GallyNet-L Dead or Alive?
Some people are under the impression that the listserv known as GallyNet-L has closed down. On the contrary, GallyNet-L is still alive and operating on a different server.
As some people already know, approximately a month ago, Davila contacted John Yeh and informed him that GallyNet-L was operating on the server provided by his company, which Yeh wasn’t aware of. For whatever reason, Yeh told the Internet host he had 12 hours to disconnect GallyNet from his program, or he would be severed completely from Yeh’s Internet services. Since the host had other programs and couldn’t afford to lose Internet access, GallyNet was severed, triggering accusations of censorship by some GallyNetters. With the assistance of many GallyNetters and the Deaf community, the GallyNet owner found a home for GallyNet with a different server allegedly immune to any possible interference from Gallaudet. I find it very interesting that Jordan apparently never interfered with GallyNet itself, even though it exposed many ugly truths and helped bring the downfall of Fernandes, but Davila did only after few months in office.
GallyNet-L is no doubt highly controversial. It began innocently enough in Sept of 2005 to provide a forum for Gallaudet stakeholders shortly after Jordan announced his resignation. They didn’t waste any time sharing their opinions, both positive and negative, and GallyNet became popular almost overnight. It was one of the main instruments in helping Gallaudet Protest achieve its victory. I’ve used some of its posts in my blog during the protest, with the permission of the authors themselves or Slemo, one of GallyNet’s moderators, and also the father and owner of GallyNet. After Davila ran interference last month, Slemo passed ownership of GallyNet to other people. Incidentally last week Slemo reported that he was fired by Gallaudet for his involvement in GallyNet, which fueled yet another wave of heated controversy, not just among Fernandes supporters, but also the Deaf Community, raising the issues of censorship and conflicts of interest.
Now that several FSSA members have moved up and become administrators and FSSA has ‘temporarily closed down’ last month, will GallyNet become more important as a watchdog?
Some people love GallyNet-L. Others hate it and want to shut it down. Regardless how people feel about GallyNet, it has undeniably proved its worth and, to this day, remains the only forum where Gallaudet stakeholders of all sides, pro Fernandes, pro Unity, and neutral people discuss various issues not only related to Gallaudet, but also facing the Deaf Community.
PS. I want to clarify that Jordan practiced censorship when he interfered with the students’ speech, even before the passage of the new policy, Restrictions of Students’ Expressions. He was also allegedly responsible for shutting down the VAX conference, a popular campus listserv, in 1990’s due to discussion of Gallaudet issues by VAX subscribers. MZ
Email contact: Mishkazena@aol.com
Mishkazena (TM)
Some people are under the impression that the listserv known as GallyNet-L has closed down. On the contrary, GallyNet-L is still alive and operating on a different server.
As some people already know, approximately a month ago, Davila contacted John Yeh and informed him that GallyNet-L was operating on the server provided by his company, which Yeh wasn’t aware of. For whatever reason, Yeh told the Internet host he had 12 hours to disconnect GallyNet from his program, or he would be severed completely from Yeh’s Internet services. Since the host had other programs and couldn’t afford to lose Internet access, GallyNet was severed, triggering accusations of censorship by some GallyNetters. With the assistance of many GallyNetters and the Deaf community, the GallyNet owner found a home for GallyNet with a different server allegedly immune to any possible interference from Gallaudet. I find it very interesting that Jordan apparently never interfered with GallyNet itself, even though it exposed many ugly truths and helped bring the downfall of Fernandes, but Davila did only after few months in office.
GallyNet-L is no doubt highly controversial. It began innocently enough in Sept of 2005 to provide a forum for Gallaudet stakeholders shortly after Jordan announced his resignation. They didn’t waste any time sharing their opinions, both positive and negative, and GallyNet became popular almost overnight. It was one of the main instruments in helping Gallaudet Protest achieve its victory. I’ve used some of its posts in my blog during the protest, with the permission of the authors themselves or Slemo, one of GallyNet’s moderators, and also the father and owner of GallyNet. After Davila ran interference last month, Slemo passed ownership of GallyNet to other people. Incidentally last week Slemo reported that he was fired by Gallaudet for his involvement in GallyNet, which fueled yet another wave of heated controversy, not just among Fernandes supporters, but also the Deaf Community, raising the issues of censorship and conflicts of interest.
