“People of the Eye

Teaching Load for IKJ, JKF, and KK at Gallaudet for this Spring 2008

Karen Kimmel
ENG 442 Major Author, Lucille Clifton

Jane Fernandes
2 sections of Deaf Studies 101 classes and possible grad. course

IK Jordan
PSY 495 (special topic)
PSY 795 (special topic)

Fall 2007 - assistant instructor for scuba evening class

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NOTE: while kimmel and jordan have degrees in the areas they will be teaching - Fernandes degrees are in Comparative Literature
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Knowledge is Power

Again, i do not support aggression or upheaval* - any discontent with these instructors teaching their assigned subject matter at Gallaudet should be voiced via peaceful methods - petitions, “sit-ins,” etc

I am comfortable with them teaching this spring - if they can respond to the community on their present position re: their role in representing Deaf culture, ASL, and student rights to the public via the media, conference presentations, and or lawsuits.

If they have changed their anti-ASL and anti-Deaf culture positions (as of two weeks ago for JKF re: comments in Chronicles of Higher education), I would gladly like to know of this and I would happily accept their word.

I invite Dr. Jordan, Dr. Fernandes, and Dr. Kimmel to post a written statement with a short vlog (to verify they do endorse the statement and it is not some rouge document).

for all of us - i want to caution us against extremism.

On one extreme - we have folks preaching passivity and apathy - “do nothing, leave it alone, I dont have enough information, and the all time favorite, I’m NEUTRAL)

on the other extreme - we have folks preaching aggression and hostility towards these professors. *(i got an email after this post went up objecting to my portraying the protestors as being aggressive and causing disorder etc - i want to apologize for any wrong impression this original posting may have caused. When i caution us against aggression and hostility and disorder - i am not speaking of the protestors actions - i am referring to some comments posted in various blogs that i have seen over the past year - perhaps i should just ignore such postings but i think it is very important for us to think carefully on how we represent ourselves and our goals. I have seen character assassinations, I have seen calls for banning books, I have seen name calling, I have seen comment advocating for people to throw tomatoes, destroy property etc. Im just not cool with that even if its just a careless and uncaring anonymous blogger or respondent - it is printed and in the public view and seeps into our collective consciousness. an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind

i commend the protestors - i honor the protestors - i hope i have made that clear in my past and current writings. When i was at gally after black friday and the protestors lined up to greet faculty and staff driving in from the 6th street entrance - encouraging them to vote no confidence - the car Jane Fernandes’ was in was surrounded by protestors - taking pictures some chanting at her “you are not the one” many simply signing “resign, resign, resign” it was a very confrontational moment. It was the STUDENT protestors who motioned for all the protestors to move back and let the car proceed. I was very impressed with that and many many many other tense situations in which the student protestors took the high ground

now back to the extremes of “DO NOTHING” AND “BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY”

let us join these extremes together to come to the middle - we do not ask for anything but the truth and the best. If they are to remain teaching at Gallaudet - may they be assigned to the best suited courses for them that reflects an academically sound understanding of the field in which they are teaching.

If they have been misquoted or misunderstood, or have come to a new understanding of their role in harming the Deaf community and ASL, let them please share that with us.

If they choose to do nothing and keep the course that is presently plotted out - so be it. We can continue to record our discontent peacefully and positively. their choice of action is not as important as our own. we are only responsible for ourselves. if we choose to do nothing - we are part of the problem. if we choose to do harm - we are part of the problem.

Let us move forward positively and lovingly. “there is no way to peace, peace is the way” M. Gandhi

Peace,

Patti Durr

May 2, 2007 Dr. Karen Kimmel filed a lawsuit against Gallaudet University

To see the full lawsuit go to: http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2007/06/06/kimmel-lawsuit-not-deaf-enough)

Below is an examination of some of the claims and statements in this suit.

I apologize for the capitalization of my comments - I don’t mean to be screaming even if I do feel very emotional when reading the lawsuit - i am capitalizing to help distinguish my commentary from the lawsuit excerpts.

