Leave Jane Fernandes Alone
Well, actually, let me qualify that statement (from my previous post, where I said “I agree”).
Even though IKJ has encouraged us to put down our “weapons of words” and begin healing, articles from the AP continue to roll in every day stating that the protestors ousted JKF because she’s not “deaf enough.”
It’s kind of hard to say, “no, that had nothing to do with it,” yet at the same time not give alternative reasons for why she was ousted. If we lived in a world where the Press had gotten this right in the first place, I’d immediately say, “yes, leave JKF alone now.” But we don’t live in that world, and we have a right to defend ourselves (not just as protestors, but as a people) and continue to tell our side of the story. That’s the only way we’re ever going to start undoing the enormous damage to Deaf Culture caused by Gallaudet’s PR Department.
And the following message is for that very same PR Department:
Don’t tell me ”we didn’t spin anything… we pushed it.” There’s no difference. You seized upon something that wasn’t the major issue and you turned it into one of the major issues so that you could distract and detract from what actually were the major issues. If you were an outside PR firm I wouldn’t be surprised, but you aren’t–you’re Gallaudet’s PR firm, and to that extent, you are supposed to be for deaf people too, and not just for administration. Maybe it doesn’t say that in the accursed A and O Manual… maybe it doesn’t say that in your job descriptions, but I offer you the same argument that I’ve often given to Deaf Ed teachers whom I’ve thought over the years were not making the grade: you can go anywhere. You could become PR reps for Big Tobacco (and I dare say you’d do a damned fine job) or something like that. But if you’re here, then you’re first love should be for deaf people, and not Administration.!
If you’re here solely to push the official positions of the Administration, and that Administration is at odds with what the people want, then you’re the enemy. Don’t expect them to trust you now, or work to defend you or keep you around. And from now on, every time that you write “Mecca” in yet another one of your fake PR creations, you remember that it was you who destroyed the Mecca in the first place. Because a lot of people here honestly had no problem with JKF being “deaf enough,” but you screwed us all over, possibly for the rest of our lives. What am I going to do now, if I go out looking for a job and my potential future employer says “Oh, I’ve heard of you, you’re one of those Deaf Culture militant nuts.” Thank you very much–you just cost me the job that could’ve been mine. And God forbid someday we’ll all have to stand up and protest genetic engineering before it wipes us out… you just dangerously weakened our ability to do that, because once again, the press, and through them the public, will perceive us as a lunatic militant fringe group.
Should that ever happen, so far as I’m concerned, it’s on your shoulders.
Enjoy your career.
Chris Heure
Reprinted with permission by the author
Posted at GallyNet-L
email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
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I can only say that the press can read and do research. If you hadn’t attacked JKF with everything you had it would not have been percieved by the world as this.
From day one the threats, comments and personal assassination agaist JKF on the blogs flowed. They did not start with the fact she was a poor leader.
You attacked one of your very own by telling the world she is not part of the Deaf Community and this is how it was percieved by the press. If this was never done they would have had no ammo. Perhaps you wouldn’t have had a protest as well. If there were no comments as unbelievable as they were made by the protesters the press would have had a field day against JKF for making the comments she made. The problem is it is all logged on the blogs and all they have to do is look it up.
JKF has been and will always be a part of my deaf community regardless of the gross comments made by the protesters.
You Reep What You Sow – the saying goes.
If you can’t find a job you can only blame yourselves.
I wasn’t even there at the beginning, so you cannot accuse me of claiming that Fernandes is Not Deaf Enough. A lot of faculty members with oral background emphasized that she doesn’t have the leadership qualities necessary to run a reowned university. Many hearing faculty also stated the same thing, over and over like a broken record. Fernandes knew but used it to sway the media from the real issues.
Believe me, if it is really over “Not Deaf Enough” I won’t be involved in the protest at all, since I had exact the same oral background Fernandes had.
And the reason why the media heard her and not the students was the fact that Gallaudet refused to let its staff interpreters facilitate the communication between the students and the reporters. Taking advantage of the students’ deafness to silence them and making the playing field so uneven while having the PR media going full blast. How despicable is that, especially considering that she is deaf, too? It is also against the ADA, Section 504, and violates the university statement of open communication.
Thanks to Fernandes, she had created extensive damage to the image of Gallaudet University. So much for her claims she cares so much about Gallaudet University. Yes, she was willing to drive it into the ground. Fortunately the BoT finally saw the light and realized they must interfere to save Gallaudet.
