Weaknesses of DPS Report
1) the failure of the investigators to get reports from three individuals who said they were assaulted (very significant)
2) the failure of the investigators to find the student who went to the student health services for treatment
3) what happened to that picture of a girl showing ‘irritated skin’ behind her ear allegedly from pepper spray? I haven’t seen any mention of that in the report
4) % of protesters (10) interviewed compared to % of DPS (16) interviewed. They had hundreds of protesters but yet fewer of them interviewed compared to DPS personnel. If one thinks about it, the DPS has only 25 security guards and approximately 1/3 (or less) on shift (following a 24/7 work schedule). Why the discrepancy?
5) Fear of reprisals. Were students reluctant to come forward in fear that they may be penalized for their role in the HMB takeover?
6) let’s not forget the omission on their part in contacting me to see whether I may know the identity of the writer. It is even more relevant as they reported not being able to interview any protesters who may have witnessed the DPS entering HMB…….
These questions popped in my head while I read the report. I may have more questions later. As a scientist, I am trained to analyze reports and I immediately spotted the most obvious flaws.  Frankly, even though this report ‘appears’ to be balanced, I have some concerns about its validity. No matter how I look at this report, I cannot justify the large percentage (above 75 % of the force) of DPS being interviewed with the percentage (less than 4 % of the HMB protesters) of protesters being interviewed.
1) the failure of the investigators to get reports from three individuals who said they were assaulted (very significant)
2) the failure of the investigators to find the student who went to the student health services for treatment
3) what happened to that picture of a girl showing ‘irritated skin’ behind her ear allegedly from pepper spray? I haven’t seen any mention of that in the report
4) % of protesters (10) interviewed compared to % of DPS (16) interviewed. They had hundreds of protesters but yet fewer of them interviewed compared to DPS personnel. If one thinks about it, the DPS has only 25 security guards and approximately 1/3 (or less) on shift (following a 24/7 work schedule). Why the discrepancy?
5) Fear of reprisals. Were students reluctant to come forward in fear that they may be penalized for their role in the HMB takeover?
6) let’s not forget the omission on their part in contacting me to see whether I may know the identity of the writer. It is even more relevant as they reported not being able to interview any protesters who may have witnessed the DPS entering HMB…….
These questions popped in my head while I read the report. I may have more questions later. As a scientist, I am trained to analyze reports and I immediately spotted the most obvious flaws.  Frankly, even though this report ‘appears’ to be balanced, I have some concerns about its validity. No matter how I look at this report, I cannot justify the large percentage (above 75 % of the force) of DPS being interviewed with the percentage (less than 4 % of the HMB protesters) of protesters being interviewed.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
The absence of input from injured students is revealing. They may have been advised by their lawyers not to discuss their cases and may be undertaking action on their own.
Also, the researchers were selected and paid by Gallaudet University. Immediately this makes their objectivity suspect.
Also apparent was the thin research done on the nature of sign language and its being the language of the campus. To deaf people it is everything; but the hearing researchers appear to have discounted its validity, perhaps considering it as a coded form of English.
Is there similar research done in the other incidents at Gallaudet, especially the arrests and the bulldozer incidents? No? Why not?
DPG
January 18th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
The law firm was hired by BoT to investigate the HMB incident prior to the attacks at Brentwood Gate. As of now, there is apparently no active investigation on the Brentwood Gate incident, but that may change with time.
January 19th, 2007 at 12:18 am
Protesters NEVER made an error and they are angels of light. JKF, IKJ and Adm. are evil.
Do you feel better now?