Shame on You, FSSA!
November 16, 2006
You have to read it to believe it. Even after reading it, I still can’t believe it.
The Gallaudet FSSA posted this open letter on their web page yesterday…
——- Begin Letter ——-
November 15, 2006
Students Report - November 11 Meeting with Board of Trustees
MEMORANDUM
TO: GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SUBJECT: OPEN LETTER OF CONCERN ON THE RECOGNITION OF COALITION OF STUDENTS OF COLOR
DATE: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2006
To the Honorable Members of the Board of Trustees;
On Saturday, November 11, the Faculty, students, staff, alumni, and parents met with some members of the Board in regards to the Interim Presidential Search. These meetings were the first step towards recognizing the importance of community input. This ensures that representatives from different groups of the community are included in the Interim President Search Advisory Committee and breeds optimism that shared governance will soon be a model used within the Gallaudet community.
There is, however, an issue of concern we must present before this coming deadline in submitting names for the IPSAC. These past six months, we, the people of color, have fought to get our voices heard. The unofficial establishment of Faculty, Students, Staff and Alumni has brought forth a place of recognition and respect of and for others outside of minority groups. This unofficial organization has provided a safe haven where, through mistakes, we have learned that teamwork is the essential ingredient for the successful implementation of the principles of social justice at Gallaudet. Working together with the same group of people who initially ignored us and finding that people do learn from their mistakes has instilled in our hearts, the hope of a better Gallaudet.
Gallaudet University will improve from this point on through continued open dialogue and giving ourselves permission to confront each other on issues that must be resolved. Most importantly, and perhaps our biggest challenge: we must push ourselves to engage in such dialogue and confrontation with various groups outside of our own communities and strive to work together as one community. Given that, we are worried that the establishment of the Coalition of Students of Color will only create division within the community of people of color.
As students, working with other groups of faculty, staff, alumni, and community agencies, we have been and continue to fight for social justice. We envision a place where each of our “voices” carry equal power. And as students, we recognize the Student Body Government as our representative organization. However, rather than working with the Student Body Government, certain individuals want to create a separate governing body. This is the same group of people that fail to recognize that a coalition means the inclusion of all minority organizations. This is also a group of people who are pushing for the formation of a coalition without first resolving inter-group conflicts. They are the same group of people who, in part because they harbor anger at those who ignored us students of color at the very beginning of the presidential search process, are not willing to work with the Student Body Government or the Faculty, Student, Staff, and Alumni coalition.
We want you to be aware that—as can be expected in times of crisis, certain issues are still unresolved. One such instance is the formation of the Coalition of the Students of Color. We have not reached a collective understanding, and we ask that out of respect, the trustees halt on the recognition of the Coalition of Students of Color until we have the opportunity to resolve some of the issues that are preventing us from working together in a way that would do social justice proud.
Respectfully yours,
La Toya Plummer
Delia Lozano-Martinez
——- End Letter ——
Have La Toya Plummer and Delia Lozano-Martinez lost their minds?
After all this talk from the Gallaudet FSSA about fighting for social justice and diversity! This letter just proved what I and many others suspected. The goal of this protest was to remove Fernandes, all the rest was bull, nothing more than a front to give the protest more credibility and win support from the media and the community.
Who does the FSSA think they are to require that the Coalition of Students of Color (CoSC) “reach an understanding” with them before the University grants them recognition? The CoSC are a separate entity with differing viewpoints than the FSSA. This is exactly what the new Interim President (and President) search and selection committees should consist of (representation from different groups, differing viewpoints). No one organization can represent all students.
In their quest for power, the FSSA have become the Oppressor.
Shame on you FSSA!
——–
Update: A day after I posted this entry, the FSSA removed the Plummer/Lozano-Martinez memo from their web page. No apology or explanation has been posted.
Entry Filed under: Deaf, Deaf Community, Race/Racism Issues. .
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1.
Gil | November 17, 2006 at 1:50 am
I’m not surprised they wrote this. There are only a handful of students of color involved with FSSA. Latoya and Delia are pawns who don’t realize they’ve been used.
2.
testing_the_truth | November 17, 2006 at 2:04 am
The CoSC is an splinter group of colored students. They betrayed the reform movement and sided with the reactionary status quo. They don’t represent anyone beyond themselves. La Toya and Delia made a brave stance against this opportunism. Board will be notified about the past practices of the leader of CoSC, David King, who was linked to a physical threat of mutilation of GallyNet through his accomplice “Remonez”.
This desperate anti-reform group will not succeed. Pre-meditated racial division and a policy of segregation is untenable in the 21st century. I applaud the brave stance of La Toya and Delia against these traitors.
3.
CB | November 17, 2006 at 2:29 am
Opportunism? Give me a break, testing_the_truth. The CoSC existed *before* the FSSA was organized. I don’t know if what you say about David is true but it has no bearing on this issue. The FSSA leaders have plenty of dirty laundry of their own. Bashing each other is no way to begin the healing process.
4.
testing_the_truth | November 17, 2006 at 2:39 am
No the CoSC did not exist in April or May. There was not such a thing as CoSC. There were only a few students signing a letter in the name of some students group. It was not called CoSC back in then. It is an opportunistic creation of a revengeful bunch of defeated opponents of the reform movement.
