Mishka Zena

I woke up and received news that the students have the campus in a lockdown. I was taken aback by the news, but I may understand why the students felt they had to do this. When I was on the campus two nights ago, Ryan told me that Jordan was in a conference with a Washington Police Chief at College Hall.  There were rumors about a possible police raid flying around. While I was inside HMB, there was a small disturbance outside and many students ran toward the doors to check out.  Several Pro Fernandes supporters dropped taunting and cruel threats at Ridor’s blog, RidorLIVE » Blog Archive » More ,  claiming that the deaf students will be handcuffed and mistreated by the DC Police Dept during a raid, fueling their fears because their hands are their only communication. The public relations department of Gallaudet was still issuing untrue statements to the media.  Even worse, Gallaudet had refused to let the protesting students communicate freely with the reporters by withholding its staff interpreters from them. Last night negotiations between the students and the university administrators broke down, with the administrators saying they will not meet any of these demands presented by the students.

So the students probably felt there were no other options but to lock the campus down, for their own protection and to make sure the world hears them.  Fernandes, Jordan, and the BoT haven’t yet.  What will it take for them to start  working with these students?  elizabeth

From: The Gallaudet Students thegallaudetstudents@yahoo.com
Subject: Campus Lock-Down
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 02:58:53 -0700 (PDT)

Letter to Campus Community:

Until further notice, Gallaudet University is closed and all gates are
blocked. This includes MSSD and KDES and this letter is out of courtesy
to communicate with them. Students who need to leave or enter the campus
will be allowed to. For more information, meet the students at the front
gates.

We strongly encourage faculty to meet to discuss the crisis, for we will
ensure a meeting can occur on campus at noon. We also encourage staff to
engage in meetings to discuss the issues on campus.This discussion needs
to happen.

-dissenting students of Gallaudet University

Also a press release is shared below:

Press Release 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11th, 2006 
Washington, D.C. 

Students at Gallaudet University have collectively decided that an
oppressive system is not a system that can be negotiated with. 

Students at Gallaudet University feel gravely insulted by the lack of
follow up by Gallaudet University administrators regarding assault on
students by Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers and the false
statements sent out by the Public Relations Department.

Students at Gallaudet University are concerned by the hasty and unfair
search process that led to the selection of the current
President-Select, Dr. Jane K. Fernandes. Students at Gallaudet
University are deeply hurt by the University’s strategic plan to oppress
student voices by ensuring that their access
to Gallaudet University Interpreting Services would be denied.

Students at Gallaudet University feel that the oppression at Gallaudet
University contributes to inadequate education, lack of language access,
and emotional distress, all of which interfere with free and accessible
learning environments. 

Students have, independently of any organization, decided to shut
down the campus. They are calling for the immediate resignation of Dr.
Jane Fernandes and the investigation of the Presidential Search Process.
They are also mandating that there be no reprisals against any
protestor, whether student, faculty, staff, or an alumni of this
University.

For all members of the press, interested for more information, report to
the front entrance of Gallaudet University on Florida Avenue where the
appropriate representatives can be found.