Gallaudet University administration – …And the Truth Shall Set You Free.

Gallaudet University: Charity Reedy Warigon, a Finalist for Chief Diversity Officer

June 2, 2017June 2, 2017 The Last HiccupLeave a comment

10.16.12news-flickr-gallaudet-university-edit.jpg

I am a Deaf White Straight Male. I am an alumnus of Gallaudet University. As Gallaudet University is strongly white establishment system even today, the administration, majority of faculty and students are still predominately white. I am sharing my major concerns about Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) final three picks. I honestly think that Gallaudet University need to search again and pick the right people—there are plenty of qualified only Deaf People of Color candidates.

Focusing on Charity Reedy Warigon, a White Deaf privileged female who is a special assistant to the Vice President for Engagement at Gallaudet University. She is one of three finalists. As I am sure that Charity have an impressive resume that I will not deny that, but is she the right person?

Will she understand the “home” at Gallaudet University for people of color? Will she understand Deaf people of color’s power struggles in the white-establishment academy? Does Charity understand the character of Racism as it shapes intellectual life of the Deaf people of color?

Although Gallaudet University has a Racism long history to be performed within the Deaf community, it has yet to stop marketing itself and treating Deaf people of color as its consumers. It should develop and share much needed “diversity and inclusiveness” catchword, and hardly ever offered resolutions. Even hate crimes is the face of “dark crime figure” known as under the rug at Gallaudet. Yes, you read this right, diversity is also about recognizing hate crimes and hate speech. It is rarely talked about.

The position for CDO must be responsible for demonstrating accountability for diversity and effectively communicating the accomplishments, needs and value of Deaf people of color to the public and to the world. Why Gallaudet University thinks Deaf people of color in language and cultural oppression should be oppressed was my comprehension. Once someone is oppressed, he or she learns to become the oppressor.

The problem is that Charity is white. I also realized that she did not attend an important event last March 2017 at Gallaudet University: Islamophobia Within Deaf Community. This is also part of diversity as well. I remembered seeing Charity to show up for an event Beyond Inclusion hosted by Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) that it did not include Deaf people of color on the panel. It was more important for Charity to attend this event than attending Islamophobia Within Deaf Community.

Link: https://audismnegatsurdi.com/2017/02/23/my-reflection-beyond-inclusion/

Although it is not the first time what Charity had done before. She was only an American sitting on Canadian Hearing Society [CHS] board making best interests for Deaf Canadians when she is not a Canadian. I think what she did was very selfish move. I believe that it applies to Deaf Canadians only when they understand Canada better than an American who does not live there. Is that also a power trip, no? Would we really describe Charity as a “leader” for the position of CDO?

I think Charity knows better than that—and would make a wise decision to give CDO position to someone else who are qualified Deaf people of color. As in CDO search announcements via Gallaudet website, Charity may be “married to an African-American, she has exposure to the rich and diverse African cultures.” Still, it does not mean anything really. She will always have white privileges. Always. Even Deaf privileges that are often oppressed Deaf people of color. Ain’t that true or not?

Even though my Aunt Sue who is married to a Black male, I have strong exposure in Black cultures as I have many Black cousins, Aunts and family member. I still would not apply for CDO because I do not understand their experiences through pain and struggles. And I am a White Deaf man. I respect them first. That is a big difference.

Please, no hearing candidates that DOES NOT KNOW ASL either, too! Also, the CDO should be well-versed knowledge about LGBTA, Deaf returned citizens (which is the most marginalized and most oppressed group), ethnicity, socio-economic status, religious beliefs (for example, Islamphobia) and many others.

-JT

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

References:

https://www.gallaudet.edu/chief-diversity-officer-search/announcements/announcement—april-25

The Missing Link: Where is Dean of Students Affairs and Academic Support’s Leadership?

March 13, 2017March 13, 2017 The Last HiccupLeave a comment

Someone sent me a comment the other day, “Based on your observation where many key players do not participate in this event is very serious concern and it needs to address directly to Gallaudet University President immediately!”

The event, Islamophobia Within Deaf Community on March 2nd, 2017 held at Gallaudet University—let’s talk about the topic: Dean of Student Affairs and Academic Support. People needs to be aware that the Dean also handles for Crisis Leadership Team (CLT)—and Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT).

The Dean of Student Affairs and Academic Support was supposed to be “STUDENT VOICE”—for students. That is the key player. There are some Muslim students at Gallaudet who may be on “Trump’s List”—and the Dean was supposed to be the STUDENT VOICE for Muslims, too. Whether like it or not.

voice.listen.student-voice.roshan.jpg

The Dean did not show up for an important event. It is not first time though. The Dean was supposed to show leadership. The event was crucial for everyone. Seriously, it was.

