Newsweek interviewed Noah Beckman, SBG President at Gallaudet, in an online exclusive (read it here).
While I feel like I can’t possibly take any more talk about the protest, I like this interview. In Beckman’s responses, signs of lessons learned and hints of the path forward emerge.
He says there are mistakes that he has made. He acknowledges the presence of racism on campus as well as his own participation in the system that supported that racism. He is not, in my opinion, shirking responsibility.
On campus, there is a feeling of lightness for some, disappointment for others, and relief for many. There is also uncertainty, both because there has been no official plan announced yet as to how the University will proceed about selecting the next president, and also because it is uncertain what kind of campus community will rise from the ashes.
Virginia Beach, in her guestblog trilogy (of which parts one and two have already been posted), talks about how the spiritual experience of this protest has the potential to acheive real positive change in a political arena.
This Beckman interview, I think, is one of the first blooms of that change.
I will be watching eagerly for more signs.
(with thanks to DeafDC commenter, “talk is very cheap,” who alerted us to this article being blogged about on bibliomarket.wordpress.com)
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Better President Now? The Giving Back Awards Why I’m Still Protesting at Gallaudet
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Noah Beckman’s interview was excellent. He gave the right answers. Noah definitely took a step forward.
I agree. I’m actually impressed with his answers. I certainly respect him a lot more over the other visible members of the protest leadership.
Excellent and positive!!!!! I learned a few new and valuable information that I didn’t hear during the protest.
I thought it was a great interview. I enjoyed the article.
Let me add my total approval to this interview. Noah definitely demonstrated an intelligence and maturity that we will need in the upcoming months to allow that change to manifest.
What impressed me most was his willingness to admit that he made a couple of mistakes himself. That to me is the mark of a true leader…admitting that you’re not infallible, and you are capable of doing the wrong thing.
I totally agree…he’s earned my respect.
True, however, that remains to be seen. A follow-through after such an acknowledgement would be essential in fulfilling that promise of greater inclusiveness.
Point well made, McConnell.
Undoubtedly the world will be watching to see if Noah does in fact live up to that promise.
That’s an immense responsibility on this young man’s shoulders.
If he continues to show the intelligence and maturity he demonstrated during this interview, then I have confidence in that promise.
And in the meantime, we can all do our part to help encourage him, support him, and guide him.
Agreed. I’m also wondering: how long ago did Noah realize he had made these mistakes, and was there a reason he could not have mentioned it sooner and made amends? Not to dismiss his magnanimous gesture… just seems a little late in the day.
true, but as they say…
“better late than never.”
Judging from what I saw, I’d say it happened during the first week of May, around when the FSSA Coalition was formed.
He did? I didn’t see it, the community outside the gates of GU probably didn’t see it either. I agree with Curiouseyes-should have done sooner, instead of prolonging the racial tension on campus for months. Sometimes “better late than never” doesn’t apply to certain situations- you wouldn’t want to leave a serious wound exposed to the air to fester and spread, would you? Still, I applaud him for being honest and open about that.
It’s a good interview. I have to say that Noah appears to be displaying a great degree of intelligence and maturity that, unlike some other student leaders, gives me hope that Gallaudet will progress and move forward.
Yes, I agree Noah Beckman displayed a type of behavior that we all could learn from - being humble & very noble yet straightforward. I agree that he also shows a lot of maturity and intelligence that reflects all other student leaders. It takes a lot to accept responsibility for one’s actions. In my opinion, all student leaders has done a fantastic job with doing all that with class.
Humility is an undervalued characteristic trait in the Deaf Culture. I applaud Noah Beckman for swallowing pride and reflecting on the past course of the protests with the critical analysis and insight of an actualized privileged person. Now that is a marked leader future generations of deaf children can look up to.
Wow. I’m impressed. Being that honest takes a lot of guts. I hope the administration will take note of his sincerity and willingness to discuss what needs to be done to move forward.
I agree with people so far.
Good interview, talks well and is optomistic. He doesnt talk in an angry tone or take pot shots at people.
Well, I hope Noah considers JKF to be “D”eaf enough, too. For the “D”eaf community and Gallaudet.
http://kokonutpundits.blogspot.....-poll.html
Maybe we should ask him and other leaders that question considering the results of my poll so far. I am just shaking my head right now at the poll results which is still ongoing and growing. Is this a confirmation?
Jane was Deaf enough until she used the deaf card in her spin. As any self respecting person would know, using the deaf card in this situation is a sure-fire method of making yourself become a pariah.
