Jane Norman Still Fernandes Supporter
My colleagues,
In an effort to clear up any possible misunderstanding, I want to say I am
recovering from a serious injury to my leg which took place during the
Oct. 5th Washburn naming of the Linda K. Jordan Art Gallery.
I am a strong supporter of Gallaudet University and Jane Fernandes.
Make no mistake about that.
Being laid up for two weeks has given me the opportunity to think about
everything thoroughly and clearly. If anything, my support for Dr. Jane
Fernandes, President-Designate, is stronger than ever.
I cannot support any form of anarchy and destruction of individuals’
reputations or the blocking of access to education on campus. I cannot
support mob rule and hatred. I cannot support the hypocrisy of people
spouting social justice while intimidating and threatening those who
stand in favor of the University, Dr. Fernandes, Dr. Jordan and the
BoT.
The administration during one of the negotiation sessions agreed to an
investigation of the search process only to have it yanked from under
them.
The constant 2 demands are that Dr. Fernandes resign and that the BoT reopen
the search process.
Dissenters have said over and over that they were not heard. Believe me,
you’ve been heard. The fact is that the BoT did not agree with you. My belief
is that you have been heard. It’s just that you don’t agree with the response
you get, and then you come back with “we haven’t been heard.”
There have been numerous attempts to negotiate with the dissenters, yet
each time as things seem to be moving in a positive direction,
negotiation terms were pulled back by the protesters. They pulled back
with additional requirements and claim they haven’t been heard.
During DPN, I was part of the media team. The stakes then were honorable and
just. DPN was a peaceful, civil and sensible approach to making a social
change. The current protest is negative and conflicting, and the weight of the
issues facing the deaf world is being placed on Gallaudet’s shoulders–and on one
individual in particular.
“Management by intimidation” is a term used loosely and widely by the
dissenters. More accurately, this is a “protest by intimidation.” I see in the
media gates being blocked, access to education denied, people being bashed, careers and
life work threatened, children crying, international students worried about
immigration regulations that restrict their time in the United States to complete their
studies, and more.
My colleagues, stop. Think. We have amassed a huge strength of Deaf
people and supporters. Take this support and rechannel this energy
toward:
- the FCC and closed captioning;
- health care for Deaf people;
- promoting ASL for all Deaf children throughout this nation and sign language
for all Deaf children throughout the world;
-United Nations education and health care for all Deaf, hard of hearing and
deaf-blind people of the world.
My colleagues, work with Dr. Jane Fernandes in a peaceful, positive,
productive non-sabotaging manner. Think of Deaf children throughout the
world. Turning against one of our own is not going to help us. She is
one of us. Whether you deny it or not, the days of using the white deaf
yardstick are long gone. It has been said that Gallaudet has serious issues
with audism and racism. That is true. Few would deny it. To change this we
must work together. And the truth is, there is no one more willing and ready
to work with you on these crucial problems than Jane Fernandes and I.
We will benefit by working with all toward the common
good of Gallaudet.
In speaking out, I have been called all kinds of names, threatened and
injured. No wonder people who share my views are reluctant to do so in
public. I do not blame them. Many of them have families, some are not
tenured and cannot speak up because their colleagues and chairs are
dissenters. For many, their careers are at stake. Others depend on merit
increases and promotions from their department colleagues. There is
indeed much at risk.
I challenge anyone to question my loyalty to Deaf culture, my respect
and love for ASL, my devotion to Gallaudet. I first set foot on campus
when I was 2 years old. I am a former International Typographical Union
member and worked my way through school. My family, Deaf, is grassroots
and I consider myself a grassroots Deaf person. We place great value on
education. My father, at the age of 12, hitchhiked to enroll himself in a
residential school for Deaf children. Many of us share similar stories and
take pride in our hard-earned education.
You say you are committed to social justice. I challenge you to prove
it. Let us be mature individuals and reasonable in working with everyone,
including Dr. Jane Fernandes, toward making Gallaudet for all.
I look forward to regaining my full strength so I can stand by Dr. Jane
Fernandes’ side.
Thank you for reading this letter and allowing me to express my views.
God bless Gallaudet and peace to all,
Jane Norman, PhD
Professor, Communication Studies
Gallaudet University
GALLYNET-L@gallynet.org
reprinted with permission by the listserv moderator
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Mishka Zena is reporting on the Gallaudet University Protests.