Read the comments you and the other protesters wrote. That’s all I ask. The answer to your own question can be answered by simply reviewing the blogs. Including your blog. The protest against her leadership is one thing. It is the mud that was slung out about her personal experience as a deaf person that the press and the reat of the world picked up on. Comments like she is an Audist just don’t fly against a woman who is Deaf and has in the past fought for the rights of the deaf fiercly. She certainly doesn’t believe her deaf friends are somehow inferior.
It is very obvious you will never take any blame or responsibility for some of the comments made. That is your right. It is not helping anyone by blaming JKF for everything that this protest has brought out.
To not admit the protesters share some blame in this is just naive at best.
The media heard the students side just as they did JKF’s. They figured it out for themselves.
MZ you may not feel it is about “Not Being Deaf Enough” to the contrary alot of the protesters put this message out.
JKF hasn’t talked to anyone in the media since the termination but somehow you keep saying she is manipulting the press.
She is gone. How long will you blame her for the problems at Gallaudet.
If Gallaudet is such a world renowned institution then what was the problem? It may be it is only world renowned because of the instatbilty that arises every time a new pres. has to be announced.
You seem to harp on the fact that JKF singlehandedly hijacked Gallaudet to ruin it. Think of what you are saying for one minute and stop blaming everyone and anything for your disablity. JKF never blamed anyone because she was Deaf. She moved ahead positively. You should do the same. You may find the serenity you have longed for.
I identified with Chris’ feelings. It made me very angry that the GU PR office was willing to use such a weapon against the protesters. A lot of deaf people have really worked hard to earn respect and equality in this world, and with one phrase, they made us all look like simpering idiots.
It was clear to me that the PR office was more interested in saving their butts than protecting the students and faculty at Gallaudet University.
Are you denying that deaf people are incapable of being audistic? Oh, sure there has been documented cases of deaf people’s preferential treatment of certain subgroup of the deaf community, for example, favoring deaf people with similar backgrounds and looking down on the deaf people with no oral background.
There will always be individuals who feel that other people are too deaf or not deaf enough. I agree. However, this is not the reason behind the protest, as repeatedly stated by the FSSA and for Fernandes, Jordan, and the public relations to imply otherwise is downright unethical and unprofessional.
From what I’ve been told by the majority of Gallaudet stakeholders, Fernandes have ruled with an iron fist, rubbing off students, faculty and staff. If she had fought so hard for the rights of the deaf, why was she rejected as a leader? Because she wasn’t a suitable leader. She is not as innocent as you made her seem. Recently she found out that she reaped what she sowed.
Certainly I will not take the responsibility for the comments made by others. Why would I? I didn’t make them. Would you take responsibility? I don’t think so, either.
More media are starting to realize that they were swayed by the public relations department. Even NY Times and Nightline covered the real issues. You claimed that Fernandes have been quiet since she resigned. That is true. However, she left a legacy that is still being promoted by the public relations and Jordan. If she wants to be left alone, perhaps she should take care of the legacy and tell the public relations dept to cease so everybody, including her, can heal. It will take a long time for Gallaudet to heal from the damaged inflicted by Fernandes the last eleven years. She doesn’t single-handedly caused all the problems, of course not. However she made a significant contribution by not only letting the oppression continue, but actually promoting it, too. This was why the majority of the faculty and staff asked her for resignation. It had nothing to do with her being “Not Deaf Enough”
I totally agree with Mishka on #5. The PR dept really took Gally down. I am still explaining to hearing people what the hell the protest was all about. Fernades knew exactly what she was doing with her “not deaf enough” stance. It sickens me.
Hey, let’s ask the BOT, as a body, to give their reason, to the press, why JF was terminated. They woudn’t dare play the “not deaf enough” card!
Being married to a hearing person has NOTHING to do with her leadership abilities.
After you, the protesters started the basis for the “NOT DEAF ENOUGH CAMPIAGN” why are you now denying relentlessly.
I have your answer, You don’t want to admit you sabotaged the same community you claim to embrace.
good morning, jim.
Of course not. Why would being married to a hearing person has anything to do with her leadership abilities? I know many deaf leaders who are married to hearing spouses and they are good leaders. Leadership isn’t proven by the degree of their deaf identity nor their involvement of deaf community outside of the university, not for me.
Good Morning MZ,
You tell me why these statements were made during a protest that was supposed to be about leadership.