I remember sharing my experience as a new graduate student who came to Gallaudet on scholarship, the graduate students showed up for an opening ceremony in August 2013, and I remember seeing that the lack of invited speakers known as “key players” who did not show up. The Dean of Student Affairs and Academic Support was one of them. I was baffled.

The Dean fails to commit crucial leadership and fellowship around students that calls for questions to think about.

Did the Dean understand that the students are motivated to learn? Did the Dean understand the nature of change? Did the Dean understand how to change?

Ian McDermott and Joseph O’Connor wrote, both are management change experts wrote a book called Practical NLP for Managers in 1996, state:

“Change is difficult, it calls for courage, yet the personal and professional rewards are great. The situation now is such that you have to change to survive.”

I mean, look at that way with the motivation by the nature of change goes to the students who came to Gallaudet University for THREE big purposes: LEADERSHIP, SELF-CONFIDENCE, and HOPE. I am sure that you would agree on that part. It is not that difficult to understand.

Islamophobia is part of crisis. What does it tell you when a “leader” who handles as a Dean of Student Affairs and Academic Support, CLT and BIT did not show up when the event about Islamophobia was very important to attend and try to understand their concerns. It was once in a life-time.

Is it fair for students to face with their personal struggle faced by the Administration of Gallaudet University and the Dean?

Why fly under the radar?

-JT

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

Free Tuition and Housing at Gallaudet University?

February 20, 2017February 20, 2017 The Last HiccupLeave a comment

Why not Gallaudet University offer all DEAF students free tuition and free housing? Yes, as in spelling, F-R-E-E. After reading an article last night about University of Wisconsin-Madison “student government drafted a resolution that would grant Black students free tuition and housing that would help out centuries of racial inequities.”[Please look for the links in the references below] Because of long violent of racial terror, slavery and Jim Crow.

That makes sense. So, why not Gallaudet University offer free higher education for DEAF students? I will do my best to explain why they all should be qualified, no matter what the circumstances are. Deaf students on the campus should be bias-free and not to allow religious bigotry anywhere on the campus.

First, they experience religious terror and slavery because Deaf students are viewed as slaves to allow EPHPHATHA to terrorize their pursuit of happiness and their human rights to embrace the state of being Deaf.

As in slavery, in a Merriam-Webster definition, “submission to a dominating influence“–in other words, Gallaudet U. allows EPHPHATHA to be a dominating influence in hearing world. They have no business or hold the intellectual ground to own Deaf students as slaves as long as they are all cured to be hearing again. That is wrong!

Remember, EPHPHATHA means “be opened” and the objective of the goal is to eradicate the state of being Deaf. It is a dangerous game. Not only that, but Deaf students were required to show their dB tests to prove that they are Deaf–is that part of profiling, yes?

Why not make Gallaudet University as Deaf-centered? Do all hearing universities require hearing students to show their dB, too? From Merriam-Webster dictionary on the term, profiling—it means ‘the act of suspecting or targeting a person on the basis of observed characteristics or behaviour‘ therefore, EPHPHATHA has been targeting Deaf people on the basis of observed characteristics based on their state of being Deaf for a century and half.

The goal to make Gallaudet University a Deaf-centered, Deaf-controlled, and Deaf-oriented and seek to stop language discrimination, language bigotry, and language hegemony. Gallaudet University should set a good example of offering educational philosophy that Deaf people have human rights to learn, thrive, and succeed without being oppressed by the energy of EPHPHATHA.

Gallaudet University Manual of Operations declares “EPHPHATHA: Be Opened” and it is clear an Audism market or even hate-speech market to establish rapport in order to dehumanize and confound Deaf people on the campus.

It is time for Student Body Government (SBG) and Graduate School Association (GSA) to team up before the Board of Trustees (BoT) to have the term removed from campus. If Gallaudet University refuses to remove EPHPHATHA then be sure to check out The Peter Principle to make sure Deaf students have the rights to stop the oppressive traits. New people merge into the administration. Open-minded people. All Deaf.

That is why I think Gallaudet University should give ALL DEAF students free tuition and housing until EPHPHATHA is no longer welcomed on the campus. Does that make any sense to you?

