be Dr. Jane Fernandes. During the announcement, an uproar erupted from the audience protesting the selection. A few weeks later, Celia May Baldwin resigned from the Board of Trustees citing threats towards her regarding the unpopular selection.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Fall Protest

On Wednesday, Sept 20, 2006 – Gallaudet Student Congress passed a resolution stating that they did not recognize Jane K. Fernandes as the 9th president of Gallaudet University.

Ryan Commerson, Tara Holcomb, LaToya Plummer and Chris Corrigan emerged as student leaders and encouraged the students to speak out about the Dr. Jane Fernandes as the 9th president. Delia Lozano-Martinez and Leah Katz-Hernandez were also FSSA spokespersons. ^{[citation needed]}

On October 1, 2006, Tent City was in the process of being revived by students when they ran into problems. The campus workers had put down a highly concentrated liquid fertilizer called Earth Juice. The administration claimed that the fertilizing was planned months in advance.^{[citation needed]} The next day, October 2nd, 2006, the Tent City was revived to protest the 9th president selection. Eventually the students siezed the Hall Memorial Building (HMB)^[2], and locked it down in order to prevent any classes from resuming and force the university administration to the negotiation table.

On October 6, 2006, officers from the Department of Public Safety raided the Hall Memorial Building in hopes of dispelling the lockdown. Later on, the students have alleged that the officers assaulted several students. ^{[citation needed]} I. King Jordan has ordered an independent investigation. ^[3]

On Thursday, October 12, 2006 ^[4], tensions escalated between the Gallaudet University administration and students to the point where police was called in to arrest the students.

[edit] October 13, 2006

Tim Rarus, one of the 1988 Deaf President Now leaders, was one of 133 people arrested at Gallaudet University on Black Friday (10/13/2006) as ordered by I. King Jordan. Just before he was arrested, he shouted “I helped put you in office, now you’re arresting me!”. ^[5]

[edit] Aftermath

Next day, the group swelled from 300 to nearly 1,000. Gallaudet alumni flew in to help the students. Tom Holcomb, a leader of alumni, flew in earlier the week to help out with the protest and organized shifts in order to give the students some rest.^{[citation needed]}

National Association of the Deaf’s president Bobbie Beth Scoggins of Kentucky cut her Cabo San Lucas vacation short and flew in to declare NAD’s support of the students’ demands.^[6]

On October 16, 2006, There was a faculty meeting and there are 221 eligible voting faculty members at Gallaudet University; 168 are present at this meeting, representing 76% of eligible voting faculty, which was the largest attendance ever.^{[citation needed]}

On October 19, 2006, Washington Post reported that “[o]f the 20 trustees, three of whom are members of Congress, perhaps as many as seven do not support Fernandes becoming president”. ^[7]

On October 21, 2006, more than 4,000 people from around the nation attended the march to the capitol. [1][2]

 [edit] External links

• Gallaudet University’s Faculty Staff Students Alumni Coalition
• Sign Cast
• Photos from ‘Black Friday’
• Kenneth G. Samson protest pictures
• Deafweekly
• Tent Cities across the World
• Michelle McAuliffe’s Gallery of May protest
• Unity for Gallaudet Photos – Jeff Fredrickson
• T and J Ferguson Photos

[edit] References

1. ^ DEAF PRESIDENT NOW ANNIVERSARY. Gallaudet University. Gallaudet University (2003-03-13). Retrieved on 2006-10-16.
2. ^ Ward, Derrick. “Protesting Gallaudet Students Offer Deal To Administration“, MSNBC, MSNBC, 2006-10-10. Retrieved on 2006-10-16.
3. ^ Coogan, Mercy (2006-10-13). Eric Holder to Lead Investigation into Alleged Use of Excessive Force by Gallaudet Officers. Gallaudet University. Gallaudet University. Retrieved on 2006-10-16.
4. ^ “Student Standoff Continues At Gallaudet“, MSNBC, MSNBC, 2006-10-13. Retrieved on 2006-10-16.
5. ^ Kinzie, Susan, Otto,Mary. “Gallaudet Reopens With Protesters Still At Front Gates: Jordan Is Criticized For Approving Arrests“, The Washington Post, The Washington Post, 2006-10-15, pp. A01. Retrieved on 2006-10-16.
6. ^ de Vise, Daniel. “Deaf Advocate Blasts Arrests“, The Washington Post, The Washington Post, 2006-10-16, pp. B01. Retrieved on 2006-10-16.
7. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/18/AR2006101802035.html

International Workers Unfairly Treated At Gally?

As a clarification, I would like to add that all international
employees possessed temporary work permits, as far as
I know, therefore their employment was and is completely
legal. (Their family members were severely restricted though
and could not obtain job at any U.S. workplace.) The problem
was about the permanent permission which should have been
obtained. But it was substituted indefinitely with temporary
permits over and over again.

Probably, the work pemission situation was not illegal, but it was
socially unjust toward those involved. The policy that was in
effect and was maintained by the Ferrnandes administration for
years, may even raise the issue of violating equal opportunity and
possible discrimination based on national origin. Was equal
opportunity hurt by claiming that international faculty must get
tenure before the university would help with the permanent work
permission? Or was this an outright discriminatory practice?
There are strong arguments that yes it was.

Is it not discriminatory that the Faculty Handbook effectively
prevents international faculty from obtaining permanent work permit
during the first 3 years of employment? Check the corresponding
paragraph in the Faculty Handbook, please. What is the reason
behind this policy, other than placing undue pressure on the
faculty member? It is a tool of oppression and MBI practice in
the hands of the administration!! Evidence suggests that Jane
Fernandes as Provost herself insisted that this paragraph should
be included in the Guidelines with this unreasonable restriction.
This policy is a shame on the public image of Gallaudet University,
and is a clear evidence of Fernandes’ MBI practices.

Zoltan Szekely, Ph.D

Reprinted with permission by the author

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

Hyatt Dinner and BoT

  The press conference was a huge success…thanks to Tim Rarus for being MC and for all who made this a successful and visible venture on a windy afternoon.   There were 10 BOT members there tonight at the Hyatt…… Harvey Goodstein. Ben Soukup, Tom Humphries, Pamela Lloyd, Pam Holmes, Nancy Kelly Jones, Ken Levinson, Ben Soukup, Bill Grahamn.

     Most all of them chatted with us either before or after dinner…our tables were just next to their tables set off in a private dining room. The artist Jonas went into their room with his beautiful art piece of hands in unity made with thumb prints and each BOT member contributed their thumb print to this ongoing work of art.  The art piece will be brought to the field house tomorrow for more additions.

Hat tip to someone who prefers to be anonymous

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

Rally at 4pm: Field House

I asked about the  rally to Dulles Hyatt being planned today as discussed yesterday, but the source said he doesn’t think there would be one again toay. I’ll keep you posted.

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