A letter to President I.King Jordan from Jack Cassell

Dear President I. King Jordan,

Recently, Jane K. Fernandes released a statement in which she said that
she remained committed to becoming the ninth president of Gallaudet
University. She also felt strongly that she can lead the university. I
would like, very much, to believe her that she can lead the university
effectively. By nature, I am not negative person and like to get all
facts first before I reach my conclusion of the big picture. Therefore,
there are several could not help but notice observations based on what I
have seen so far and many discussions with many people, including myself
who are deeply affected by Gallaudet's outcome of selecting Jane as the
9th president.

As she was selected as 9th president, she has had loads of opportunities
to show us what she is capable of in her leadership skills especially
dealing with crisis. Since then, I have not seen any evidence of her
leadership action in dealing with peaceful protest. In addition, I am so
embarrassing for her on her inability to be in charge during protest, at
least to show her true color results of leadership by leading the
Gallaudet University/Community ineffectively, not just words.

I had to revisit the Gallaudet University Presidential Search Committee's
website when Gallaudet University invited nominations and applications for
president last February.

As I revisited preferred qualifications that I hand picked a few key
points on purposes in the areas of leadership to confirm on latest Jane’s
leadership results as follows below:

# Bring deep roots in deaf culture with knowledge, appreciation and
understanding of deaf/hard of hearing/hearing communities;

# I believe we need a new kind of leadership, a leadership that puts the
people front and center, not the president.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/billbradle173566.html ]Bill
Bradley

My Observation: I have not seen in Jane's leadership by putting Deaf/HOH
people front and center especially the crisis and show appreciation and
understanding of Deaf/HOH communities. Instead, she made it worse by
telling the world that she was not deaf enough. What was she thinking?

# Build community through open, responsive and visible communication that
encourages reciprocal trust both internal and external to Gallaudet;

# Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to communicate something
people want. “Dianne Feinstein

My Observation - Not even that close. Jane, unfortunately, has not made
herself visible enough to others in order to create several perfect
opportunities to re-establish reciprocal trust both internal and external
to Gallaudet. She failed to produce new leaders and pull both sides
together on her watch. She blew it big time.

# Inspire others, both within and outside the Gallaudet community, to
become engaged in the University's mission and work;

# [ http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/33631.html ]Leadership is based on
inspiration, not domination; on cooperation, not intimidation.” William
Arthur Wood.

My Observation: By nature, she does not have the ability to inspire
others. If she does, the crisis would never occur in the first place.

# Lead the entire Gallaudet community and its students (K-12 and college
level) through times of crisis and challenge;

My Observation: Where was she when Gallaudet community needed her the
most to take the lead through time of crisis and challenge?

I can go on and on. It appears to me that Jane was selected as the 9th
president mainly based on her resume. I saw her resume and I must admit
it was very impressive. I am absolutely sure it is impressive to a lot
people who do not know Jane personally. Unfortunately the resume does not
measure her character, leadership, creativity and perseverance as the
president should possess.

Bottom line, Can Jane K. Fernandes lead the university and community via
her inspiration, not authority, not just words but actions, on cooperation
with full access and open communication without intimidations and threats
in her ship in the perfect storm where we feel safe together and sail in
harmony with a clear cut mission to redefine the world class education
for Deaf and HOH students within an increasingly diverse America, and an
increasing interconnected world?

Frankly, I will have to say with due respect, ABSOLUTELY NO!

In the conclusion, when Jane perceptibly fails to lead the university and
community, anyone with right mind would move forward with dignity and
respects to be replaced by another leader who effectively puts the people
front and center and inspire his/her stakeholders. I am a reasonable
person with good intention to believe in humanity. For the life of me, I
fail miserably to understand why Jane refuses to acknowledge that she does
not have the ability to lead the university. Am I missing something
here? Or am I simply dim-witted to understand the big picture? She had
her chance, and she lost it. Till this day as I see it, Frodo lost and
Jane has the ring. Gallaudet's leadership is serious jeopardy.

Jack R. Cassell, '75 Wisconsin