Inside Gallaudet
Brentwood and West Virginia Ave. Gates Must Reopen and Roads Cleared
Monday, October 16, 2006, 6:59 p.m.
As you know, Gallaudet University opened this morning after being closed by protesters for the past three school days. We are pleased that our students can now get on campus to get the education they deserve.
Currently, only one entrance to the University -- the Sixth Street gate -- is open. We have determined that this is insufficient and that normal activities will not be able to resume unless two more gates are opened. Those entrances -- the Brentwood Parkway and West Virginia Avenue gates -- need to be opened as soon as possible so that persons and vehicles can have free access to campus. In particular, vehicles such as school buses, fire trucks and ambulances must have free and unimpeded access onto and around the campus.
This morning, school buses carrying children to the elementary school were forced to run a gauntlet of protesters as they entered the 6th Street gate. Protestors were banging on cars as they entered this gate. This is threatening and unacceptable behavior.
The protesters have a right to express their opinions, but they must respect the rights of others. We will continue to permit the protestors to congregate at the Florida Avenue gate and immediately surrounding grounds. Otherwise, the protestors must immediately unchain and unlock the Brentwood Parkway and West Virginia Avenue gates. The protesters must also remove any obstructions, including cars, tents, tables, chairs, and any other objects that are interfering with the University's ability to open the gates and have traffic move freely on the campus roads. In addition, in the event that a fire truck, ambulance or other emergency vehicle seeks entry through the Florida Avenue gate, the protestors must immediately allow entry.
The gates and roads need to be cleared by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, October 17, so the University can resume its normal operations.
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Posted: 17 Oct 2006
