BOT Terminates Fernandes Amidst Flurry of Press Releases
By Chris and Allison Kaftan on Sun 29 Oct 2006 |
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Tonight, the Gallaudet Board of Trustees voted to terminate their selection of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes as the 9th president of the University. In the press release (linked above), they write, “We understand the impact of this decision and the important issues that inherently arise when a Board re-examines decisions in the face of an on-going protest. The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the University to terminate Dr. Fernandes from the incoming President’s position.” They also call for a time of healing and say they continue to meet on transitional issues.
Regarding the FSSA’s second demand of no reprisals, the release calls for those who violated the law and/or Gallaudet’s code of conduct to be held accountable, saying, “We expect the University to honor its long tradition of respect for each other and property and to return to normal.”
Dr. Jane Fernandes issued a statement, copied and pasted here in its entirety:
It is with deep regret that I heard the Board’s decision to terminate my contract.
I love Gallaudet University and I believe I could have made a significant contribution to its future. I hope that the Gallaudet community can heal the wounds that have been created. I trust that we all want a stronger, better, more inclusive Gallaudet where ASL and Deaf culture have been and always will be at the core of academic and community life.
Dr. I. King Jordan also released his own statement in which he acknowledges the pain the community has experienced and calls for healing. In the same paragraph that he calls for an end to the war of words, he praises Dr. Fernandes and the BOTs initial selection of her, noting that they terminated her “to resolve the current stalemate.”
He ends,
“In my Town Hall speech last November I said there is more that unites us than divides us. I think we lost sight of that for a time and we must work together to refocus on the core values that unite us. We should not look for a resolution to the struggle of recent months in terms of winners and losers. If we do, Gallaudet and our students will be the losers.”
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The Deaf will never be a part of the larger world. It’s a shame.
Because they protest? Like early Americans protested? Or pretty much every other group has, in order to achieve civil equality? I’m sick and tired of people implying that just because Deaf people are doing their best to fight off social injustice it somehow means they’re MORE immature than if they’d stayed in the classroom and acted like stupid sheep even when they knew something was wrong! And the thing is they ONLY say that stuff - because people are Deaf! And subsequently somehow feel it’s okay to claim there’s no such thing as Audism!
Just because I’m black doesn’t mean that I’m not guilty of racism although there’s the automatic assumption in some circles. Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean that you don’t harbor prejudices against “breeders.” Just because you’re Deaf doesn’t mean that you don’t harbor a strong dislike against outsiders and hearing people in general.
All identity politics centers around a common identified core and an exclusion of an outside who is frequently perceived as antagonistic. The protesters have successfully excluded Fernandes from their inner core, but they have not had the balls to stand up and say that they want a white Deaf president and no other person will be acceptable.
Any token comments about including Glenn Anderson are nothing but token, period. We have been played as fools, and, yes, I’m looking squarely at you, LaToya.
DDPC: To make sure I’m understanding you correctly, you’re disgruntled both about tokenship in play and the implication that protesters deny any act of audism/deafism/dishonesty (inadvertent or otherwise). Correct?
TOKENISM!
This is nothing but tokenism, pure, plain, and simple. We have been played as fools by everybody. I will wait and see if my prediction is accurate — the student leaders will endorse either Stern or somebody else, but it sure as hell won’t be Glenn Anderson.
So, would you protest?
If you are going to get some sort of reaction out of the community get in touch with the press.
BTW, does it have to be a person of color? Won’t qualifications matter (not like they did in JKFs case)
I’ll be willing to bet that Latoya and other protesters of color won’t protest the non-selection of Glenn Anderson because it’ll shatter any image of unity and show up the fact that they’ve been played for fools. Running around on TV is no substitute for hard-eyed action, like Fernandes found out.
Oh yes. The unity, right.
I went to the ridor site some people were talking about.
Quite a lot of people were heavily against Glenn Anderson. That was inbetween the shouts of Unity, unity unity.
As McConnel says, unity for whom?
