Tag: Administration

Do You Agree With The Idea Dwight Benedict as Victim of ‘Administration System’?

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In one of my most recent blog four days ago, The Power of Positive Leadership, I forgot to add “administration” before system. I applaud President Cordano of Gallaudet University made a decision to place the position, Vice President of Student Affairs and Community Engagement, on hold. However, I am still questioned by president’s motivation to make a statement below.

Why did President Cordano of Gallaudet University signed in a town hall front of sold-out with countless onlookers standing at Foster Auditorium, ‘Dwight Benedict is a victim of administration system’?

What does it mean to you, “…..victim of administration system….”? Do you agree or not agree that Dwight is a “victim of administration system“? Do you think it was fair for Cordano to make this statement? Have you seen “victim of administration system” ever showed up anywhere until now? I never seen this statement before.

How is bias seen, written and expressed this time? Bias is part of physical, written acts of oppression, insensitivity, lack of awareness, intimidation, the use of vulgarity, making comments, restricting of free movement of an individual and the list goes on.

Using “victim of administration system”–does that mean it was also part of white silence? Have we forgot about Deaf people of color who were oppressed? Have we forgot about Deaf LGBTQA who were oppressed? Have we forgot about Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Deaf-Disabled people who were oppressed? Have we forgot about Deaf returning citizens who were oppressed? Have we forgot about marginalized groups?

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Is white silence also a white consent? What’s up with that by making a statement to silence the Foster auditorium filled with faculty, staff, students, alumni and alumnus in a white consent when it is named after Andrew Jackson Foster?

How can they suffer oppression at the same time while Dwight Benedict is a “victim of administration system”? We need to increase opportunities for restorative justice for students, staff, and faculty and collect all the data how all of them to share their experience on campus climate. How can we improve the campus climate in regards to bias when it is in Dwight’s leadership?

Privileges? Victim of administration system? Does it mean all Deaf of Deaf families who run Gallaudet University “old school” victim? How? It cannot be. We are the victims of Dwight Benedict’s power. Not the administration system. His power. Did he ever support students’ rights, welfare, and the laundry list goes on?

So, Dwight is the victim of administration system? Does it mean the whole system of all administration system bad news? No! Dwight is the bad apple–not the administration. He is the one and only Dwight Benedict. Finish. Not the administration. No, he is the one. President Cordano should not sign to students, faculty, and staff: You are all in pain. No. Dwight Benedict’s power is the pain because he is not allowed anyone to be above him–just like above the law. This is his pain. Not ours. Negligence, abuse of power, and again, the laundry list goes on. The growing pain continues.

-JT

Copyright © 2017 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.

 

 

 

The Reflection of a Giant Mirror at Gallaudet University

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Imagine the giant mirror at Gallaudet University

We all ask why there is no event celebrating 200 years of ASL and the birth of Deaf Education at Gallaudet University. The only thing coming out of Gallaudet is the video message by President Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano.

Gallaudet University would not exist without Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet’s brilliant ideas. First and foremost, Deaf people must never be ignorant in any way whatsoever. The present administration at Gallaudet University is still spinning around.

Who is in the charge of money there? His name is Paul Kelly, vice president for administration and finance. A pure Audist at heart. He also is in charge of Bobbi’s money, too. He was very successful in dodging responsibilities in not only oppressing Deaf people, but also avoiding ASL in the accreditation question.

This is not the first time. We all need to be aware of Administration & Operations Manual what is called “4.41 Dispute Resolution Procedures”—where the students even faculty members could have make any difference to grieve the unreasonable action by Kelly in the spirit of academic and ASL freedom. Why are they afraid of what?

In few weeks, graduation is coming up—the school for 2017-2018 academic year will not start until last week of August. If there is no celebration before the end of this year including September, the month of Deaf awareness or in this matter, homecoming events then we all need to challenge Kelly’s ignorance of Deaf people and ASL and culture. Renewing and celebrating ASL at Gallaudet University even as the language of instruction in the Administration and Operations and why it is important for the world of the Deaf to have every constitutional rights to celebrate ASL and to break the domino effects of Audism.

Again, why is Paul Kelly in the charge of a “new order” and would dare to suspend anyone who participates in a rally that celebrates 200 years of ASL? Dirty politics at Gallaudet University will always present. Paul Kelly needs to go. We do not need a pure Audist in the administration. Too long. New blood is coming up soon.

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Can you believe Paul has been at Gallaudet University for more than 35 years? Amazing! Don’t forget what Paul did to Carl Schroeder, too. 🙂

-JT

Copyright @ 2017 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.

References: https://my.gallaudet.edu/intranet/photos-archive/paul-kelly-receives-his-35-year-service-award

 

 

 

 

 

Gallaudet College: The Fence

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Imagine what Gallaudet College would look like shortly after 6 PM on April 4th, 1968. The campus was quiet until the day that Martin Luther King, Jr. got shot. What were the reactions from Gallaudet students that time? What would they wake up from reality the next morning?

Whenever the students set out on the journey as Gallaudetian in April 1968, it pays to prepare for anything that would change their lives. The thoughts would create and wreck in their minds and deal with fear. The ancient Chinese believed words were so powerful that no piece of paper containing written words should ever be destroyed, even when it was no longer of value.