I also want to state that I care very much for Dr. Kimmel - I used to work with her while she was teaching English at NTID/RIT. I consider her a friend. I was shocked and dismayed when I read the lawsuit via Miskha Zena’s website and then tried to push it out of my mind as I felt helpless and hurt.

I know that Gallaudet quickly filed a petition for dismissal of the lawsuit (see Miskha Zena’s site) but i do not know of the outcome. If the court did in fact dismiss the case, if it went to court, if Gallaudet settled out of court????

Maybe someone can post the outcome of this lawsuit.

Regardless of the outcome, the statements made in the lawsuit are very upsetting and disheartening to me. I feel like ASL and Deaf culture and Deaf people in general are being defamed via very powerful mechanicism - the media and the legal system. When I learned of Dr. Kimmel’s return to teach at Gallaudet U. I was totally baffled given the statements below.

This is why I post this - to counter-balance the statements and to put our dissent on the record.

I do not do so to stir up trouble or to encourage people to treat Dr. Kimmel disrespectfully. I do so in the quest for us to be informed citizens that we may seek truth and justice peacefully.

Excerpts from the lawsuit

9. Capitalizing the word deaf (Deaf) signifies a culture rather than the physical condition of hearing loss. Currently, ideas of what constitutes Deaf Culture concern a specific and, some would say, narrow view of what is deemed acceptable. The argument is that any deaf person can become Deaf by embracing certain ideas and practices which themselves create exculsio, hierarchy and discrimination. For example, Deaf culture supports use only of ASL, which is used primarily by white, Deaf middle-class people. Deaf Culture also rejects the notion of deafness as a disability and embraces the idea of Deaf peop;le as an oppressed minority. Deaf Culture values only native ASL signers, particularly Deaf offspring of Deaf parents, as the elite members of this culture, and many Deaf individuals therefore socialize primarily, or even exclusively, only with others who share these culturally biased and discriminatory views. While the view that an individual can be “not Deaf enough” is a large part of the opposition that exists at Gallaudet University, this is only part of the Deaf Cultural view and tribal nature that contribute to an unpleasant workplace. Those who are members of this group do not accept or fully recognize the authority of an abstract, hierarchial institution that is a typical university. Thus, difficult decisions are always seen as unfair and people feel entitled to criticize and take revenge for any perceived slight or disappointment. This aspect for Gallaudet’s culture has its roots in the social structure of Deaf Culture’s tribal, personal relations, where people pay dues by demonstrating allegiance to Deaf Culture values.

FACT #1:
NOTHING IN THE ABOVE DEFINITION OF DEAF CULTURE IS ACADEMICALLY SOUND. NUMEROUS SCHOLARS HAVE PUBLISHED BOOKS AND JOURNAL ARTICLES ON DEAF CULTURE AND NONE OF THEM HAVE SAID THAT DEAF CULTURE IS:
A “NARROW VIEW” THAT “PROMOTES EXCLUSION, HIEARCHY, AND DISCRIMINATION” (SEE LANE, HOFFEMEISTER, BAHAN, PADDEN, HUMPHRIES, BAUMAN, BAYNTON, VAN CLEVE, CROUCH, LADD, ETC)

FACT #2:
THE LAWSUIT ALSO DESCRIBES ASL TO BE A LANGUAGE OF WHITE, MIDDLE CLASS DEAF PEOPLE. WHOA, WHAT LANGUAGE DO AFRICAN AMERICANS, NATIVE AMERICAN, JEWISH AMERICAN, ASIAN AMERICAN DEAF FOLKS USE???? WHILE I REALIZE THERE ARE ETHNIC VARIATIONS OF ASL – IF U READ THE LAWSUIT IN FULL , IT SEEMS TO BE CLAIMING THAT LOWER INCOME, AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE ORAL AND NON-ASL USERS.