It is and has always been unity on the protesters’ terms. We are about to find out who they’re favoring and the lengths at which they will go for until they get their selection.
What I find chilling about the whole thing is that unity is not a mindset that you want in an university. You want critical thinking and independence of thought and I’m not finding that anywhere at Gallaudet right now.
Anonymous… okay, so I ask you, can unity and independent thought/critical thinking coexist? I have an opinion, but I’d like to know yours.
They rather not evolve with the society. They want to keep their old ways, a dependency gulag at Gallaudet University.
You are wrong, Rich. It was Fernandes who wanted bring dependency on us from the medical-industrial complex. This dependency would have killed Gallaudet. It is better now that she was terminated.
Deaf culture follows the societal changes. But we refuse to conform to something that is alien for us. You helped us a lot in dethrowning Kelleher, as you opened many eyes. You helped us to understand what was hidden behind her strange vocabulary.
It is you who keep a dependency gulag in your skull. Your demagogiery is so much similar to that of Jane. You are both very confused individuals. And she learned from you… When she started to sound like you, she was immediately finished. The Board made the right decision!
“White deaf president”?
I think you are really overestimating the racism of the Gallaudet students. Oh, come on.
I won’t lie and say there isn’t racism, but I really don’t think it was a big motivation beyond this protest at all.
Newsflash: White Students at White College Protest Appointment of Black President, Demand Resignation
2nd Newsflash!
Employees at Burger King don’t like their boss. They chain the doors shut and then act outraged when they are told you don’t get to choose your boss and are fired.
A college president isn’t a boss. It’s a president. You do choose presidents. Every four years.
News flash — Students do not select College presidents. When was the last time you heard of campus elections for Presidents. I am sure you knew I was not talking about White House president which you are correct we do elect.
Mobocracy is not a way to run a federal institution. The trustees caved in although Fernandes gave her critics plenty of ammunition.
Oh, I saw a news clip of Noah Beckman signing that the “oppression” has been lifted from him now that Fernandes has been terminated. Noah simply has no idea what it means to be oppressed — he’s a white male who presumes to know what is best for everybody else. Just because he has his hair in a frizz doesn’t mean he’s African American.
This was nothing more then crybabies wanting to make history so they could say they are a part of it. I continue to be amazed at the sheer stupidity that has been displayed. I pray that the adminstration has the guts to issue the severe reprisals that are deserved.
Disgrunted Person has a point. Oppression has been lifted…for whom? If you think that covers the students of color, think again. To find out first-hand, go ask BDSU.
Some black folks are desperate to wedge a gap and create controversy. Why is that? What do they want? Was only LaToya who protested? I don’t think so. There were much more black students for the protest than against it.
Why? Perhaps they’ve been marginalized much too often and for too long. Heck, could be considered worse than audism that’s “rampant” in all nooks and cranies at Gallaudet.
I see many black students on all protest videos. Maybe you should wash your eyes a bit and watch… (???)
… and even that is questionable, Truth, depending on who you ask!
The writing was on the wall when Fernandes kept on giving interviews to the Washington Post and completely failing to even address or even acknowledge the protesters as people. If I were her, I would have gone out to the faculty and the students and talked to them. That’s what a leader does — reach out to people that you may not like in the first instance despite all the negative commotion. If Lincoln could, in the middle of the Civil War, talk to Southerners, Fernandes could certainly have bridged the divide as well.
I agree. I even met her. I liked her. I supported her until I read what she said in the paper about identity politics. I realized that she was trying to put a spin on the situation and “win” it in the press, instead of reaching out to the students.
It was at that moment I realized she was not the right person to lead Gallaudet. We don’t need politicans that try to spin us. We need someone honest who will get down here in the much with us and help us dig out the dirt.
Hey WSS - I want to get in touch with you about an event I’m organizing on Blogging and the Future of Gallaudet. Drop me a line at Jill.Bradbury@gallaudet.edu, if you are interested in participating.