Now that several FSSA members have moved up and become administrators and FSSA has ‘temporarily closed down’ last month, will GallyNet become more important as a watchdog?
Some people love GallyNet-L. Others hate it and want to shut it down. Regardless how people feel about GallyNet, it has undeniably proved its worth and, to this day, remains the only forum where Gallaudet stakeholders of all sides, pro Fernandes, pro Unity, and neutral people discuss various issues not only related to Gallaudet, but also facing the Deaf Community.
PS. I want to clarify that Jordan practiced censorship when he interfered with the students’ speech, even before the passage of the new policy, Restrictions of Students’ Expressions. He was also allegedly responsible for shutting down the VAX conference, a popular campus listserv, in 1990’s due to discussion of Gallaudet issues by VAX subscribers. MZ
Email contact: Mishkazena@aol.com
Mishkazena (TM)
June 14th, 2007 at 10:20 am
Gallynet is evolving. As deaf society advances, Gallynet advances with it.
Richard
June 14th, 2007 at 10:39 am
interesting, very interesting… thanks for sharing the information. so that is how Selmo got canned…
deafk
June 14th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Where is the proof that Davila interfered with GallyNet?
June 14th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Some people, including me, have seen the copies of the e mails.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:30 am
As much as I love Gally Net, from reading it daily and occassionally putting in my 2 cents, I’ce become rather tired of the same cycle of emails as of late: pro-Fernandes supporters not giving Davila a chance to prove himself, the same talk about prejudice and no action, and harrassment upon others who want to share their opinion. I see the SAME people discussing matters for the last month, and I know it’s because many people think Gally Net is dead. Now I am hoping that the old Gally Net gang will return, and provide a better and expanded forum for discussions rather than mudslinging and those who shout out great ideas but don’t act on it.
Slemo’s involvement with Gally Net from the beginning and still is today, considered gutsy, brave, mysterious and idealistic. I think it’s better off if there were several owners, rather than just him, because we now see that from prrof that it has cost Slemo dearly being the sole owner.
Yadda yadda. Back to reading GallyNet and rolling my eyes. Tides of change, come to shore soon.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:44 am
If Patrick Henry is Deaf and still alive, he would utter this message:
It is in worthless, sir, to make a mistake seem less serious than it first appeared. People may cry, Peace in, Peace out — but there is no peace. The oppressive and domineering war is actually begun! The next action will sweep from the north, south, east and west will bring us to fight this clash of oppressive actions! Our people are already in the battle field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that Davila wishes? What is Team Gallaudet if it encourages shutting down the GallyNet-L? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and oppression? I know not what action others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Long live GallyNet-L!
June 14th, 2007 at 11:53 am
If the owner of Gallynet was violating the law, then it is not fair to say “Davila interfered.”
If Davila simply informed John Yeh that Gallynet was being used by people who did not have legal authorization to release confidential documents, and Davila did not tell John Yeh what he should do, then that is not an example of “interference.”
The law is the law. Period. No one is above the law. If they violate it, then they have to be willing to suffer the consequences.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Christine, I can’t believe you. You still talk like he was the sole moderator at the time of his termination, Elizabeth just told you that it was being moderated by a team, just like I told you this a few days ago. In that context, do you still believe Slemo deserved to be axed?
June 14th, 2007 at 11:58 am
It is certainly troubling that Dr. Davila, the man we looked to to save and heal Gallaudet, went as far as to try to limit Gally-L and to remove its creator from the Gallaudet community. This raised more questions in my mind about the ability of Gallaudet to become the open, professional and nurturing entity that we all wanted it to be.
I’m watching to see if this fiasco with Gally-L will be resolved and we see that there was good reason benefitting Gallaudet behind it.
Davila is possibly trying to clean house and is doing it with a very wide broom to ready it for the next president. He owes us a honest explanation, however.
June 14th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Dianarez, I thought the following was clear: Slemo W. violated the law by posting confidential information on this site. Slemo all but confirmed this in his termination announcement.
