Should Jordan Stay?

Jordan brought Fernandes into Gallaudet University regardless of the objections of the university faculty senate when she was appointed as a provost, without the shared governance of the faculty senate.The university faculty senate’s vote of no confidence was ignored by Jordan. Jordan managed to grant Fernandes tenure without the permission of the faculty senate, resulting in a strong disapproval by the faculty senate. Audism and racism plagued the community and cries for those issues to be addressed were never heeded.

The Gallaudet Community spoke strongly against the appointment of Fernandes and it was ignored. Jordan controlled all correspondence to the BoT as the primary gatekeeper. We’ve received responses from several puzzled BoT members indicating that they have never received some of the correspondence sent through the president’s office.

At the announcement of selection of JK as the presidential appointee, Jordan had the auditorium heavily manned by security guards. When Ryan got up and walked to the front of the audience, Jordan immediately broke away from the BoT group and walked eight or ten feet toward Ryan as Ryan was going to tell the audience they were free to leave if they disagreed with the appointment. Jordan gave a little nod and the security guard trailing Ryan immediately seized him, without signing and roughly escorted Ryan out of the auditorium, where he was frisked, arrested, and placed on persona non grata (png). For what? He was telling the audience they were free to leave, just like Harvey Goodstein did. He didn’t break any laws, but yet he was placed on png for ten days and he had to miss the graduation ceremonies of his girlfriend.

Tent City rose overnight. Jordan argued with the protesters the next day or on the third day. When the protesters remained undeterred, Jordan ordered the police to arrest 100 students. The police refused, saying it was a private matter between the university and its students.

After the appointment of Fernandes, the university faculty senate spoke again when they gave Fernandes another vote of no confidence. Jordan ignored them, too.

Summer break commenced. Jordan issued that infamous Restrictions of Students’ Expressions, designed only to silence the protesters. He proclaimed at the NAD conference that there was no crisis at Gallaudet.

After the Fall semester began, he protest resumed with a small march. Jordan ordered DPS to monitor the students, taking pictures, intimidating the students to the point that some of them covered their heads with paper bags.

Jordan had a building naming ceremony followed up by a gallery naming event with the BoT attending, being deaf to the cries of the protesters. Later that evening, he had a luxurious gala in the midst of the protesters, ignoring their pleas for a dialogue.

In a desperate attempt to be heard, the students locked down HMB overnight. During the day, the FSSA offered the possibility of mediation. Jordan’s response to the offer was an order to tell the security guards to raid HMB the next morning. Students were hurt and terrorized. 

He had the public relations department issue statements that the students weren’t injured and pepper spray never used, both false. He never stopped by to check with the students.

During the weekend he ordered DPS to block the access of media to the students weekend following the lockdown. He denied the access of students to the reporters by withholding interpreters’ services.

Then that infamous Black Friday where the arrests of 134 students was ordered and carried out by his own DPS and rental cops, in darkness, breaking his own promise that any arrests would be done during the daytime so the visual accessibility of the students wouldn’t be hampered.

82% of the faculty, as well as Clerc Center, Student Body Government, Student Congress, Graduate Student Association, GUAA, NAD, parents, and friends calling for Fernandes’ resignation and all were ignored by Jordan.

The hunger strike of some students began and continued for weeks, without a visit from Jordan.

Then the fiasco at Brentwood Gate where he ordered the DPS, PPDs, and rental cops to ambush the students.  Metal pipes and construction wood pieces were thrown onto the tops of tents while the students slept. The DPS and PPDs broke in through the gate, severely lacerated the toe of one graduate student. One student leader was kicked in the groin. Another student’s knee cap was slammed by a metal pipe. There were eight documented injuries and two had to go to the ER. DPS lied to the ambulance workers when they said there were no injuries. DPS refused to offer assistance to the ambulance workers looking for the injured parties. The public relations spokesperson minimized the injuries.

Jordan broke his own promise that students would be notified before DPS interferes again.

What was Jordan’s response?   “Paul Kelly, Jordan, and Fernandes met with the students today, without any representation from the police forces, and announced that there was never any agreement to have the 6th street entrance as the only access point to campus, contrary to the agreement articulated in past public safety meetings.  Jordan then went on to announce that he takes all responsibility for that morning’s situation at the MSSD gate, and that he felt he made a good decision to order the DPS to destroy tents blocking the MSSD gate and ”surprise” the sleeping students, which resulted in eight documented assaults, despite the fact that students were under the impression any change in the status quo would be discussed at meetings as happened at previous public safety meetings.  Jordan made it clear that the gates must reopen and threatened arrests. I fear for the students’ safety.  Stay tuned” said Suzy Rosen Singleton, an alumnus who is also an attorney.

This from a president who was entrusted to protect the welfare and safety of the students of Gallaudet University. Do you want a president who have harmed Gallaudet University so much over the last few months to stay and finish his term?

email contact: mishkazena@aol.com