IF JK FERNANDES, IK JORDAN AND KAREN KIMMEL ARE ALL DEAF, AND EACH WHITE, AND EACH MIDDLE CLASS IF NOT UPPER CLASS, DO THEY THEMSELVES NOT FIT INTO THIS STEREOTYPE THE LAWSUIT IS TRYING TO PROPOGATE – EXCLUSIONARY ASL USERS?

FACT #3:
IT STATES THE DEAF ELITE (DEAF OF DEAF FAMILY WITH STRONG ASL) – SOCIALIZE EXCLUSIVELY WITH THEIR OWN KIND ONLY???? SO IF THEY HAVE HEARING CHILDREN, A SIBLING, A HEARING TEACHER, A HEARING COWORKER, A HEARING NEIGHBOR, A DOG THAT CAN HEAR – THEY WILL N-O-T SOCIALIZE WITH THEM????? WHAT???

FACT #4:
DID THIS LAWSUIT USE THE TERM “NOT DEAF ENOUGH” AND “TRIBAL NATURE” ???

OH, GOSH! NOT AGAIN!

DOES THIS LAWSUIT SMACK OF RACISM / AUDISM???

WHY DON’T THEY COME RIGHT OUT AND CALL DEAF ASL USERS – SAVAGES?

FACT #5:
YUCK!!!
ISN’T THERE A GLARING CONTRADICTION IN LOGIC HERE???
ISN’T THIS LAWSUIT AS A RESULT OF THE PERCEIVED DISCRIMINATION AND DEMOTION OF DUTIES BY KIMMEL – EVIDENCE OF HER FEELING “ENTITLED TO CRITICIZE AND TAKE REVENGE FOR ANY PERCEIVED SLIGHT OR DISAPPOINTMENT. “

12. At various times in the recent past, Dr. Kimmel engaged in protected activity by voicing concerns and complaints over the discriminatory and unfair treatment of deaf/Deaf Culture, African—American and other minority, and “at risk” students and colleagues. As a result of these concerns and complaints, Dr. Kimmel has been the victim of illegal retaliatory actions by Gallaudet and its employees and agents. These illegal retaliatory actions have made Dr. Kimmel’s workplace situation unbearable and have damaged her reputation and future in academia.

FACT #6: CONTRADICTION - WORK PLACE IS UNBEARABLE AND HAS CAUSED HER EMOTIONAL DISTRESS – YET SHE WILL BE RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM AT THE UNIVERSITY SHE IS DEMONIZING IN HER LAWSUIT???

15. … enough” and/or who supported Dr. Fernandes and her views of diversity and tolerance. Over time, these actions were intended to have the effect, and have in fact had the effect, of purging from Gallaudet anyone who has questioned the close-mindedness of Deaf Culture and who has suggested that Gallaudet be a place of diversity and tolerance. Dr. Kimmel has been one of the many targest of this purge. It is clear that the actions of Gallaudet employees and agents since the protests have been designed to harass Dr. Kimmel to the pint that she will leave the University, and to retaliate against her for her statutorily protected suppot of others.

FACT #7: THE ABOVE IS FROM CLAIM # 15
GALLAUDET IS “CLOSE-MINDED AND OPPOSED TO DIVERSITY AND TOLERANCE??? – ARE NOT KAREN KIMMEL, DR. JORDAN, AND DR FERNANDES ENGAGING IN THEIR OWN FORM OF INTOLERANCE AND LACK OF RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY BY CONTINUALLY MISINFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT DEAF CULTURE AND ASL REALLY ARE?
WHO REALLY IS DEMONSTRATING ACTIVE PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION HERE???

41. Plaintiff has a physical disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as well as a record of her impairment. Namely, Plaintiff suffers from degenerative and hereditary hearing loss that substantially limits the major life activity of hearing.

FACT #8: DR. KIMMEL’S HEARING LOSS SUBSTANTIALLY LIMIST ONE OR MORE MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES. WHOA MAJOR LIFE A-C-T-I-V-I-T-Y IS SERVERLY LIMITED BY HER HEARING LOSS??? CAN SHE NOT USE THE TELEPHONE??? CAN SHE NOT ENGAGE IN FACE TO FACE MEETINGS WITHOUT THE USE OF AN INTERPRETER???