June 14th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
If the owner of Gallynet DID break the law, why not go just after him? It sure looks to me as if Davila was going after Gallynet itself, why else would he say anything to John Yeh? Something is rotten…!
Gallynet was and remains a vital meeting-place for the Deaf, a hub where opposing views can be shared by all. Freedom of speech is an absolute value. Hands off GallyNet!
June 14th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Kristi, I am speaking of the time Slemo was the sole owner of Gally-Net, before he gave it to several people. He worked for Gallaudet and owned this controversial website, that’s a tad sticky. I’m not saying Slemo deserved to be axed, but we don’t even know the real story, we’re just grabbing at pieces and thinking one thing or another.
I’m going to wait and see what Davila’s done in the past months will turn out in 2 years.
Many people are still bitching about Davila aka Davillian to some on Gally-net and his performance - it’s only been what 6 months? Give him space, give him a break. That goes for you, too, Kristi. Instead of yakking, do something, put into action about the issue you talk about most passionately - racism. ACTION!!!!!
June 14th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
It may be that Dr. Davila thought that Slemo being fired and Gallynet-L forced to be moved was sufficient punishment.
I don’t really know what he thinks, though, so this is just my opining on why he did what he did.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Is there actual ironclad proof that laws were broken by Slemo?? Wasn’t what he posted about Kitty Fisher common knowledge in the Deaf community? I seem to remember she did give some info to Ridor. So what laws were broken??
June 14th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Thanks for providing an clear insight to this saga. I still wonder why would Yeh bow down to Davila’s demand? If Yeh’s server is privately owned, why would that happen? Unless, there some underlying reason for Yeh’s action to severe Gallynet? Do you know?
Originally I was told that Gallynet used Gallaudet’s server. But, from your account, that appears to be false rumor.
Does Gallaudet have any business with Yeh’s server? if so, that could be it. If Yeh was getting something more out of Gallaudet as a customer then I can see where Yeh would feel he’d rather keep Gallaudet as his customer compared to Gallynet.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
I back up Mishka Zena’s statements. Both my wife and I have seen copies of these e-mails in the very beginning, too. That information has been circulated in a very tight circle of people in the very beginning.
In the beginning, my wife and I tried to bring these emails to the public’s attention. But, I was threatened by Brian Riley by e-mail. He wanted to suppress the release of this Davila censorship email to the public.
Also, I submitted those emails THREE TIMES to Deafread, and they did not publish it. Censorship…
There are anti-Fernandes supporters that are leery of Davila’s actions. My wife and I are both anti-Fernandes and anti-Jordan.
This issue isn’t about giving Davila a chance. It’s about Davila’s actions. These actions speak for themselves and they are for much concern.
So far, here are some things to think about:
1) Censorship of Gally Net L.
2) SLCC- notice how Davila’s vlogs were careful not to discuss anything about how much speech/audiology would be involved with the SLCC building. Even though, the whole reason why the building is being built is to provide a lot of space for that department.
3) There are more speech/audiologists employed by Gallaudet than there are English teachers.
4) Bob’s vlogs seem to be aimed for PR purposes.
Unfortunately, the reason why people are limited to discussing the same material over and over is this- censorship & oppression. It is so bad at this point that, most of us are just willing to talk about it.
I would like to see action. I would like to see Davila held accountable for his actions. We’ve allowed people in power get away with things, and we’ve given them the benefit of the doubt over and over, only to get screwed in the end. This is just a honest observation.
Brian,
Davila did not “Simply” inform Yeh. He said some things to him to shame him into taking action. Davila interfered the minute he contacted Yeh. Since that server had nothing to do with Gallaudet, Davila didn’t really have the right to interfere. That is called “freedom of speech”.
Diane Rez,
I agree with you 100%. I personally am suspecting that HE is the “next president”. I do wonder if the “interim” scenario was just a ploy on the board’s part.
I think that Davila’s game plan is to win the public over, suppress his opponents, to the point that he is so popular that nobody would protest if he became a permanent president. After all, why was he inaugurated into office? Interim presidents don’t do that.
Only time will tell for certain. In the meantime, we have to be very vigilant on his actions and ensure that he leaves his office in the time frame given for his temporary position.