See the fence on Florida Ave? Many people were told that the fence was built because of 1988 Deaf President Now. No, it is not true. It was built because of MLK riots all over city. The world tasted blood and made it symbolic.

Who made the decision to build the fence? The Administration? What about Gallaudet University Administration and Operations Manual (the Bible of campus policies) that remained overlooked?

Is the fence necessary today? Is the fence rooted in racism? Is the fence rooted in xenophobia? I often wonder what Gallaudet University would look without the fence. Can we take it back and make it normal for everybody?

The fence. We do not need FEAR. Imagine without the fence, would we sit together in order to share wisdom and advice with the entire campus? Imagine without the fence, going to Gallaudet the moment you first recognized your own language there.

The campus scene is to be inhabited by two very distinct species. First, before the fence was built, was it youthful, exuberant, natural, and frantically frivolous that they made the scene? Second, the fence oppressed people and rooted in racism, immature, dispirited, unnatural and frantically frightful, the fence dominated the scene, no?

Gallaudet University do not need the fence to open the door to discussion about ASL in higher education, who encourages standing up and signing freely, welcoming intersectionality.

Gallaudet University needs to be bold again. Be an open space.

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-JT

Copyright @ 2017 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is Student Body Government at Gallaudet University in Danger?

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Master Yoda (Deaf) Challenges Darth Vader (Hearing)

There has been concerns about the face of Student Body Government (SBG), a Deaf stronghold since it has been founded at Gallaudet University. SBG themes:

  • Home again at Gallaudet University;
  • The acceptance of Deaf people in the SBG;
  • The nature and persistence of Deaf leadership;
  • The power of Deaf people to influence and shape the human mind;
  • The character of SBG as it shapes intellectual life of the Deaf people.

What kind of concerns? There has been some debate around Gallaudet community that the hearing person who wants to run SBG—does not really care about Deaf people’s leadership. SBG has been clearly indicated that there is no place like home at Gallaudet University. SBG presented the first and foremost mission that Gallaudet University is often a place of safety, where worldly cares fade and ASL becomes the focus.

It is a good thing to encourage SGB to support Deaf people first. There is always a hunger among Deaf students for academic discourse in ASL, the language they know the best. In fact, at Gallaudet University, ASL is a lead language and is one of those universal characteristics of the human language for which SBG leaders are always on the prowl but that does not mean they should stop trying. All the past and present SBG presidents has been Deaf;

The nature and persistence of Deaf leadership in ASL means that we at Gallaudet University are committed to being the best we can be and to be attractive to a diverse community base by taking strategic action to be more inclusive, especially to those who may be novices to teaching Deaf students. They are to bring the flag of ASL to places where it has never flown before.

SBG has been given mission and vision by Deaf people to influence and shape our diverse mind. They are there to defend ASL fiercely, which is important to making monopolistic notions about Deaf culture. SBG values Deaf people first within our Deaf community. They are committed to sustain a culture where Deaf people is respected first as an important language of academic leadership and discourses.

The hearing person—who happens to be Children of Deaf Adults (CODA) with fifth generation of Deaf family would like to to run SBG. That is a personal insult. Would that make leadership for Deaf students to exist in permanent fear of the oblivion, worrying about whether Deaf students can survive the next SBG with an indifferent figurehead? At the same time, at Gallaudet University, Deaf students would be appearing uncomfortable with the achievements of their own past. The higher education, so often the means to their profession and advancement, now finds itself operating under a cloud of hearing people that it falls under a wrong agenda.

As I can remember when I was a graduate student at Gallaudet University, one of the committee members from Graduate Student Association (GSA) approached me if I was interested in running as president for GSA, I said as long as it is “Deaf-centered, Deaf-controlled, and Deaf-oriented” first and the committee member was like, “YES! WE WANT YOU! PLEASE CAST YOUR NAME IN THERE!” and I planned to.

Today, GSA still have hearing students—very confusing and dehumanizing. I can remember seeing some hearing students in there—and was not very impressed by their skills at all. Now it is good time to ask the rhetorical question, “Should SBG allow a hearing student in the cabinet?”—has long considered a way of emphasizing that something under discussion is an obvious, unquestionable truth.

With SBG in danger of having a hearing person in the cabinet, William K. Stevens once said, “When these interlopers choke our native species, ecologists see a danger signal.” Isn’t it the same thing that Deaf people see the danger when SBG might be oppressed by the administration to choke out Deaf people’s ASL and culture? Never mind the student fees.

-JT

Copyright © 2016 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only including this copyright message.

Gallaudet University: The Continuing Significance of Racism

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There was a quote by a Black student at a historically white university, “Everything, everywhere I look, everywhere I turn, right, left, is white. It’s lily white, it’s painted with white. And it’s funny, because I was reading this article about how America is synonymous with white people. I mean, I’m sure when Europeans, or Asians or Africans for this matter, think of America, they think of white people, because white people are mainstream, white people are general. “White is right,” as my daddy tells me. White is right, at least they think it is. So, if you’re a black person trying to assert yourself, and express your culture, there’s something wrong with you, because to do that is to be diametrically opposed to everything this country stands for. And everything this country stands for is what is white.” 