5.
flabbergasted | November 17, 2006 at 2:44 am
OMG. I had to actually visit their web site to confirm they really wrote that. I can’t believe the entire fssa supports this letter. If they do, I’m no longer a supporter. I don’t care of this group was on ‘the other side’. This is a clear form of oppression.
6.
Brian Riley | November 17, 2006 at 5:25 am
Friends,
Please try to understand the entire situation and the people involved. LaToya and Delia are being very reasonable.
They are only trying to say that they are in favor of unity, not splinter groups, and that everyone should try to join one Big Tent before forming a splinter group.
Brian
7.
J.M.R. | November 17, 2006 at 6:44 am
Now you know. When FSSA say “Unity for Gallaudet”, they mean Unity for people who agree with them and their tactics.
I’m another student of color at Gally that that is very upset by all I’ve seen, heard and experienced. The protest and the divisions its caused among us all has been downright ugly. I’m not a supporter of either FSSA or COSC. That said, I do feel strongly COSC has a right to coexist right along FSSA.
Enough with the divisions! Let people have their space, whether you agree with them or not. FSSA is overstepping its boundaries again. Enough!
8.
Doesn't make sense to me | November 17, 2006 at 6:54 am
Brian — Why should every one try to join “one big tent”? These two groups have very different viewpoints. CoSC focused on the issue of the flawed process and racsim while FSSA went after Jane and made it personal. CoSC felt Jane was the victim. FSSA felt she was the enemy. Their viewpoints are not going to change. Trying to block CoSC from receving status until they do just makes FSSA look like a big, racist bully.
9.
Andrea | November 17, 2006 at 7:08 am
For the community to reunify, all voices need a way to be heard (or all signs a way to be seen). If people are only allowed to “unite” if we keep our real opinions silent and bow down to the official party line of a single organization, then that’s not reunification. That’s just perpetuating oppression in a new form.
I happen to think that FSSA did some important things in giving all of us the opportunity to raise old complaints about Gallaudet that some people have been sitting on for years. Not just in relation to Fernandes but also related to things like the quality of academics at Gallaudet. I still feel uncomfortable with the tone of some of the discourse from FSSA and some of their actions. (Fine, Fernandes might not have been the right leader for Gallaudet. But I think FSSA could still have found a better way to make that point without some of the nastier character attacks that they made. And, no, just because the other party does it too doesn’t give us the right to do it back.) But I still have hope that, in the long run, we may see some positive results from all this–if nothing else, I hope for a good, healthy dialogue within the community.
But not everyone agrees on what the problems are at Gallaudet or how to solve them. FSSA supporters, for example, clearly believe that Fernandes was one of them. But people who supported Fernandes–and there clearly ARE some on campus–obviously disagree. Then there are others who didn’t like Fernandes much either but who still believed that some of the tactics used during the protests were the wrong way to go about expressing those views.
And these are just the more obvious differences. I’m sure there are many more. For example: some students of color (such as LaToya Plummer) obviously think all students of color should join FSSA and go along with the FSSA “party line” on unity and issues related to race. But other students of color obviously think otherwise or they wouldn’t have established COSC. These are still obvious differences. What about differences that are less obvious, such as — who do they prefer, Bob Davila or Glenn Andersson or Roz Rosen for interim president? And what are the individual strengths and weaknesses of these potential candidates? I have no clue because neither FSSA or COSC has come out publicly endorsing anyone, much less analyzing them. But I bet they won’t be in perfect agreement there either. And that should be reason enough to support the right of COSC to co-exist alongside with FSSA.
I’m Caucasin, by the way, in case it matters.
10.
Peter Brown | November 17, 2006 at 7:34 am
This letter just proves that the FSSA has/had a different agenda than some of the students and alumni for the protest.
Brian, At Gallaudet there is more than one “Culture” that exists in case you didn’t know. There are many different cultures that must co-exist together in order for harmony.
The creation of FSSA is trying to represent “Deaf Culture ” while casting the other people from different cultures aside. This is oppression at its finest. The REAL monster in this is the FSSA.
11.
maria | November 17, 2006 at 7:47 am
Zoltan,
With all due respect the Coalition of Students of Color was started in April 23, 2006. Check your facts before you speak.
12.
Ed Bosson | November 17, 2006 at 8:00 am
It has been said that if only 6 people were on an island for an extended period of time, there would be 3 organizations on that isalnd. Each with differing opinion of what ought to be. Such is the nature of human. However, to make this world succeed, we all need to compromise. I know that in marriage, compromise is absolutely necessary to have a long marriage. Same with organizations, etc. I plead ignorance of all the gritty details of this issue - I honestly do not know if further division (read possible unpleasant schism circumstances) is warranted or not. However, I do think that perhaps not much thought have been given to possiblity of compromising. Good politics is about compromising; and bad politics is about not compromising -hence the wars all over the world. On other hand, maybe the whole shebang issue is part of the growing pains and exploring on finding true representation of various races or colors.
