Deaf President Now
Encyclopedia
Deaf President Now was a student protest at Gallaudet University
. The university, established by an act of Congress in 1864 to serve the Deaf, had always been led by a hearing president. The protest began on March 6, 1988 when the Board of Trustees announced its decision to appoint a hearing person as its seventh president.
Gallaudet students, backed by a number of alumni, staff, and faculty, shut down the campus. Protesters barricaded gates, burned effigies, and gave interviews to the press demanding four specific concessions from the Board. The protest ended on March 13 with the appointment of I. King Jordan
, a Deaf man, as university president.
, who had been president since 1984, resigned in 1987. Students supporting the selection of a Deaf president participated in a large rally on March 1.
For the rally, Gallaudet alumnus John Yeh underwrote a good deal of the costs of the rally, including bales of fliers and thousands of buttons that read "Deaf President Now." Many other alumni participated in the events as well. A candlelit vigil was held on March 5. The board of trustees considered three finalists: University of North Carolina at Greensboro
assistant chancellor Elisabeth Zinser
, who is not Deaf; I. King Jordan
, Gallaudet's Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who went Deaf at age 21 due to a motorcycle accident; and Harvey Corson
, president of a Louisiana residential school, who had been born Deaf.
On March 6, 1988, the board announced the selection of Zinser, the only hearing candidate, as the university's seventh president.
. The protest was led for the most part by four students, Bridgetta Bourne, Jerry Covell, Greg Hlibok, and Tim Rarus.
, was interviewed on NBC Nightly News
.
That night, Ted Koppel
, host of ABC
's Nightline, interviewed some of the major protesters.
, holding a banner that read, "We still have a dream!"
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
. The university, established by an act of Congress in 1864 to serve the Deaf, had always been led by a hearing president. The protest began on March 6, 1988 when the Board of Trustees announced its decision to appoint a hearing person as its seventh president.
Gallaudet students, backed by a number of alumni, staff, and faculty, shut down the campus. Protesters barricaded gates, burned effigies, and gave interviews to the press demanding four specific concessions from the Board. The protest ended on March 13 with the appointment of I. King Jordan
I. King Jordan
Irving King Jordan became, in 1988, the first deaf president of Gallaudet University, the world's only university with all programs and services designed specifically for students who are deaf and hard of hearing...
, a Deaf man, as university president.
Origins
Deaf students at Gallaudet began campaigning for a Deaf president when Jerry C. LeeJerry C. Lee
Jerry C. Lee was the sixth president of Gallaudet University, later becoming the Chancellor of National University. He received a BA from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1963 where he studied history and psychology and was interested in sports and business, then earned both an MA and an EdD ...
, who had been president since 1984, resigned in 1987. Students supporting the selection of a Deaf president participated in a large rally on March 1.
For the rally, Gallaudet alumnus John Yeh underwrote a good deal of the costs of the rally, including bales of fliers and thousands of buttons that read "Deaf President Now." Many other alumni participated in the events as well. A candlelit vigil was held on March 5. The board of trustees considered three finalists: University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , also known as UNC Greensboro, is a public university in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States and is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate, 61 master's and 26...
assistant chancellor Elisabeth Zinser
Elisabeth Zinser
Elisabeth Ann Zinser is a retired university president, most recently at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. Previously she was the chancellor of the Lexington campus of the University of Kentucky , and the first female president of the University of Idaho, serving from 1989-1995 in...
, who is not Deaf; I. King Jordan
I. King Jordan
Irving King Jordan became, in 1988, the first deaf president of Gallaudet University, the world's only university with all programs and services designed specifically for students who are deaf and hard of hearing...
, Gallaudet's Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who went Deaf at age 21 due to a motorcycle accident; and Harvey Corson
Harvey Corson
Harvey J. Corson, Ed.D., is currently the Executive Director for the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford, Connecticut. He announced his retirement in 2006, ending his term as Executive Director, a post he held at the American School for the Deaf since 2001.Corson graduated from Gallaudet...