WHY DOESN’T THE LAWSUIT IDENTIFY THE DEGREE OF HER HEARING LOSS (DB LOSS OR CATEGORIZATION – MILD TO MODERATE ETC)

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT HAS THIS “SUBSTANTIALLY LIMITS ONE OR MORE LIFE ACTIVITIES” AS PART OF THEIR DEFINITION OF DISABILITY TO PREVENT FOLKS FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE LAW WHEN THEY REALLY DON’T EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT HARDSHIP. FOR EXAMPLE FOLKS WHO HAVE COLOR BLINDNESS OR NEED GLASSES ARE NOT COVERED BY ADA AS THE DEGREE, TYPE OR ASSISTIVE DEVICES MEDIATE THE DISABILITY.

DOES KIMMEL USE HEARING AIDS AND IF SO HOW MUCH DO THEY RECTIFY THE HEARING LOSS?

EITHER SHE IS A REALLY GOOD ACTRESS OR HER LOSS IS NOT THAT SUBSTANTIAL GIVEN THE FACT THAT MOST OF THE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING AND HEARING PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH HER FOR YEARS HAD NO EVIDENCE OR KNOWLEDGE OF HER LOSS. (FYI WORK IS CONSIDERED A MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITY)

50. Gallaudet’s actions directed at Plaintiff have been etreme and outrageous, and included intentionally and/or recklessly spreading false and defamatory information concerning Plaintiff to Washington Post, a national publication, and the NCAA. These extreme and outrageous actions by Gallaudet employees and agents resulted in severe emotional distress to the Plaintiff, in violation of District of Columbia law.

FACT # 9: IF KIMMEL IS SO UPSET WITH THE ARTCILE IN THE WASHINGTON POST – SHOULDN’T SHE BE SUING THEM!

FACT #10: IF SHE HAS SUFFERED SO SIGNIFICANTLY EMOTIONALLY FROM HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH GALLAUDET, WHY IS SHE RETURNING TO WORK THERE?

Prayer for Relief

Wherefore, Plaintiff prays that this Court:

a. award Plaintiff compensatory damages in an amount not less than three million dollars ($3,000,000);
b. award Plaintiff punitive damages in an amount not less than nine million dollars ($9,000,000) or any other such amount the jury deems proper;
c. award Plaintiff her costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in this action; and
d. grant such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

Dated: May 2, 2007

FACT #11: PRAYER FOR RELIEF???

COMPENSATORY DAMAGES OF NO LESS THAN THREE MILLION ($3,000,000) DOLLARS SEEMS A LOT MORE THEN JUST RELIEF!

PUNITIVE DAMAGES FOR THE AMOUNT OF NO LESS THAN NINE MILLION ($9,000,000) DOLLARS?

OH AND COVER THE ATTORNEY FEE PLEASE

WOW! PEOPLE HAVE HAD LOVED ONES KILLED, HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO HORRIBLE CHEMICALS THAT HAVE CAUSED THEM DEADLY DISEASES, AND MUCH MUCH WORSE AND THEY DON’T MAKE SUCH OUTRAGEOUS REQUESTS FOR AWARDS OF THIS AMOUNT

HMMMMM …. I CAN SEE WHY SHE WANT TO RETURN TO GALLAUDET NOW.

NOTE: IF THERE IS ANY TRUTH IS HER STATEMENTS ABOUT RECEIVING HOSTILE COMMENTS AND FALSE REPORTS ON HER CONDUCT BY COLLEAGUES - IT SADDENS ME GREATLY. I DO NOT SUPPORT ANY FORM OF INJUSTICE ON ANY SIDE. IF SHE EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF HER SUPPORT OF DR. FERNANDES THEN THAT SHOULD BE PROVEN AND SHE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED. HOWEVER, THE COMPLETE MISREPRESENTATION AND THE OUTLANDISH GRABBING AT STRAWS IN THIS LAWSUIT LEAD ME TO CONCLUDE THAT SHE HAD VERY LITTLE GROUNDS FOR WHICH TO FILE A SUIT – OTHERWISE WE WOULD SEE MORE F-A-C-T-S AND SUBSTANCE TO HER CLAIM.