I won’t lie…I felt a sense a sense of celebration when I was informed that the BoT had in fact voted to terminate Jane’s contract. I even went out to a local pub to celebrate with a few drinks and a pizza.
But at the same time, I am touched with a tinge of sadness. It is unfortunate that things had to come to this. I wish there would have been a less painful way to come to this resolution.
Nevertheless, I commend the Board for its decision, and for the integrity it took to make such a decision.
But to paraphrase some of the comments I made in a response to Allison’s post… we should not see this as an end, but as a beginning. As I said, anyone who thinks that the change will occur overnight is hopelessly naive. The problems went much deeper than just the selection of Jane Fernandes as president, and the solution will go much futher than just her terminate as President.
This protest was just a symptom of deeper rooted problem that must be addressed if we are to truly heal. I am not even sure that I fully understand what the problem is…but there is no doubt that it exists, and must be addressed.
But at this moment, all I can do is breath a sigh of relief, give thanks to the Goddess, and pray that the healing can now begin.
Blessed Be,
Reverend Ocean
a.k.a. Virginia L. Beach, Gallaudet alumnus
I felt the same way you do! We have a long way ahead of us, and I personally will continue to keep up with the news and support FSSA and GUAA when needed.
Wow. I guess it won’t gnaw at us anymore. I admit I’m glad I can return to work knowing that I can be more productive now that I don’t have to keep checking the blogs for an update! :)
But, the fact remains, the battle’s just begun.
My mom, who’s hearing, and did not know the depth of the protest, said it all; it would be pointless to have a leader the students will not respect. It definitely sends a powerful message to everyone.
I hope that the FSSA and, especially, the students of Gallaudet University will give the respect to JFK and IKJ regardless of the breaking news. They are both human. They fought for what they thought was best for the university. They are a part of the deaf community no matter where they go. They deserve the respect from all involved with this protest (especially both sides) and I hope that the battle that’s just begun is off to a smooth start.
And while I understand this calls for a huge and exciting historical celebration with the release of every emotion known to woman/man, why does Chris Corrigan and LaToya Plummer have to chug down a beer in front of everyone (see http://www.deafread.com’s Celebration video)? That serves IKJ’s point in the last sentence.
Your thoughts are mine exactly!
Did they seriously? Oy vey.
Love your comment… thank you for bringing up the point (again) about respect. I really hope that everyone can find a way to respect and honor each other as Gally moves into this new transitional period, whatever the outcome may be.
I hope it wasn’t beer but the act of chugging resound a beer to me! :)
*grins*
Although I have not had a chance to see this victory video at this time (the servers are currently down, no doubt due to all the folks who are taking a perverse pleasure in seeing that beer being chugged down)…I have to agree.
Sometimes victory is better celebrated with humility.
I saw the video they are chugging away like they are at a frat party.
My words to the deaf leaders who are saddened by the loss of Jane Fernandes as next president of Gallaudet University, is to go on with your good deeds, do your business in areas not readily accessible to the old deaf guards. The 98% of the deaf society is on our side. Time is on our side and the old deaf guards will be paying a big price for their small victory yesterday.
We can capitalize on this by showing the world that old deaf guards are very inflexible and non-inclusive which is a major turnoff to most grantmakers. Save the newspapers and the Gallaudet university press releases on Jane’s termination and use them in your highly competitive grant writing.
If youre competing with a deaf organization for funds, use the blogs to see if the competition supports the protest and use that info in your grantwriting as proof of the old deaf guard’s inflexibility toward people who represent the future of deaf society. You will win easily.
The recent old deaf guard’s victory at Gallaudet is our fundraising goldmine to use.
LETS USE IT!
Richard Roehm
Old Deaf Rich, guard yourself because a huge goldmine gulag is building up in your skull. ;)))))))))))
Yeah, LOL. The beer. I wa slike, “umm… first of all, are you of legal age? second, aren’t you NOT supposed to drink beer outside on the campus, and third, ummm. way to go, bud”
But oh well I guess you can’t blame them, as excited they are righ tnow.
oh, and I promised myself. Tomorrow, during work, I will NOT check a. single. blog.
it’ll be hard but I gotta start sometime.