Just be careful or it could all backfire in the long run. I trust that you all will prevail and do the right thing whatever it may be.
Good luck..
13.
A True Atheist | November 17, 2006 at 8:02 am
Crying about their colors…..how primitive!
14.
Brown Pride | November 17, 2006 at 8:08 am
Contrary to what they think, Latoya and Delia do not represent all students of color at Gallaudet. I personally disagree with their views. I also thought the rest of the FSSA who helped write the letter were chickenshits for not signing their names.
15.
John Kerlin | November 17, 2006 at 8:23 am
It was not FSSA’s responsibility to throw JK out but La Toya’s and Delia’s.
I am sure their pictures will be in the book named “The Day Gallaudet Threw JK Out.”
Also pictures of 130 who were arrested. They will remain heros even if they could not find jobs in the future because their fingerprints and mugs were sent to FBI. I am sure FSSA will help supporting them in the future.
16.
Brown Pride | November 17, 2006 at 8:26 am
John, what are you on? Crack?
17.
Frank | November 17, 2006 at 8:51 am
Get your fact straight. CoSC was first formed in April. FSSA didn’t organize until a month later.
18.
Monster Truck | November 17, 2006 at 8:55 am
Just because Delia and La Toya are people of color themselves doesn’t mean that they can’t turn around and discriminate and practice racism themselves. Just like deaf people can practice audism, people of color can also practice racism. That’s how their letter comes across.
19.
Stop the Oppression! | November 17, 2006 at 8:59 am
Oppressing each other is no way to begin the healing process!
FSSA needs to issue an apology for this letter and do their part to ensure that the COSC is included and given a voice.
20.
The eyes behind the prize | November 17, 2006 at 5:49 pm
Um, It is obviously that any letter that is posted on FSSA website, people will automatically associate the individual with FSSA. Plummer and Lozano Martinez had a good reason why they wrote the letter.
The reason why they wrote the letter has nothing to do with being oppressors. They arent pawns used by FSSA. They are in strong support of having the Coalition of Students of Color be established. However, they disagreed with the reason why David Musa King wanted it established. They disagreed with how the progress of the establishment has been going.
If you notice, LSU isnt a part of the letter. They arent a part of it not because they disagreed. They arent a part of it because they were NOT given the opportunity. David Musa King and his people said that Delia was not a person of color and that she didnt represent people of color. LSu did not have a president and vice president last May. They were going through difficulties of getting the organization established. Now, LSU is finally established back again. They have officers. Why not include them? Why should we hold them accountable for not being of existence last May? Now, how can a coalition be formed if not everyone is accepted? David chose to manipulate his way around and say the things to the people who are on his side. What they dont know and what YOU dont know is the things he said and did to Plummer and Martinez. David is guilty of so many things that I’d sit here all day and explain. But I am not going to. I am going to defend Plummer and Martinez.
David also said a while ago that he wanted for CoSC to be established for the divisive purpose. He wanted for people to be separate from SBG. Of course, Plummer and Martinez, as people of color, not representatives of FSSA, disagreed. They disagreed with the reasons why he wanted CoSC established. They are in favor of the idea.
For those who said that Plummer and Martinez do not represent a coalition of students of color. The same goes for David Musa. He does not represent you guys either. Pleaes be careful for what you say.
I suggest, before you call them names, talk to them. Ask them why they wrote the letter. They will explain to you. All I can say is, David is lying. The community IS divided.
21.
The eyes behind the prize | November 17, 2006 at 5:54 pm
another thing, LaToya Plummer and Delia Lozano-Martinez do not think that all the people of color should be a part of FSSA. They never said that. To those who said they did, quit lying.
22.
the One and Only ridor | November 18, 2006 at 4:12 am
Chris Leon, I’m appalled at you!
I was at Gallaudet during the spring and fall protests — there is no such thing as the CoSC. None at all. It was just a loose term to define a group of individuals at times.
What Latoya and Delia attempted to do is to halt the divisions and to maintain the unity.
It is fine that the BOT made it clear to include the people of color on the IPSAC and they inadvertently referred them as the CoSC.
In fact, Niesha Washington is part of the FSSA Coalition! I even had a fabulous conversation with this woman several times during the fall protest.
I think we have to be extremely careful of David King. That boy is merely the opportunist who wanted to make a name of himself.
Cheers,
R-
23.
John Kerlin | November 18, 2006 at 9:41 am
Rider,
Can’t you read? It was not David King.
I notice that you can be a bad reader and writer. You may end up being sued.
24.
Go Gally | November 20, 2006 at 12:24 am
The FSSA has exercised quite a bit of bad judgement. This letter is a prime example.
I understand the letter has been removed without any explanation. FSSA needs to make a public apology and make amends if it wants to have any chance of mending fences and moving forward.
25.
Mack Truck | November 21, 2006 at 11:01 pm
CoSC may not be an official organization, but then FSSA isn’t one either. FSSA is just jealous that CoSC was given a spot on the search committee and they weren’t. That’s what the letter was about.
26.
Gomez | November 22, 2006 at 10:56 am
I hope the two groups can put their shit aside and move forward. The protest is over. Our community is too small to have all these disputes among ourselves.