WHEN I FIRST READ THIS CLAIM IN MISHKA ZENA’S BLOG (THANK U MISHKA FOR UR UNCOVERING AND EXPOSING THIS) – I CRIED.

I REALLY TRULY CRIED – I HATE TO SEE DEAF CULTURE AND ASL DEFAMED LIKE THIS. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A NEO-AUDIST MOVEMENT AND IT IS BEING LEAD BY PEOPLE WHO THEMSELVES ARE DEAF. IT BROKE MY HEART TO READ IT. I KNOW KAREN KIMMEL PERSONALLY. I TAUGHT WITH HER AT NTID/RIT.

I CAN NOT IMAGINE HOW SHE WOULD CONDONE, SUPPORT, AND PUT FORTH THIS LAWSUIT WHICH IS RIDDLED WITH SIMPLE LIES AND COMPLEX TRUTHS AND TONS OF CONTRADICTIONS.

I TOO HAVE A PRAYER FOR RELIEF

MY PRAYER BEINGS “G-D PLEASE GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CAN NOT CHANGE, COURGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN, AND W-I-S-D-O-M TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE”

PEACE

P

biggest thanks to Judy Gough of Ca. for getting a ton of signatures in just a hour or two of time

biggest thanks to Ella Mae Lentz for mentioning the importance of taking a peaceful stand

after more signatures are gathered, the petition will be sent to Dr. Davila with a cover letter requesting a formal statement from Gallaudet U. on this issue

Again our goal is not to incite hostility or any kind of ruckus but rather to give a tangible response to Veditz’s plea “I hope you will cherish and defend our beautiful sign language as the n-o-b-l-e-s-t  g-i-f-t God has given to Deaf people.”

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We, the undersigned, object to Dr. Jane Fernandes’ appointment to teach in the Department of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University.

Our objection is based on the following reasons:
•    Dr. Fernandes has continually misrepresented to the media ASL users as being monolinguists and exclusionary.

•    Dr. Fernandes has maligned ASL and Deaf culture by spreading myths and misunderstandings about ASL and Deaf culture.

•    Dr. Fernandes has regulated ASL to be a self-help tool and an aid to militancy.  And in doing so has disputed any academic value of ASL.

•    Dr. Fernandes has not demonstrated currency in the field as evident by the faulty information she gives to the media on the topic of bilingualism and biculturalism.

It has been a long and hard journey to have American Sign Language be recognized as a full-fledged language.  It has continually been difficult to have ASL  be taught for academic credit in various schools and universities.  Professionals have had to educate academia and school boards on how a visual language can still have written components and how testing can maintain proper rigor with other languages in the curriculum.  Having a professor in this field who is actually promoting and perpetuating an inferior view of ASL is harmful to the socio and linguistic study of American Sign Language.

We, the undersigned, know of no University in this country that would employ a professor who has misrepresented, tarnished, and undermined the field in which s/he teaches in.  For these reasons we request that Dr. Fernandes NOT have an appointment as a faculty member in the Department of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University

Signature                    Address

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The Return of the Drs. IK Jordan, JK Fernandes, and
K Kimmels to Campus

I am posting my thoughts on the return of Dr. Jordan, Dr. Fernandes, and Dr. Kimmel to teach at Gallaudet NOT because I want to create discord or see a protest emerge. Neither of these outcomes are desirable or effective.

I post because I cherish Gallaudet – she is the birthplace of my Deafhood and my understanding of Civil Rights. Gallaudet’s contributions to Deaf history, ASL development, Deaf education, empowerment, etc. are all very, very important. I do NOT want to see Gallaudet loose her accreditation.