One thing I wonder about- “Bob’s Vlog”. If you think about it, he is doing exactly the opposite of what Jane K. Fernandes did- He is “learning her lessons” by making himself as public as possible.. To make him seem open to the public. If you notice, the issues discussed on his vlogs seem to be specifically designed for public relations purposes.
Bob Davila, if you are reading this, I challenge you to invite people with opposing views on your vlog, live and unedited.
I am honestly concerned about this Gally Net affair. I truly am concerned about Slemo W’s rights being trampled on.
In this situation, it is not about whether if we agree with Slemo. It has to do with our basic rights being taken away from us.
Sorry about the long post,
Erick
June 14th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
erick, you keep on writing ridiculously long comments followed by a meaningless apology. why even bother apologizing, it isnt like you mean it?
June 14th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
To “boy, my eyes are tired after reading erick’s entry… Says”:
When I say “sorry about the long post”, I was only acknowledging that it was a long post. :o)
I apologize about my apology,
Erick ;o)
June 15th, 2007 at 8:02 am
lol Erick…I’m seeing more of your humor side online.
Seriously aside, I think this is a great of concern.
Gallaudet’s system is a beast…and I question Davila’s strength and heart to target its cold heart and replace it with a new and healthy heart.
One has to have brains AND a good heart to do this.
June 15th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Officially Bob Davila IS the 9th prez. Does that mean the interim is just a cover?
It’s kind of sad that it came to this…If Gallynet is privately owned and on a server that has no connection to Gallaudet and somehow Davila used something (threat?) to scare Yeh into booting Gallynet? This all does not look good at all. Be nice if we knew exactly what Davila said to Yeh.
June 16th, 2007 at 1:39 am
“If”
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And - which is more - you’ll be a Man, my son!
–Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
June 17th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
IAMMINE,
I agree, that one needs to have the brains and a heart to go with it. We can only hope for the best.
C,
It is not definite, but it does seem to be that way. This is why some of us think so:
1) Gallaudet website originally announced (via press releases) that Davila was an interim president. Now that information is no longer posted. It was removed from the site just a day or two after Davila’s Inauguration. *Fact*
2) Interim presidents are usually not officially sworn into office. *Fact*
3) Davila requested to be called “president”, not “interim president”… “Even though it is just an interim position because Davila needs more power”… *Fact*
Things that concerns me as well as other people:
1) Look at the PR he is trying to do. He is “learning” from JKF’s mistakes by doing the opposite of what she did-
2) Making himself as public as possible via “Bob’s Vlogs” *Critical thinking opinion*
3) Interacting with as many people as possible.
*Critical thinking opinion/fact*
4) Davila, in an interview to a radio show said “the protest was a mistake”… *Fact*
5) Richard Lytle, Special Assistant to the President… Recently hired by Davila- I was told that he is a close Jordan friend as well as a close Davila friend.
6) Bearing #5 in mind, Davila and Jordan probably are close friends. They at least have the same circle of friends.
9) Bearing #8 in mind, since the board is the current president’s boss… And since Jordan is “President Emeritus”… Jordan was basically more or less promoted.
10) Bearing #9 in mind, since Jordan has the influence of the board… He has power over Davila… And is basically Davila’s boss…
11) Bearing #10 in mind, Davila said “The board’s my boss” and says that every decision he makes reflects on the board’s position. So… This means Jordan is still in charge of Gallaudet University.
I don’t think Davila “threatened Yeh”. I would say it probably was more along these lines of:
-Davila “embarassed” or “shamed” Yeh into taking action.
-”informed” Yeh of Davila’s displeasure
-”asked” Yeh to do something about it.
Another thing to consider- Yeh is an “Emeritus” board member. So, with that fact, one would say that it would be in Yeh’s best interest to be on the “same page” as Davila as well as the rest of the board.
One thing is certain: Something is fishy in the administration at Gallaudet University.
Erick :o)
June 17th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Oops, I forgot to make #7, (It’s pretty late…) and apparently the blog software makes 8 ) (remove the space) into this
Erick
June 21st, 2007 at 7:36 am
Erick, I asked DeafRead editors about that submission of the e mails. They said it wasn’t censorship, but the fact it was on a strange webpage. However, if you publish them in a blog along with some comments, they will accept it.