This statement and statement like these were made by your protesters. That is the reason why the media has come to the conclusion on their own that this was about “Not Being Deaf Enough”. These statements from you and your protesters prove to everyone that it was not about her leadership skills. Statements through the whole protest include the fact that she isn’t fluent in Asl, She isn’t part of the deaf community etc.
Now, you want to put the blame on JKF for the message that you sent out.
You have no one to blame but yourself!
Get Over IT!
The student who made this remark does not represent FSSA and the majority of the protesters, which you seem not to comprehend. Despite protests from the FSSA which represents Unity For Gallaudet, Fernandes conveniently took this as the mantra, with deliberate disregard of the damage this mantra will inflect on Gallaudet University, the school she professes to show great love. She proved with her actions that she was very willing to destroy the institution she “loves” for her personal gains, as richly illustrated by the King Solomon and Two Mothers fighting over the baby they loved. This is yet another proof why she cannot be entrusted to be the president.
I find it very interesting that you are so obsessed with this “Not Deaf Enough”. It must be really personal to you, if you keep going on it repeatedly. However, the media are starting to hear the truth, whether you like it or not.
I suggest that you get over it, too.
The whole alleged issue of “not deaf enough” was actually settled and put to rest way back in 1965 when the Babbidge committee wrote its report to the US Federal Government about deaf education in America.
QUOTE (from the Babbidge report):
“Those who favor the employment of the manual method are less likely to be purists. In fact, in the course of hundreds of conversations by the staff [of the committee] not a single person [in the field of deaf education in the United States] was encountered who did not agree with the desirability of oral instruction for young deaf children. [page xxix in introduction]”
UNQUOTE
In other words *every single deaf person* (and others) they interviewed who was a teacher, said that, yes, it’s good to give deaf students *some* training in speaking and lipreading. Even Edward Miner Gallaudet said this in the 1800’s.
Why not? Speaking and lipreading are skills that can help.
The real question is a question of priorities. Speaking and lipreading should not be on the high priority list for children born deaf. It should be lower on the priority list. More important is native fluency in a language, and in America that means ASL. Also, fluency is reading and writing English is much more important for deaf students than speaking and lipreading. Also, the academic subjects such as math, history, etc., should be higher on the priority list.
Here is the Babbidge report (Please be patient when downloading):
http://www.gallyprotest.org/babbidge_committee_report_1965.pdf
Please keep in mind, this is a horrible report in many ways. It was written from the medical-pathological point of view and it represents audism in the extreme. Yet, they are honest enough to say that it is the *oralists* are the “purists” (i.e., fanatics) and that the deaf educators (and others) who favor sign language are very reasonable people.
That’s the end of “not deaf enough.” That issue was already dead in 1965!
It comes to my thought, what if Pro-Jane Fernandes supporters attacked JKF’s bad name to put the blame on us and the protesters???
yoo hoo, [waving my arm] ,scuse me, Jim, can i say something?
i have something to say about your comment (#11). I cannot help but think that you, Jim, are stuck with your beliefs. Yes, you have a right to express, however, I agree with MZ that you do need to get over it. JKF is probably part of the Deaf culture, has many deaf friends. She probably feels connected to being a deaf individual. BUT she has proven over and over that she is not capable of leading Gallaudet as a president. Look at her history at Clerc Center and as a provost. I have read enough about how she treated the students during the murders of 2 Gallaudet students. She was not caring, warm, concerned of the wellbeings of the students. She may be warm to the family of murdered students. she may be limited in her capabilities to be able to open her arms to EVERYONE involved in the murders. At Clerc Center, she blasted at one very upset parent, yelled at her to go ahead take your child out and go back to the county! Hello! JKF is a parent and she should be more understanding, caring and be concerned.
I have heard enough of her dismal reputation. But, Jim, there are oppression, audism, and denial involved. Audism is what JKF has. Audism is very damaging to many Deaf people. I experience Audism almost daily since I work in a hearing workplace. When i call via relay, i experience it.
Oppression, audism, and denial is a dangerous combination anyone can have. When someone is oppressed as a child, as an adult, you either recognize it, or deny it. Oppression is very common within Deaf community. You either oppress others, allow others oppress you, or break the cycle of oppression. Denial comes in the picture unless we face the truth of oppression and break the cycle. Oppressed people can be audists.
soooo Jim, are you an oppressor, oppressed by others, or in denial? JKF is an oppressor and audist. Have you ever thought of this. When you write comments like above, are you aware that you are trying to oppress us? Please evaluate yourself. Hopefully you can stop oppressing others or not allow others oppress you.