NPR Jordan Interview: Update
 Jordan: Fernandes Was ‘Outstanding Prospect’
Jacques Coughlin/NPR
Outgoing Gallaudet President I. King Jordan in NPR’s Washington studios.
Talk of the Nation, November 29, 2006 · I. King Jordan, outgoing president of Gallaudet University, the world’s only university dedicated to deaf and hard of hearing students, spoke in his first interview since the protests that locked down the school’s campus for nearly one month.
Jordan discussed the controversy over his appointed successor, Jane Fernandes, that led to the protests.
“The target, if you will, for the protest was changing all the time,” Jordan said. “It seemed to be against something instead of a protest for a reason or a cause. It was against an individual, and that’s why it was so divisive.”
One of the complaints voiced by student protesters was that Jordan groomed his successor and that the process of selecting a president wasn’t truly open.
Jordan disagreed with that view.
“I’m very proud that I was her mentor,” Jordan said. “She was an outstanding prospect and she was very highly qualified to be a president. I regret she wasn’t given the chance.”
Jordan also discussed his legacy as the first deaf president of the institution and the issues facing the deaf community today including technological advancements such as cochlear implants and digital hearing aids.
                             ###################################################
You can ask Jordan questions from 2-3 p.m. by e-mailing talk@npr.org or by calling (800)989-TALK.
I. King Jordan on the Future of Deaf Education
Audio for this story will be available at approx. 6:00 p.m. ET
Â
Outgoing Gallaudet President I. King Jordan was the first deaf president of the institution.
View Live Captioning
The deaf community can follow and participate in the discussion through LIVE captioning from 2 to 4 p.m. ET. The captions will appear via the RealPlayer or Windows Media Player software.
Free Transcripts
A transcript of the program will be made available at approximately 4 p.m. However, as a rule, NPR makes transcripts of all our programs available upon request to the deaf or hard of hearing free of charge.
Talk of the Nation, November 29, 2006 · I. King Jordan, outgoing president of Gallaudet University, the world’s only university dedicated to deaf and hard of hearing students, speaks in his first interview since the protests that locked down the school’s campus for nearly one month.
Jordan will discuss the controversy over his appointed successor that led to these protests, his legacy as the first deaf president of the institution and the issues facing the deaf community today including technological advancements such as cochlear implants and digital hearing aids.
The deaf and hard of hearing community will be able to follow the discussion with Talk of the Nation host Neal Conan in real-time through live captioning to be made available during the live broadcast at 2-4 p.m. E.T.
The audience can ask Jordan questions from 2-3 p.m. by e-mailing talk@npr.org or by calling (800)989-TALK.
Related NPR Stories
Oct. 12, 2006
As Deaf Culture Changes, So Do the Questions
E-mail this Page
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6551118
 Jordan: Fernandes Was ‘Outstanding Prospect’
Jacques Coughlin/NPR
Outgoing Gallaudet President I. King Jordan in NPR’s Washington studios.
Talk of the Nation, November 29, 2006 · I. King Jordan, outgoing president of Gallaudet University, the world’s only university dedicated to deaf and hard of hearing students, spoke in his first interview since the protests that locked down the school’s campus for nearly one month.
Jordan discussed the controversy over his appointed successor, Jane Fernandes, that led to the protests.
“The target, if you will, for the protest was changing all the time,” Jordan said. “It seemed to be against something instead of a protest for a reason or a cause. It was against an individual, and that’s why it was so divisive.”
One of the complaints voiced by student protesters was that Jordan groomed his successor and that the process of selecting a president wasn’t truly open.
Jordan disagreed with that view.
“I’m very proud that I was her mentor,” Jordan said. “She was an outstanding prospect and she was very highly qualified to be a president. I regret she wasn’t given the chance.”
Jordan also discussed his legacy as the first deaf president of the institution and the issues facing the deaf community today including technological advancements such as cochlear implants and digital hearing aids.
                             ###################################################
You can ask Jordan questions from 2-3 p.m. by e-mailing talk@npr.org or by calling (800)989-TALK.
I. King Jordan on the Future of Deaf Education
Audio for this story will be available at approx. 6:00 p.m. ET
Â
Outgoing Gallaudet President I. King Jordan was the first deaf president of the institution.
View Live Captioning
The deaf community can follow and participate in the discussion through LIVE captioning from 2 to 4 p.m. ET. The captions will appear via the RealPlayer or Windows Media Player software.
Free Transcripts
A transcript of the program will be made available at approximately 4 p.m. However, as a rule, NPR makes transcripts of all our programs available upon request to the deaf or hard of hearing free of charge.
Talk of the Nation, November 29, 2006 · I. King Jordan, outgoing president of Gallaudet University, the world’s only university dedicated to deaf and hard of hearing students, speaks in his first interview since the protests that locked down the school’s campus for nearly one month.
Jordan will discuss the controversy over his appointed successor that led to these protests, his legacy as the first deaf president of the institution and the issues facing the deaf community today including technological advancements such as cochlear implants and digital hearing aids.
The deaf and hard of hearing community will be able to follow the discussion with Talk of the Nation host Neal Conan in real-time through live captioning to be made available during the live broadcast at 2-4 p.m. E.T.
The audience can ask Jordan questions from 2-3 p.m. by e-mailing talk@npr.org or by calling (800)989-TALK.
Related NPR Stories
Oct. 12, 2006
As Deaf Culture Changes, So Do the Questions
E-mail this Page
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6551118
November 30th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
I listened to the radio with the help of the interpreter… then I read the script. What s wrong with Irving? Emperor without clothes? He is no longer a big part of the legacy. He was not honest with the public. He was not honest with the protesters. He wont see them at all. He controlled the BOT. He controlled the campus. He has so much power. He has destroyed some deaf people’s lives. The worst part is that he is coming back in a year. I am hoping that he will stay away from the campus. We need to start the healing process.. Depend on BOT’s decision on Dec 9th where they will vote to delete the reprisals against the protesters. There are many letters from the organizations expecially the Parents of Students.. asking them to stop punishing the protesters and move on with clean records. Jordan is the main reason the protesters had to shutdown the gates. Jordan and the BOT wont meet with the protesters. That was the main reason they stopped the campus to get their attentions. Now, they wanted to have the last laugh against the protesters. I know many of us feel that way about Jordan in spite of 18 years. He has hurt us in many ways over the years. The truth will be here soon only if the people keep pushing for investigation: missing millions dollars, Dictatorship, Power Abusive, Favorable, Intimidation, Rubberstamp Bot, Lower Graduation rates, Security and Faculty with limited Sign Skills, Dblind Inaccessible,.. I could type more. Do we need Jordan to come back after LOA for a year? NO! He can be the ambassador to Gally as long as he stays out of the politics or influences. Let us clean up the mess first. Jordan said he won’t look back. He wanted to move on. That’s dangerous to move on without cleaning the mess. First delete the reprisals, demand some changes on the campus. Then we can start our healing process. Thanks!