POSTED: 6:03 pm EDT October 13, 2006

BREAKING: Police have begun arresting Gallaudet protesters.

Gallaudet Protesters Had Begun Negotiating With Fernandes

WASHINGTON — Police have begun making arrests outside Gallaudet University after student protests have gone on there for several days.

Earlier in the day, student demonstrators at the university in northeast Washington had begun negotiating with the school’s incoming president, Dr. Jane Fernandes, trying to come up with a solution to end the recent protests.

Moments before the Friday meeting, Fernandes came to the school and released this statement.

“For one week, deaf infants and children and youth up to grade 8 have not been able to go to school. For one week, our model high school has been closed. For one week, both undergraduate and graduate students have been denied their education. For one week, we have had no mail delivered. Deaf babies scheduled for hearing tests and audiology exams are not able to get on campus. Senior citizens who are hard of hearing and seek the services of our audiology clinic cannot get here. This has gone on long enough. I am asking a small group of students to join me now for a conversation about re-opening Gallaudet University without delay. I hope you will meet with me.”

Student leader Tara Holcomb addressed the crowd saying, “We will not meet with her until something is figured out where we can make this meeting public so you know exactly what she says.” Students asked to videotape the proceedings and got their wish. Many feel that the selection process under which Fernandez was selected was too short and that a minority candidate should have also been considered. “The presidential search committee was all white, all hearing, no multicultural … and they were not familiar with Gallaudet University, that it is a deaf university,” said Delia Lozano-Martinez. Earlier in the day, police were called to the school in an effort to come up with solutions and they threatened arrests. “I think that it’s obvious that this is something that the administration has to handle itself,” said Gallaudet University spokesman Mercy Coogan. Though the protest has been largely peaceful, the Board of Trustees at the school launched an investigation Friday into allegations that university security officers used excessive force when dealing with the students.

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