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Jane Norman, you spoke well and I applaud you. Thank you!
Dear Dr. Jane Norman,
I guess this gives me the opportunity to be your whistle-blower.
I saw you present in Tokyo last year. You spoke very highly of Deaf culture and ASL and how important it is to get involved with the media, television and movie industries. Many culturally Deaf people were inspired by your presentation. No doubt about that.
But then during question and answer time, a woman came up to ask you a question in ASL, you started to criticize her for using ASL, demanding that she sign in JSL. This woman blushed. If you could ever find out what this means in Asia culture, you’re dead. You will never flourish in this society. It is a custom to never shame people in Asia nations. It wasn’t a pretty sight on stage in-front of so many people. There were about 300 or more participants in the room with you and this poor woman. Anyway, I was told several weeks later that this woman didn’t know JSL. According to your Deaf Culture and all that ballyhooh Deaf Pride stuff, you’d say it be all wrong for her to have learned ASL first before JSL. Well…… Yes, may seem discriminating for this woman if she were Japanese born to have learned ASL first before JSL but chances are she has a reason. Say what if this woman was Japanese-American or had a deaf American-Japanese son or daughter and was in Tokyo for a long term assignment. I could go on and add more what if situations but this is not what I want to say. I want to say that this lady was insulted in-front of everyone on this stage. “Shame on you, Dr. Norman!” Really, You’re just as bad as everyone in the protest and I don’t understand any of this coming from the same woman I saw in Tokyo last year.
Hallelujah! Jesus forgives!
blank!
Madam:
I understand your position. I was on Dr. Fernandas side too. But the facts are the facts. She and Jordan has lied, lied, and lied. I have seen it, HEARD it and experienced it (Jordan promising me that he would not arrest students at night).
How it is that people like you remain to be supporters of the Jordan/Fernandas position and also say that this is the right thing to do when clearly this appointment of Fernandas has no suport (other than the few indiviuals like yourself) in the Deaf comminuty (please see the FSSA, NAD web sites and the Gannons letter, Turk letter, Cal Nor letter, Davilia letter, Garretson letter, DPN letter etc.etc.) and at Galaudet (see the staff and faculty votes) is beyond me.
Please,please,please for the sake of Gallaudet- please ask JKF to resign.
Raphael J. St. Johns, MS
87,G-00
Thank you, Jane Norman, for showing that there are Deaf of Deaf people siding with the Fernandes team. You are not alone!
N
Jane Norman is obviously in the minority but still thrives on attention as usual.
This whole thing reminds me of a saying for the life of me I cannot recall where I first saw it and it stuck with me ever since and I wish to share it with everybody:
“We see the world the way we are. We do not see the world the way it is.”
This is the root of the problem, in my opinion.
Harmon P. Menkis
Again- I’d for somebody to explain to me how can persons like yourselves say such things as you support a group of people who have lied over and over again (King Jordan and etc), and do not appear to have any support in the Deaf Community world wide? Indeed, some donors have already stated that they will no longer be giving any financial support (Bragg and a host of others, including myself[ I gave close to $20,000 to establish a scholorship fund- and I was going ot give another $35,000- but not any more].
Please explain to me the wide bad feelings the over 82 percent of the faculty have towards Dr. Fernandes? Or the staff coming out against her? Or the OVERWHELMING pouring out of “no” from the Alumni?
I ask these questions because I have yet to see a plausible answer to any of the before mentioned questions.
So please…ask JKF to resign…so that the Galluadet community can begin to heal.
Raphael J. St. Johns
The true villains have been those who have attacked Jane. They might have some legitimate concerns and one should not ignore their opinions, but they chose a path wich is degrading Jane, working hard to turn her into the baddie, breaking laws and threatening orhers who do not agree with them. If they had been more civil all this could have been less destructive. Their legitimate views aside, much of what was said was frihtening if one considers the concept of euqality and fairness. Jane has a right to be treated with fairness and not be degraded publicly because of bitter opinions. She is not a politician so does not deserve to be humiliated in this way. She did not put herself in that position, others chose her to lead. Try the peacefull route or are you afraid your pride might be hurt, what a terrible thing that woul be.
Thank you