Chugging a beer? What’s there to celebrate about? A deaf community divided? Shredding two long-time members of the deaf community to bits? Creating emotional discord and limbo for weeks at end? Sorry to be a party pooper, but for me, it is not a time for celebration. It is a time for healing.
And in the meantime, think about this. How do the students of color feel being on campus now? Are the protestors now flaunting their pyrrhic victory in their faces? I will know soon enough, they will let me know. Will the SBG/FSSA now do the harder work of ensuring social justice reigns on campus, such as anti-racism…or was it just another empty rhetoric all along? We will be watching, and hoping, they indeed will be walking their talk.
I agree — this joyful celebration raises serious concerns regarding the veracity o fthe claim that this was about leadership.
I would venture to guess that the joyfulness is because they have succeeded in overturning an unacceptable candidate, but they have never quantified what is an acceptable candidate other than “negatives” and those clearly eliminate anybody who is not Deaf.
What I would like to see is a Deaf or deaf person of color. It’s about time Gallaudet faced the fact that its student body is just as racist as anybody else, deaf, Deaf, or hearing. The protesters were largely white. Fernandes recognized although she didn’t say too much about it — that Gallaudet is the last bastion of the white male preserve.
I’m sorry you have to experience that “white male preserve”
I would have thought that in this day and age you would not have to deal with that. Imagine if all the energy and resources that were wasted on this protest had been put towards addressing concerns like yours. Good luck.
Mmmph. DDPC: I keep smiling at your comments. Would love to start a conversation via e-mail. You up for it? Allison.Kaftan (at) deafdc.com
Why does a Deaf person of color count as “diversity” but not a Deaf woman? Racism and sexism go hand in hand, along with multiple layers of oppression (has that become a household name now?). Had a Deaf white man been selected to be the next president for Gallaudet University, would the protests still have happened? And would the protestors be still spewing the same rhetoric of social justice?
Deaf woman of color
You make a good point if I will do.
I supported the FSSA with all of my strength throughout the protest in spite of unfavorable media coverage. Unfortunately, I finally got turned off when I saw Jane Jonas’ photos (an unbelievably long beer funnel was pictured) and read the article in the Washington Post today:
“That set off a night of jubilation on the campus in Northeast Washington, including hugs, beer funnels, speeches about unity…”
Come one, beers?? bongs?? How tacky and unprofessional. Image is all image, folks!!!
Wow. This outcome sure isn’t what I expected. I have a feeling, though, that this is just the beginning of the end.
The protestors said they would be fighting the reprisals. So I definitely expect a few twists and turns before it’s *completely* over. And quite honestly, I don’t think JKF’s going out that quietly. I would be VERY surprised if she did.
And I have to admit, I wonder what the ramifications will be for everyone in the community. Where do we as a whole go from here?
~ Deaf Pundit
Stayed tuned to this station, Deaf Pundit! Season 2 is beginning. Wonder if the BoT will re-open the search process, or just pick the man behind Door Number One, or Door Number Two? Will the search process be different from, or the same as the first one? Will IKJ stay longer? We’ll tell you the answers after these messages from our sponsors :-)
LOL.
Which sponsors would those be? HawkRelay — the name alone is war-isome! ;-) We need some Doves and peace…
Maybe we could get the Hawk and Dove to sponsor a mediation party? ;-)
I am afraid the ramifications are a combination of what several people have said here one way or another:
White students will gloat and continue the Deaf white dominance of major positions on campus. A greater divide between DoD and all other “impure” forms of deaf people will be palpable. If you think I exaggerate all anyone ever has to do is walk into Gallaudet’s cafeteria (hanson plaza) and you can see a microcosm of the social, racial, political, and other divisions that exist among students at Gallaudet. These were the kind of things JK wished to address with her vision and her strategic plan for an inclusive university.