-JT

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

References:

http://atlantablackstar.com/2017/02/19/university-wisconsin-student-government-call-free-tuition-black-students/

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/on_campus/on-campus-uw-madison-faces-lawsuit-threat-over-race-based/article_b14fe4ab-eb57-5077-962a-aa0994eceaf9.html

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slavery

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profiling

http://www.australia.edu/Resources/free-tuition-for-international-students.html

http://er.educause.edu/articles/2013/10/can-the-current-model-of-higher-education-survive-moocs-and-online-learning

The Rising Tide of EPHPHATHA

February 6, 2017March 6, 2017 The Last HiccupLeave a comment

David Call’s Ephphatha. EPHPHATHA! EPHPHATHAAAA! 2017.

After writing countless blogs about EPHPHATHA for years, I realized that it is also part of hate speech. “Excuse me? What did you say?” Yes, hate speech. The long struggle to give meaning about hate speech has established that freedom of speech and of the press is a fundamental value in American democracy. Do you agree that EPHPHATHA is a paramount value supporting religious bigotry and hate speech at Gallaudet University?

Deaf students have the right to have full protection away from religious violence demanding them that they shall be no longer Deaf is hateful speech. The safeguard of students comes first–not only that, but also the violation of their privacy, too. The case of EPHPHATHA was a ruthless exposure of pursuit of happiness to erase Deaf students’ character. Gallaudet University has no right to publicly scorn, ridicule and contempt as in injuring them at all.

The United States Constitution in the First Amendment, section one, “Freedom of Religion” may be one of the greatest trickery of all time within 14 words, Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press–what does it mean when it comes to EPHPHATHA at Gallaudet University?

Since National Deaf-Mute College created in 1864, EPHPHATHA has been blossomed the invisible mode as a way to connect the world of religious bigotry. But, at the same time, the “welcome” of Deaf students entering into Gallaudet University, has sadly allowed it to become a powerful and virulent problem targeting the pursuit of happiness for Deaf students whom have the right to be Deaf. The word, virulent means a disease of a poison.

The form of hate speech that are directly linked to religious bigotry to create the marginalization and targeting them, to the spread of falsehoods that threaten the generation of Deaf people today and tomorrow. Is that a political polarization, no? Is this a real-world religious bigotry, no? Is it hate speech, no? I could go on…….

PROTECTED CATEGORY= Gallaudet University.

ATTACK=DEAF people.

HATE SPEECH=EPHPHATHA.

EPHPHATHA attempting to make Deaf people hear again, but it is also mocking them–enough! Gallaudet University needs to remove the term of EPHPHATHA–no longer as the gatekeeper of hate speech.

-JT

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

How to Challenge EPHPHATHA at Gallaudet University

October 3, 2016 The Last HiccupLeave a comment

Is Student Body Government at Gallaudet University in Danger?

February 7, 2016March 6, 2017 The Last HiccupLeave a comment

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

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

Why Is There No Celebration About American Sign Language?

December 2, 2015March 9, 2017 The Last HiccupLeave a comment

Marvin Miller Gettin’ Ready!

December 1^st, 2015 has a very special meaning. 60 years ago, Rosa Parks had her share of enemies, perhaps more than most. She was a human icon to do things by full measures. It is incredible how she taught from her heart and soul.

Earlier this afternoon, Marvin Miller had a class project given at Gallaudet University about The Dictionary of American Sign Language on Linguistic Principles that shook the Deaf community 50 years ago that became a trademark for Deaf History. Several generations would pass before every Deaf child in America should be familiar with the name of William Stokoe. The event was a sell-out with many people standing in the room. It is a good sign! It is a human icon by full measures to preserve ASL!

The big question, how come Gallaudet University did not choose to host a huge festival and honor ASL 50 years ago? Remember, the truth must be told that William Stokoe, Carl Croneberg and Dorothy Casterline were ridiculed badly by the administration and did not bother to give them full protection. Stokoe suffered the worst of all. The administration must be liable for community accountability that they are from an old school of thoughts, trained to view ASL as clients to justify their claims of misunderstanding and other things.

While the last stars faded, the reason Marvin Miller did this to uproot the awareness unfold in his mind. Step by step, like a chess game. ASL has been living a long life to look upon. No matter how splendid ASL at the apex of heroism, when the soul had fled it takes all education and soul-searching comes with it. ASL shows it plenty of vision remains of glory!

The festival that celebrates 50 years after the publication of ASL at Gallaudet shows that the last surviving administration issue would be their final order not to host the festival: Go back the way you came. It is too bad that the highest-ranking moneyman in the administration did not give full respect for ASL and the Deaf community. It is absolutely true that Gallaudet University, in 1980’s there was an assertion that ASL has NO PLACE in Deaf Education.

It is the history in the making to remember what Marvin Miller has done for Gallaudet community.

Hands waving!

-JT

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