Like the mother in Solomon’s story I would rather give up my own baby and let the woman who falsely claims the child take her as her own rather than see Gallaudet split in two and in doing so be killed. I would do this. I would give Gallaudet up to them if I thought that it would spare Gallaudet’s life. However, given the fact that it is their own poor decision making, incongruent actions and continual misinformation coming from these leaders to the public sphere that is actually contributing to Gallaudet’s possible downfall and loss of accreditation – we MUST take a peaceful and positive stand.

The controversy that has the campus in its clutches is largely caused by the very people who have been claiming they know what is best for the University and they themselves are the best suited to hold leadership positions within the University (dean, provost, president, president emeritus, etc)

Anyone opposing their claim is painted as being a fanatic.

I do not support any form of fanaticism – I do not support any form of oppression or discrimination. I do not want us to become what they falsely accuse us of. I simply want to take a stand for that which is true.

I do not understand why Dr. Jordan, Dr. Fernandes, and Dr. Kimmel continually choose to harm the Institution they claim to care so much about.

Dr. I. K. Jordan refusing to acknowledge his role in escalating the conflict (quotes in the press about “not Deaf enough,” “many ways of being Deaf,” implying that folks who support Deaf culture do not recognize that, ordering the arrests on black Friday, using inflammatory labels for protestors, holding naming ceremonies in his and his wife’s honor during a time of unrest yet canceling home coming, hailing the lockdown of the campus by protestors as civil disobedience and praise-worthy in 1988 but calling it unlawful, anarchy, and terrorist-like in 2006, refusing to offer a public apology, returning to teach on a campus that under his leadership was nearly destroyed

Dr. J. K. Fernandes continually misrepresenting what the protest was actually about – playing the “not Deaf enough” card when the protestors (Faculty, Students, Staff, Alumni and community members) always asserted it was about the search process and wanting a “GOOD enough” president for their beloved Institution, refusing to step down and resubmit her application to a new impartial search process, showing ignorance of what bilingualism is about and spinning support of ASL to mean a diminishing of English, and returning to teach in a field that she has been actively undermining.

Dr. K. Kimmel filing a lawsuit against Gallaudet University for the amount of $3,000,000 in compensatory damages and $9,000,000 in punitive damages on the grounds of discrimination based on her hearing loss making her “not Deaf enough.” (see next post where I pick apart the lawsuit in detail). Yet she will be returning to teach on the campus that has caused her such costly emotional distress?

What can we do about the return of Drs. IK Jordan, JK Fernandes, and K Kimmels to Campus:
1. start a petition objecting to their return. One has already begun opposing Dr. Fernandes teaching in the ASL and Deaf Studies dept given her strong anti-Deaf culture and anti-ASL statements in the media.. Send the petition to President President, Dr. Davila, requesting a formal written response to the petition be sent to all the signatories. This may not change anything as they each have tenure but it will at a minimum communicate our concern and desire for the best instructors to be teaching at this cherished University as its academic rigor is being scrutinized and for all time. It also serves as a collective response to be on the record.

2. ask Dr. Jordan, Dr. Fernandes, and Dr. Kimmel to consider creating a vlog or a public statement to the Deaf community responding to the contradictions listed above. I am very interested in their point of view and having honest and healthy dialogue with them. I really do desire that we can heal and move on. Unfortunately, because we have not been afforded an opportunity to process this whole experience collectively and because misrepresentation and damaging actions keep taking place by the three above – public presentations, quotes in the media and lawsuits – we are continually drawn back into the duty of addressing and opposing audism when it rears its ugly head. I myself offer my forgiveness to them for what they have done and also seek their forgiveness for any harm that I may have caused them. While I forgive and love them I still request that they stop their actions of harming Gallaudet.