The selection of the next Deaf president more likely means Deaf of Deaf, ASL user (God help him/her if he/she as speech skills) someone who is seen as representative of the .03% that makes up the elite core of Deaf Culture. Ironically: A president who will be expected to cater to the masses, BUT who will not be of the masses. FSSA, GUAA, NAD and many other organizations expect to have a say so in the selection of the next president. Until the BOT constituency is changed they really don’t have a vote.
The division that this situation created for everyone, (for, against, neutral, couldn’t care less) at all levels (from admin down to maintenance people) isn’t going to go away for a long time even after all the workshops, group therapy, panel of experts, round table discussions and whatever else is going to be done to begin the healing process. I have been at Gallaudet for 12 years and I am an observer of patterns of behavior as much as the next person. As evidence of Gallaudet’s community tendency to hold on to negative feelings, discontent, grudges, and outright hate we just have to read the letter from Clerc Center teachers http://news.gufssa.com/categor.....rc-center/ . This group of teachers are talking about things that ‘supposedly’ happened between 7 and 12 years as if it happened to them yesterday. The faculty is no different. Their issues with JK date back 6 years. At the time she was appointed as provost. That part wasn’t even her fault. IKJ over-extended his authority as President when he selected her without following proper procedures.
The results are the same in both cases. Many years later when the opportunity presented itself in the form of a student-led protest against the very person they had been harboring all these negative feeling for, both groups (clerc center and Fac) jumped on the bandwagon and joined the hate parade. So much for all the money that was spent for therapy, mediation groups, support groups, community meetings, retreat after retreat, climate study, task force for this, that and the other. It just doesn’t go away. Someone, sometime, somewhere will use anger, and frustration and oppression resulting from the current situation as arsenal to swing at the next target.
Outside the walls of Gallaudet, the ramifications may include loss of credibility with funding, sources and research partners looking to serve more diverse and inclusive populations not to give to those who already experienced the best of all possible situations (DoD). The new president may not have the credibility or desire to continue with the Sorensen building vision of both ASL and English coming together to show our status as a BILINGUAL university. (My personal per peeve is for people to say we are an ASL university since it negates the use of all English modes including print).
There is so much more to say but I will stop now. I just wanted to post this to have a record of my own thoughts to compare against the events that will take place in the months and years to come.
PEACE to you all
Oh yeah.
I have been on a few news message boards, as well as the general press. A very large number of people thought that the school made a mistake.They may not be following, but it bothers a lot of people to see mob rule and a person forced out before they have a chance.
Speaking about funding. As has been discussed, she is either being paid off or is due to sue, so money is lost anyway. And Congress will surely investigate. When governance resumes after the election get ready for some people to question why a BOT went back on its contract without proper explanation.
“(God help him/her if he/she as speech skills)” - that is to be construed for anybody to have speech skills as not “Deaf enough.”
You said it, not me, “For-the-record”.
True. Although people are more or less forgiving of your speech skills depending on your ASL fluency.
My speech skills is fine. No problemo. ASL. Not a real problem there, either. If I choose to speak, that’s my right and choice. Although I respect others their right to whatever form to communicate. In fact, just got off of the VP with a very good friend of mine. Uses SEE2. Prefers SEE2 than ASL though the person is learning more new ASL. If chooses to stick with SEE2, who am I to argue or even marginalize the person’s choice? I don’t practice discrimination in the communication preferences territory. You might. But not me.
Whoever is going to be the next school president, I truly pity them.
It will have to be someone enormously qualified, has connections to the school, and is deaf. They could go back to other candidates, but I would question their sanity to take a job like that. It is walking into hostile territory with guns already drawn.
For the students, expect an interim president for the next year.
For the protestors, celebrate now. You got what you wished for, just dont complain if it isnt exactly what you wanted.
for starters, the next president should wear a halo, walk on water, and turn loaves into fishes. But you all know what happened to HIM. :-)
We need a decent president, for a change!
Have you begun looking for another position? Or are you suing?