, president of a Louisiana residential school, who had been born Deaf.
On March 6, 1988, the board announced the selection of Zinser, the only hearing candidate, as the university's seventh president.
Protest
The protesters presented the Board of Trustees with four demands:- Zinser's resignation and the selection of a Deaf person as president;
- the immediate resignation of Jane Bassett Spilman, chair of the board of trustees (who, it was alleged, announced the board's choice with the comment that "the Deaf are not yet ready to function in the hearing world");
- the reconstitution of the board of trustees with a 51% majority of Deaf members (at the time, it was composed of 17 hearing members and four Deaf);
- no reprisals against any students or staff members involved in the protest.
Monday, March 7
Students barricaded the campus gates using heavy-duty bicycle locks and hot-wired school buses, moving them in front of the gates and letting the air out of the tires. The locked gates kept people from coming onto campus grounds while forcing the Board of Trustees to come and receive the protesters' demands. The Board ignored the demands, and following an unsuccessful student/Board discussion, the supporters of DPN took their first march to the Capitol BuildingUnited States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
. The protest was led for the most part by four students, Bridgetta Bourne, Jerry Covell, Greg Hlibok, and Tim Rarus.
Tuesday, March 8
Students continued to rally on campus, burning effigies of Zinser and Spillman. The crowd continued to grow, while the protest for a Deaf president persisted.Wednesday, March 9
In light of spring break, the students refused to allow Gallaudet to reopen, claiming that they wouldn't open the gates until they were given a Deaf president first. Consequently, the students decided to stay at school during spring break. That day, Zinser said, "It is the role of the Board to choose a president and to replace a president," stirring outrage in the protesters. Later that evening, Hlibok, along with Deaf actress Marlee MatlinMarlee Matlin
Marlee Bethany Matlin is an American actress. She is the only deaf actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which she won for Children of a Lesser God. Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy...
, was interviewed on NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News is the flagship daily evening television news program for NBC News and broadcasts. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is located in the center...
.
That night, Ted Koppel
Ted Koppel
Edward James "Ted" Koppel is an English-born American broadcast journalist, best known as the anchor for Nightline from the program's inception in 1980 until his retirement in late 2005. After leaving Nightline, Koppel worked as managing editor for the Discovery Channel before resigning in 2008...
, host of ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Nightline, interviewed some of the major protesters.
Thursday, March 10
Students met with Zinser. She agreed to the second and fourth demands of the students, but that did not satisfy the protesters. They stated that Gallaudet needed to stand as a role model for Deaf people and other Deaf schools, a goal easier accomplished with a Deaf president. Meanwhile, in the University's interpreter/communication center, hearing protesters received phone calls from businesses, friends and anonymous donations of money, food and other supplies to aid the protest. Other help outside the Deaf community came from worker unions. Moe Biller, then president of the American Postal Workers Union, shared his support for the protest. One of the protest's most important turn of events was delivered in a speech by Jordan, who proclaimed, "I only have anger towards the decision of the board. We need to focus the world's attention on the larger issue. The four demands are justified. Zinser resigned."Friday, March 11
Protesters numbering over 2,500 marched on Capitol HillCapitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
Capitol Hill, aside from being a metonym for the United States Congress, is the largest historic residential neighborhood in Washington D.C., stretching easterly in front of the United States Capitol along wide avenues...
, holding a banner that read, "We still have a dream!"
Sunday, March 13
The four demands were met and Jordan was selected as the new president. Phil Bravin, who was Deaf, was appointed chairperson of the Board since Spilman had resigned. Students, faculty and staff celebrated in Gallaudet's field house.External links
- Deaf President Now anniversary A day-by-day overview of the Deaf President Now movement, from Gallaudet UniversityGallaudet UniversityGallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
- "At Gallaudet, a Turn Inward Opens New Worlds", April 30, 2006 All Things Considered