3. Do NOT show hostility or aggression towards Dr. Jordan, Dr. Fernandes, Dr. Kimmel or any of the individuals who opposed the protest. I am being very serious here. No good comes from hatred. No good comes from evil. Gandhi and MLK, Jr – the best known practitioners of civil disobedience and PEACEFUL resistance – always advocated with love, peace and compassion in their hearts. They were FIRM in their positions and demands but they NEVER did so with hatred and venegence in their hearts. If we become that which we hate, then we give oppression the greatest possible victory over us.

4. If you feel angry and outraged – vent it in safe places that will do no harm to others or yourself. Anger is ok – its natural. We can show we are angry or frustrated or sad to any injustice we encounter but we must show it with love in our hearts.

5. If you believe in prayer – pray. Light a candle, burn some sage, offer up their names at church or in shul when it comes time to pray for those in need of healing. I do believe Jordan, Fernandes, and Kimmel have been hurt tremendously. I do believe the protestors have suffered tremendously also. Post Traumatic Stress weighs heavy on our collective consciousness. Pray for wisdom and justice to manifest itself peacefully.

6. Other ideas????

Other blogs/vlogs on this topic to check out:
Ryan Commerson’s Vlog: Paternalistic Gallaudet Leaders http://signcasts.com/node/134#comments

Patti Durr’s response to Fernandes’ quotes in the Chronicles of Higher Education article
http://blog.deafread.com/pote

Mishka Zena’s blog on Karen Kimmel’s lawsuit – has pdf of litigation http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2007/06/06/kimmel-lawsuit-not-deaf-enough

Robert Johnson’s “Simple Lies and Complex Truths” Abridged version in ASL

http://blip.tv/file/93740

Ridor Live – will add URL later right now the internet says Site Temporarily Unavailable

I’m sure there are others blogs/vlogs on this topic that i have missed - pls add good links in comments

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Note: I will post a sample petition soon.
Note: one poster made a suggestion that i not entitle this blog posting by referring to the three professors above as the Three Ks as it is a reference to the white supremacist group

thank you for this observation - i have now gone back and amended. I was not thinking in those terms but i did see some blog/vlog titles in Deaf Read suggesting such

that is inappropriate and i do NOT support any analogy to the three as being similar to such a group - i was simply looking for a catching title and that they all have Ks in there names but the way it can get signed - instead of signing 3 ks - KKK instead - i totally object to

thank u for bringing error on my part that to my attention

FACTS vs. FICTIONS - JKF please stop talking to the media

A response to JK Fernandes comments in Paul Basken’s article, “A Year After Protests, Gallaudet Sees Progress, but Key Dispute Remains,” which appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education (Tuesday, October 16, 2007)

FICTION #1:

JKF - “The protesters objected to my vision that Gallaudet needed to become an inclusive deaf university, where all kinds of deaf people are valued and respected,” Ms. Fernandes told The Chronicle in an e-mail message on Monday.

FACT #1:

Wait a minute – before you said it was beause you were not “Deaf enough” now you are saying its because the protestors objected to your vision?

Protestors’ official reasons for objecting to Dr. Fernandes as new President were: the search process was flawed and Dr. Fernandes’ leadership style was not harmonious with the campus climate.

Her continual spreading of myths in the media seems to reinforce why a large majority of Faculty, Staff, Students and Community members opposed her “leadership as provost and future president.”

FICTION #2:

JKF - “The new mission seems to be aimed at creating the opposite kind of university - an exclusive one catering to those who grow up using ASL as their native language.”

FACT #2:
Her use of the terms “inclusive and exclusive” do not fit normal reasoning skills.

Are not the stakeholders of this Institution to be included in the decision-making and consensus building in terms of selecting a new president and also establishing a new mission?

It seems the former administration’s approach was to be EXCLUSIVE in their decision making and failed to INCLUDE stakeholders in selecting their new president and forming their new vision for Gallaudet.

During the march on the Capitol last fall, we saw that the protestors reflected the broadest and best meaning of the word INCLUSION: young/old, gay/straight, deaf/hearing, CI/non-CI, ASL users / SEE users, Deaf-blind/Sighted, a variety of ethnicities, racial backgrounds, and educational experiences, etc.