How can this poll distinguish the “not deaf enough” votes from those who were offended by the deaf card argument and those who actually feel she is not Deaf enough from the start?
Mkultra, Remember, it’s the protesters who are saying “It’s time for healing”. I agree. That was my point of conducting a poll three days later after the termination. If I said “Are you still angry at her?” I’m sure the poll would reflect the “Yes’es” as the majority response. Regardless, politics and hate shouldn’t make a difference here if a person is “D”eaf enough according to you guys. She signs. She’s deaf. She may talk some. She knows ASL but is not the most fluent of the ASL crop. Are you saying that “hate” should be an allowed excuse in determining who is “D”eaf enough or not? There’s a point in this poll I’m conducting. I sort of expected that there’d be more “yes” than “no” in the poll result. So far, that hasn’t been the case.
Actually, McConnell…
I don’t get your point. What exactly is supposed to be the purpose of this poll, and just what are you trying to prove?
OF COURSE if you had asked if people are still angry with Jane, most of them would likely say Yes…heck I would! First of all, healing doesn’t happen overnight. The damage that has been done is going to take time. It’s been less then a week…and folks are still struggling to process feelings from a protest that endured for several months.
But the fact that I might still be angry with Jane has NOTHING to do with the d/D issue…it has to do with her conduct during the protest. Do I think she acted in a manner becoming of a President-Designate and an appointed leader of our community? No, I do not. I expected better from her. And I would be angry at ANYONE who conducted themselves in a comparable manner, whether they be Deaf or deaf or hard of hearing or hearing or deafblind or whatever…black or white, young or old, male or female…..
But being angry with someone and hating them are two different things. I can be angry with my child, my spouse, my boss, my best friend…but that doesn’t mean that I hate that individual. It means that at the moment, I’m not happy with your behavior, and I am not pleased with the consequences of that behavior that I now have to deal with.
By the same token, I don’t think anyone is happy with the consequences of Jane’s behavior that we are now having to deal with. I’m not saying she is the cause of all the problems, but let’s face it - had she conducted herself in a better manner, I don’t think we would be in quite the mess we’re now left to fix. There were a lot of people who were much more sympathetic to her situation until they started seeing the way she handled this crisis…or mishandled it, as the case might be. At that point, it became a necessity to step in and remove her for the the best interests of the university.
You say you agree that it’s time for the healing, and yet you seem fixated on continuing, for whatever reason, to promote this divisiveness that only seems to serve your own agenda. I fail to see how this poll promotes the concept of healing and moving on.
If you are really ready to move on and work not only for a better Gallaudet, but a stronger, healthier and more unified community, by whatever letter you want to define it, let’s see you walk your talk.
Well put, Virginia.
I agree, I was disappointed with Dr. Fernandes’ handling of the crisis as well.
I met her in person, and I really liked her. I wanted to support her, but seeing the way she handled the situation, I couldn’t. :(
Virginia, I am framing this in the context that “Deafism” still exist on campus and in the community. Are you saying it doesn’t exist?
Next, I didn’t say it was time for healing, the protesters did. And I agree. We should be moving forward about addressing various issues (Racism, Audism, Sexism, Classism and even Deafism). Now, you may say it has nothing to do with “Deafism” or “not Deaf enough”. All I’m saying that there are many underlying issues why they don’t like JKF aside from her leadership abilities. Some major ones. Some minor ones. It *IS* there. Unless we’re trying to excuse ourselves by playing the “hate” card or “politics” card as reason for voting her as “not Deaf enough”? What I’m asking you to do is set aside your hate and politics ( after all protesters said it is now a time for healing), and bias and ask the question, is JKF really “Deaf enough” to be a part of the Deaf community?
I’m not here to promote divisiveness. Promoting divisiveness is to say that Audism, Racism, Deafism, Classism and whatever isms that follows do not exist at all on campus. I don’t want to play that ostrich with the head in the sand.
Then…if you really want to address the issues, why have I not seen a single post from you in my blog that identifies some of the issues - as I see them - issues which on the surface may not seem to address the “isms” which you speak of (which I agree do exist and do need to be dealt with) but which I feel do merit serious thought in working towards resolving those problems of Audism, Racism, Deafism, and whatever?
If you don’t want to promote divisiveness, then how about showing us that you are capable of extending the same courtesy in listening to what WE have to say as you seem to demand we give to you every time you post a comment?