Are you offering me the presidency?? ;)))
Nope. Just wondering if your “we” will become “they” when you move on, get a job…. Do you have permanent residency?
Considering the history of our discussions here, I don’t particularly feel compelled to believe that you care any bit about what you ask. So let me keep my personal information for myself.
However, if you want to nominate me for the next president of Gallaudet University, please do not be shy, just do it. Thanks!! ;)))))))))))))
So you too can get a hefty severance package?
No I want to rule like a King. I want worshippers. I want a building named after me, and another one after my wife. Then I go and retire peacefully. I promise. ;)))))))))))))))))))
Right now, I feel sorry for Dr. Feranandes and I certainly hope she takes advantage of all legal resources available to her. I also feel sorry for the protestors who have engineered this for their own personal gratification and I have some concerns regarding the long term consequences. Judging from many of the excellent pieces of blogs and comments that have been written on deafdc.com, I’d like to be blunt:
The deaf community is hurtling towards a landscape that will be significantly different in the next several decades and as of now; we are not ready. Further, this will become one of those protests where several years from now, people will still not be able to articulate a specific reason as to why the protest started. If it takes a 17 page statement, complete with third party hearsay and innuendo, doesn’t that make you pause?
I’m not sure how to further articulate my thoughts or dismay with the long term consequences of this. Part of my sadness is due to the differences that we are seeing impact the deaf community: technology, education, advanced testing for deafness, genetic manipulation, and new laws being written without much input from the deaf community.
Dr. Feranandes seemed to recognize that and saw Gallaudet as a place to address those. Her leadership was, doubtless, abrasive and too strong for many people. Yet, I think she understood that the deaf community is going to need to ‘step up’ on the global stage. Unfortunately, to me and to many people in the world, we seem to have taken a step back where a respectable academician was torn down like a piece of meat and discarded all in the name of “Unity”.
While I understand your sentiments, it is just much more than the academician she is. Regardless of her ideas and visions, she was just simply not well-liked and not well-respected (and vice-versa). That’s a really hard path to take if she’s to become a president of a university.
Hiya Scott! I, too, am very curious about how the landscape of deafness, technology and education will evolve over the next few decades. My mother and I had a discussion a couple weeks ago about whether the role of Gallaudet needs to change, in light of the drop in enrollment and the hordes of mainstream deafies (like us) heading off to college, grad school, law school, etc., at places other than Gally.
I’m sure she has a nice severance package. And I’m sure the deal includes her walking away quietly.
I was thinking about something just now.
Are the protesters liable? I mean, it is not like they conquered a devil that vanishes in a puff of smoke, they stopped someone from getting a job.
Would the actions taken, make them liable in civil court, and damages be owed to her from the organizers of the protest?
She deserves a very generous severence package. She applied for a job. She was hired and then terminated before given a chance.
“Unity” never existed the whole time. It was an illusion. As I have said since May, “Unity for whom?” is what I’ve asked. Indeed, this was dirty laundry that was aired for all to see. Each one of us, including protesters, must acknowledge their own accountability in this mess. If they can’t or won’t do that, there won’t be any true healing nor will there be “unity” in all of this. This whole thing was a farce. A fascade by those who insisted on wearing the mask of hypocrisy that totally turned the “Mask of Benevolence” onto themselves for a change.
In short, it was ugly from all sides. You know who they are. Be accountable for your own actions because there are consequences to one’s own action. And those who insisted on making it worse are not part of the solution, but the problem. It’d be intellectually dishonest to think otherwise.
Do you guys really think she had no idea how much people disliked her after almost 11 years on campus? Would you try to lead a group of people who hate you? If she didn’t see that, I’m sorry, she really shouldn’t have been in the running for President at all, you know? To not know your people, that badly… it seems weird, doesn’t it? Unless she was just power-mad.
You are a bigot.
…because…
Yes, how is this comment “bigotted”?
Calling someone power-mad isnt bigoted?
How about the way that this hatefest has been about her on a very personal level.