Gallaudet classes set to resume Monday?
Gallaudet classes set to resume Monday
By LUBNA TAKRURI, Associated Press Writer
Saturday, October 14, 2006, 4:18 pm ET
WASHINGTON - Classes were scheduled to resume Monday at the nation’s
only liberal arts university for the deaf and hearing-impaired after
more than 100 demonstrators were arrested in a protest over its
incoming president.
Gallaudet University had been virtually shut down since Wednesday, when
students formed human chains at the gates into campus as they demanded
the resignation of Jane K. Fernandes, who was appointed in the spring
to succeed outgoing President I. King Jordan in January.
Those opposed to Fernandes’ presidency say she isn’t open to different
points of view and that the selection process did not reflect the
student body’s diversity.
Fernandes, however, has said some people do not consider her “deaf
enough” to be president - a characterization that some students have
rejected. Fernandes was born deaf but grew up speaking and did not
learn American Sign Language, the preferred method of communicating at
Gallaudet, until she was 23.
Students continued to block the campus’ main gate Saturday. A D.C.
police spokeswoman said 133 students were arrested Friday night after
ignoring university warnings not to block entrances to a school
buildings.
“We want to get this university back in business,” Gallaudet
spokeswoman Mercy Coogan said Saturday. “Dr. Jordan, more than
anything, didn’t want arrests to happen. Protesters themselves made
that decision.”
Those arrested went limp and were carried to a police van. The team of
officers making the arrests then repeated the process. After each
arrest, another protester took the empty place on the blockade line.
District of Columbia police took protesters to a holding center, where
they were offered a choice of paying a $50 fine or receiving a
citation, which requires a court appearance.
The protesters want the presidential search process reopened and a
promise that they will not face retaliation.
“Our goal is to not allow the university to reopen until our two
demands are met,” said LaToya Plummer, 25, a junior from Suitland, Md.
In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post on Saturday,
Fernandes wrote that while American Sign Language is fundamental to the
university, Gallaudet must work to include a broad spectrum of deaf
people.
“By welcoming and including the diverse spectrum of deaf people, by
respecting and appreciating our differences, we strengthen our core,”
she wrote.
___
Associated Press Writer Brian Westley contributed to this report.
___
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061014/ap_on_re_us/gallaudet_protest
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Mishka Zena is reporting on the Gallaudet University Protests.
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Jordan is liar! He wanted to have the protestors to be arrested, period! Liar, liar, liar!
Jodan is not lier.
Jodan did not want students to arrest, so protests could locked down HMB and closed campus, for a week.
If Jordan want students to arrest, you would be arrest quickly when you locked down HMB at Oct 6.
But you hurt students who want to get education, or are neutral. Jordan wanted to help students who want to get education, or are neutral. So Jordan desided to ordar arrest protesters.
Actually, IKJ broke his promise not to arrest the students at night. Actually, if IKJ were smart, he should have waited til sunrise to arrest the students. Who’s gonna be up at 5 am? This was a publicity stunt. That is all.
Jordan contacted the DC police at 2 pm and asked them to intervene. The police did not come over until much later. it was not Jordan’s fault.
>IKJ broke his promise not to arrest the students at night.
Because I asked him, help me.
Jordan changed mind for me.lol
>If IKJ were smart, he should have waited til sunrise to arrest the students.
King Jordan did not want TV camera to take student’s face crealy.
If he contacted them at 2 pm, so what? He should have told them if it gets dark to wait until the next morning. How hard is that? It’s obvious he didn’t care if the police arrested them at night. All he had to do was make a phone call. *scratching head*
God knows that I want the campus to reopen for regular operations by now. If classes can resume, then I’m a happy camper.
Do your protest on the Green. Better balance that way, than force the innocent to suffer from your actions.
WOW!
NOW! MZ DELETE SOME WROTES WHICH MZ’S NOT FAVORITE!
YOU ARE KIM JONG IL!
You don’t have to yell. I can read just fine in normal type.
Any post bearing personal information on the students, or threats will be deleted.
I understand that passions are running high. But enough is enough.
No more bashing. Stick to the topics.
Please show civility.
Thank you
If the police came too late in the day, Jordan could have easily requested that they come early the next am.
But he didn’t.
Jordan could have easily requested that they come Oct 6.
But he didn’t.
Jordan, you are sweet too much to protesters.
Please be strictly.