Is Gallaudet a historically white university? Remember, Gallaudet University is a federally funded university through United States Congress, the founding fathers and its documents stand for democracy, liberty, and justice around the world. The United States Congress: Appropriations Committee gives Gallaudet University around $115 million, maybe little more than that—not enough money for awareness. What are the psychological consequences, if any, of an educational government like Gallaudet University and society discrimination against its Black Deaf students? There is not much information on the character and breadth of the discrimination faced by Black Deaf students on the campus.

There are PLENTY of stories that are not told—and that is where the administration is responsible for covering up lies, and do nothing. Ignorance is indeed bliss, as the administration tends to react more in fear than in education when it comes to Racism; however, the primary concern would be liability. Gallaudet does not want to face litigation and public scrutiny and make sure there is restricted access to Racism. On the one hand, certain strategies such as an community accountability or limiting truth access may be the balanced approach, addressing Racism and largely invalidates the concepts of community accountability, creates fear which gives great scrutiny to the Black Deaf students may hinder the efforts at minimizing Racism at great cost.

In a 1989 ABC News/Washington Post survey 37 percent of black respondents agreed that blacks generally face discrimination in getting a quality education. There is no question that Black Deaf students face discrimination in getting a quality education even in 1989 and now in 2015—no doubt. How does higher education influence Black Deaf students’ social and political distrust at Gallaudet? The administration denies access for the “easy way out” and least likely to cause dissention in the ranks. However, in failing to address Racism to begin with, there are a number of bad consequences, including the reputation of a closed-door policy, a rejection of Racism calling to admonish the racists, and the false sense of security of never addressing Racism, which will last only as long as a white racist is caught in the act.

Ultimately, Gallaudet University must make up its own responsibility as to the course of action to take. In the event Gallaudet wishes to develop a “restricted access” plan that is why the administration could not handle truth. In spite of educational laws banning discrimination, Gallaudet University remains bastions of Racism. In the late 1980s a report of the National Commission on Minority Participation in Education and American Life, One Third of a Nation, found a significant decline in black participation in higher education. (American Council on Education and the Education Commission of the States, One-Third of a Nation, Washington: The American Council on Education, 1988).

Given Black Deaf students’ discrimination experiences in almost every aspect of life, even at Gallaudet University, one might wonder why Black Deaf students would even trust at all.

Again, is Gallaudet a historically white university?

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-JT

Copyright © 2015 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only including this copyright message.

EPHPHATHA Revisited to Revise

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ImageNancy Rourke’s Cultural Genocide

EPHPHATHA is essentially unfinished and incomplete, but it begun from the premise that Deaf people suffer from a deep-seated Audism and need to recognize American Sign Language (ASL) be respected for more just a diversity than one we now celebrate. However, Gallaudet University had been a training ground for language belittlement and bigotry, language hegemony and humiliation, even language alienation and atrocity—and it keeps bringing out the misery out of Deaf people for many generations since and to come.

Dealing with the issues of language and cultural oppression dealing with ASL and Deaf people is possibly the most complicated problem of all on the face of earth, and we need to start an activism to challenge the materialism that hinders ASL by making the Deaf hear. We need to build more vehicles for social change and get rid of EPHPHATHA off Gallaudet property.

EPHPHATHA is the term of language bigotry that is much more than an unfortunate chapter in our Deaf history. It is part of many mechanisms of oppression and aversion in Deaf community. Gallaudet should be about cultural and social life of Deaf people. Why not? Deaf people are always in a danger of being defined in another language, that is, a spoken/written language and by attempting to unlock their ears. EPHPHATHA itself is part of biblical literature–both the mythical and historical literature and personal observations and it is important to know this.

Every society has enslaved people. As Karl Marx (1818-1883) pointed out, without slavery, we would all still be living in caves. Now, Audism at Gallaudet created surplus value, created journals and gave Deaf people progress. If Gallaudet kept the EPHPHATHA term, why are Deaf people paying their education? Gallaudet should provide free education to all Deaf people. Administration knows that it is illegal to have the term glued to the seal and their gnashing of teeth, wringing of their hands only cares about million of dollars and untold political power in Gallaudet community. This is about battle of Audism and we need to drive audistic wedges out of the term. It is at best, none of civil equality recognizes at Gallaudet.

Gallaudet University’s culture with the hidden term, EPHPHATHA actually colonizes Deaf minds and instructs them how to act, live, and behave like hearing-minded people. There is no way that Deaf people should be treated as uneducated, underemployed, and underestimated if they do not follow the term to open their ears. Why does Gallaudet silence Deaf people for what purpose? We have to get ready to fight this hidden term and begin heal from the wounds of Audism. It is definitely a threat to Deaf body and mind. It is like an expensive “cocktail therapy” that is not readily or cheaply available. The purpose of not providing all the facts to Deaf people that has drawn attention away from inequality and equalization between Deaf people and Gallaudet.

“Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence”-Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

-JT

Copyright © 2013 Jason Tozier

This text may be freely copied in its entirely only, including this copyright message.