Yet somehow they continually get labeled as EXCLUSIVE?

FICTION #3:

JKF - the University’s descent into probationary status instead is related to the protests over her appointment as president, Ms. Fernandes said. “The resulting complete disruption to the academic enterprise,” she said, caused the Middle States commission, “as well as other groups, to closely scrutinize all aspects of the university.”

FACT #3:

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) put Gallaudet U. on probation after finding it out of compliance on eight of the organization’s 14 standards. The MSCHE sited issues with leadership, integrity, and student retention.

Leadership - that means the administration specifically, of which JKF was provost (without shared governance for her appointment for several years, and not the protestors.

It also is about the fact that the Board and administration has TWICE (DPN and UFG) ignored the groundswell of cries from the campus and Deaf community in terms of who they wanted to be President.

Integrity – that relates to administration, deans, and chairs in terms of grade inflation and other ethical decision-making and processes (or lack of in this case).

Student retention – that relates again to how the University was RUN and how student retention was not a priority.

None of these issues fault the protestors themselves.

The citation for probationary status focus on failed leadership / administrative issues.

FICTION #4:

JKF – “Ms. Fernandes said that as provost, she had tried to balance English with American Sign Language, and now watches as the “current leadership embraces the use of ASL in a more monolingual context.” That’s a mistake, Ms. Fernandes warns.

FACT #4:

Most, if not all, of the students’ course work while at Gallaudet has been in English (reading and writing).

Under JK Fernandes stewardship as provost students did NOT need to take a minimum of one ASL course for their core requirements, faculty and staff were NOT expected to use sign language in public areas, and national conferences hosted at Gallaudet were often presented in spoken English with a sign language interpreter present.

How was it that she needed to actually INCREASE English to balance things out???? How can she claim the “current leadership embraces the use of ASL in a more monolingual context” – the current president of Gallaudet speaks and signs simultaneously. The new mission advocates for BI-lingualism –last time I check “bi” – was a prefix for TWO not one.

I have never seen ANY Deaf Institute or ANY institute that exists within a majority culture try to instruct their pupils in ONE language only. Every educator acknowledges that approach would be detrimental to the student.

FICTION #5:

JKF - Deaf students need to learn American Sign Language for their cultural identity, but need to learn English to become “gainfully employed” and otherwise succeed in the outside world, she said.

FACT #5:
Duh! I think we ALL know the value of mastering English in our society. In fact under Dr. Fernandes’ leadership Gallaudet graduates had an abysmal hiring record. Was this because she didn’t properly advocate for English or because she prevented EQUAL respect and use of English and ASL as part of the curriculum?

Also, what’s up with regulating ASL to be solely an aid for cultural identity and not having an academic purpose or benefit?

Dr. JKF - have you studied bilingualism - i know u know several languages but do u really understand bilingualism as an accepted and bonafide educational approach?

FICTION #6:

JKF - The accreditors therefore are correct to ask Gallaudet whether it will find enough deaf students who will want to be educated in an environment dominated by sign language, she said.

“Obviously this relates to the future demographic pool of deaf students in which currently 80 percent attend public schools, and 20 percent attend separate residential schools. Each year increasing numbers of deaf infants receive cochlear implants,” Ms. Fernandes added. “Many of these children will grow up without needing ASL and without exposure to it.”

FACT #6:

If true-biz the future children receiving cochlear implants and/or attending mainstream schools will not need ASL (and this has not yet been consistently proven) – then why would they go to Gallaudet University at all – regardless of whether or not Gallaudet is English only, ASL only, or bi-bi. If their hearing, lipreading and speaking abilities are going to make them almost “hearing,” why wouldn’t they want to go to a “hearing” college?

If JKFernandes is really concerned about drawing in new and more students – the first and foremost thing on her mind should be IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS of the education Gallaudet University provides. This is really what will ensure the future growth and success of Gallaudet University. This will hopefully be a positive outcome of the MSCHE probation. Some good should come out of this turmoil.

peace

p