Here is an English translation:

“Letter” to Gallaudet Community

Submitted by RC on Tue, 2006-10-24 07:38.

Again, another sleepless night here. Its 2:30 a.m. and I have received e-mails from people in SAC (Student Academic Center) who are pumped up and ready to do something. This is deeply inspiring. I couldn’t be there because I am here in my room working on another project.

As I have been involved in this protest these past three weeks, I have seen an expansion in the number of people who understand the cause of the protest. When I talk with people, I always tell them to research the issues, think about their positions, and ultimately make their own decisions about where they stand. After that, the number of people who have come up to me saying they understand and now support the protest has grown considerably larger. The rallies are not a good indication of the number of people who support the protest.  Everyone has other commitments: school, Greek organizations and so forth. Some students who support the protest are taking classes with professors who do not, this puts them in a tough spot.

Some of my teachers support the protest.  And I do feel fortunate that my department supports the protest, but there are still risks that I am taking. Other people are in a different situation. We can’t expect everyone to attend the rallies. We do not get updates everyday. Its hard to keep the rallies exciting, you never know when things are going to happen. I understand this.

There were rumors that the BoT [Board of Trustees] is coming [to meet on campus] this weekend–no confirmations.

Honestly, those who are protesting everyday are tired.  It’s not fun. It’s not a game.  It’s real and its hard.

It’s hard hard work.  They are exhausted, fatigued–mentally emotionally and physically exhausted. There is a lot of work involved. People who support the protest are growing. We don’t know how many of Gallaudet’s 1800 students support the protest, but I have a strong feeling its over 1000. I am wondering if it’s possible for everyone who supports this protest, to put everything on hold and go out and inform the world how many students are truly involved and support this protest. Its time for everyone who supports this protest from students, faculty, staff, alumni and administrators to come out and make this happen.

I know there are some administrators out there who are secretly supporting us. This is serious house cleaning.  There has been too much degradation, too much corruption. We must do something that will stop this dirty business. He [Board member Ken Levinson] actually said that deaf people were dumb, the deaf people who use sign language. He has been on the BoT [Board of Trustees] for 16 years.  He said YOU people who use sign language–YOU are dumb. Do we want that kind of attitude on the BoT?

They [Board of Trustee members] still have business relationships with Gallaudet.  Honestly, they have to go.

Basically, I am asking–I have been fighting for you for the future.  I’m fighting for my bosses. I’m fighting for the teachers support services staff–even for some administrators. I’m fighting for all of you.

Can you understand the magnitude of this? Can you say: “OK, I will give my full unwavering support for this”?   I want to see 1000 people at the gate tomorrow. Can you do this for us, for yourself, for your family, for future generations of deaf children? Can you?

Show the world that JK [Jane Kelleher Fernandes] is wrong about the number of protestors being small. JK is living in a falsely imagined fairy tale–a dream. She does not understand. She is in denial. I think we need to help her understand. Are you with me?

I hope I see over 1000 students and a large number of faculty, staff, alumni and administrators walk out of class, out of their departments, out of their offices. I want you to drop everything you are doing after you see this VLOG. Drop your pen, drop your comb, drop whatever you are doing. If you’re doing a report, drop it. Stop, get up, and walk out. Go to the front gate. I hope I see you tomorrow [Wed., Oct 25]…Actually, today [Tues., Oct 24]

(End Commerson message)