Gallaudet Pushes Its Message to Congress
Thursday, October 26, 2006; Page A23
Gallaudet University has taken a beating from its student protesters who oppose the selection of Jane K. Fernandes as the next president of the nation’s premier college for the deaf. The nationally televised demonstrations have raged on campus for three weeks, disrupting classes, as disgruntled students complain that Fernandes, who takes office in January, is not a good leader.
But while Gallaudet officials may not have been able to get their message across to the students that she’s the best candidate for the job, they have made sure that at least one constituency is getting their side of the story: Congress.
Gallaudet retained Dickstein Shapiro , a Washington-based law and lobbying firm, to “educate” lawmakers about the situation on campus and lobby on appropriations issues.
“We want to make sure that people on the Hill understand the reality of what’s happening on campus,” said Amy Weiss of Point Blank Public Affairs , who was hired by the university to help with public relations during the crisis.
Gallaudet, like other interest groups and corporations that get caught up in a crisis or are involved in a major transaction, wanted to avoid a situation where some member of Congress gets upset and puts a hold on its federal funding or otherwise gets involved. Federal tax dollars provide nearly 70 percent of the school’s budget, or $104.5 million for fiscal 2006, Weiss said.
The Dickstein team includes L. Andrew Zausner , Robert J. Mangas and Allison R. Shulman . Former senator Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.) was listed on Dickstein’s lobbying filing with Congress, but Weiss said he is not working for Gallaudet. Zausner referred a call to Weiss.
Three members of Gallaudet’s board of trustees are from the Hill: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.); Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.), a member of the House Appropriations Committee; and Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey (D-Calif.), a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Weiss said the Dickstein folks have been in contact with the staffs of those three lawmakers as well as with the staffs of the Senate and House appropriations and education committees.
Gallaudet is not using its federal dollars to pay Dickstein, Weiss said, noting that the Education of the Deaf Act prohibits the use of appropriated funds for direct lobbying of Congress. She added that the law does not apply to educating lawmakers about activities at Gallaudet.
Email Contact: mishkazena@aol.com
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Mishka Zena is reporting on the Gallaudet University Protests.
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MZ, sometimes it takes me several times or even HOURS to absorb what I’m reading and understanding what it really means, so bear with me, if you can.
““We want to make sure that people on the Hill understand the reality of what’s happening on campus,” said Amy Weiss of Point Blank Public Affairs , who was hired by the university to help with public relations during the crisis.”
Um, you mean, they will listen to IJK/JKF/MC’s side, along with their supporters on “what’s going on”?
“Gallaudet is not using its federal dollars to pay Dickstein, Weiss said, noting that the Education of the Deaf Act prohibits the use of appropriated funds for direct lobbying of Congress. She added that the law does not apply to educating lawmakers about activities at Gallaudet.”
I see…but they CAN use the fund since it’s ABOUT the terriorists - ahem - protestors who are disrupting the education of others??
Or JK’s “silent supporters” paying for this so they can get the Congress to stomp out the terrorists - oh shoot me - protesters?
This doesn’t feel too good…
Are the FSSAs going to sit quietly while the admin’s hirelings contact and giving Senators and Reps false information?
We will get Congress to hear us, too After all, this very small minority is sorely outmatched by the very large Gallaudet Community.
Just checked the source - Washington Post!!!
Thanks, MZ - I know it’s been very hard on the protestors with so many negative remarks coming from different directions, but they MUST stand and keep up the fight until Congress hears them - when they hear them, they hear us as well.
Easier said than done, I know. But I’m seeing a lot of people taking actions behind the scenes - calling their congressmen/women, etc…
Come Monday, the 30th…wow, Halloween on Tuesday.
First, Friday the 13th…
Oh, the protesters are doing exceptionally well as they have so many supporters, more now than before. People are so outraged at the actions of Jordan and Fernandes on these students.
I already sent my 2 US Senator but they are not interested in Deaf Education at all but my 1 US Congress is very interested in Deaf Education! Geez whiz, my 2 US Senators are too deaf and not wanting to care about deaf education!
I decided sent to US Senator Harkin because he knows how to use communicate in sign language and his brother deaf. I sent him a msg already to let him know that IJK and JKF are not healthy leader model role and already sent him website of Joey ASLVLOG about “Failed Leadership at Gallaudet”.
So I hope you and all Gallaudet Deaf Community and all of us ASL Community can send your msg to contact US Senator Harkin with Joey’s ASLVlog link: “Failed Leadership at Gallaudet”.
Pls do contact US Senator Harkin at this link:
http://www.harkin.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
FF
FWIW, Dan McConnell, deaf cartoonist says in his blog he’s outraged with the mssd gate incident and will pull strings in congress (his grandpa was a congressman) to support fssa.
This is simply a suggestion.
The following link is for the House Committee on Education and list all the committee members. We could contact these indiviudals targeting those up for re election at this time.
http://edworkforce.house.gov/members/109th/mem-fc.htm
Also, contact their campaign offices. Use their campaign PR staff to get the information to them.
This is the link to the subcommittee on education in the Senate
http://help.senate.gov/Education_sub_index.html
Same strategy.
Just a suggestion that maybe we can use to spin our own message
There is one more tactic to use.
Information picket at the lobbying firm. No companies want to be associated with a lobbying firm being targeted for trying to pushing whitewashed information on Congress.
This picket must be steady and steadfast with minimum of 5 or more, even alumni in rotation.
Secondly, since the Congress is in recess to allow for electioneering back home, the FSSA’s have an opportunity to do something back home, track down their Congressional reps and let them know. Even information picketing in front of their local offices if necessary if the reps won’t meet with them.
Frozen, we just need to keep trying until they realize how serious this situation is. The media is helping spreading the truth as they are now finally understanding the real issues. We are making significant headway now with the media coverage