Forgive the football analogy, but should the new NFL Commissioner be blamed for the mistakes of the outgoing one? The Commissioner was essentially the former number two guy who moved up.
During a television interview with the new NFL Commissioner, a reporter accused the old NFL Commissioner of having the leader of the Player’s Union as a “personal pet”.
While this sentiment may be shared by some in NFL-circles, the reporter did not appear to blame the current NFL Commissioner for the same mistake.
Why?
No two individuals are the same.
Each leader has unique accomplishments and mistakes. Can we predict how well the new NFL Commissioner will do five or ten years from now? He could be an utter disaster by allowing baseball to overtake NFL as the most popular sport in the country or a spectacular success where the NFL pads it already insurmountable lead over all other sports in America.
On this same vein, Dr. Jane Fernandes, who has been under siege since her selection as the new Gallaudet President last spring, is a different kind of leader. If anything, she has portrayed herself as a departure from the status quo, at least from this outsider’s perspective. Probably in part due to her own unique style of leadership and because of the influence of the Gallaudet community and the current protest.
Fernandes just announced a $710,000 donation from Henry R. Brawner which will go towards diversity initiatives. This sounds like a step forward that directly addresses one of the specific concerns expressed by the protesters. Some may ask if she will use the funds effectively. This is a question that can only be answered in hindsight.
She shared the diversity initiative announcement via an online web video which is light years ahead of the antiquated non-visu-centric Gallaudet University website. In addition, she has repeatedly said that ASL is the core value of Gallaudet, something that has not been heard often from Gallaudet. Fernandes appears to have taken the time to meet with some people who are concerned about the issues at Gallaudet which, without question, must be addressed, but cannot be remedied overnight.
For the same reasons that the NFL, its players, and the media are giving the new NFL Commissioner a chance to prove himself, should Gallaudet students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the deaf and hard of hearing community do the same?
Remember, no two individuals are the same.
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Even though I think that the process through which she was selected had its flaws, I believe that it’s time to work with her and the rest of the administrative staff at Gallaudet. FSSA can’t just keep on attacking her for the next year because that would be counterproductive to the goals of Gallaudet University and the students should work on forming a real coalition designed to address the needs of the entire community instead of one that was designed to attack the leadership at Gallaudet.
Curious… do we really know what is really going on at Gallaudet campus? What if our first reaction is, “c’mon! give her a chance. stop whining like a baby and move on!” Okay… fair statement. What would your feelings be if we say, “come on, give president bush a chance!” analogy is: we gave board of trustees chances, just like we gave president bush a chance. First four years of Bush’s presidency, he constantly burned bridges with other countries, just like I. King Jordan and Jane Fernandez DID burn bridges with everyone on Gallaudet Campus. Perhaps we need to stop and say, okay, what is really going on here? What are the patterns that everyone’s seeing here? What is it that gallaudet students and alumni want from the administrations? The committee (from the outside), sadly, aren’t qualified people because they aren’t connected with deaf community. i may be saying things that everyone will easily shoot down, but come and think about it… everyday, would you feel, just a little bit, like you need the whole true access to a university without a struggle? Of course it’s not a way of the world, but do we have to follow that way? what if it isn’t working for a lot of us? Look at our behaviors… we’re still connected with Deaf websites, captionings, Deaf professional happy hour, Deaf gatherings, Deaf relationship, Deaf friends…. are we in denial? What if those protestors ARE on the right track? why don’t we all take it in, and ask ourselves, are we really oppressing the Deaf protestors? Gallaudet is a university for ASL, it IS supposed to be that way. Why can’t we give support and allow them to fight for US? Remember, Martin Luther King didn’t have a lot of supporters, back in the day. Look at where we are. The first Deaf publisher of American Sign Language… back in the day, Deaf people didn’t support that. Now look where we are today. We used to sign under the tables… now look where we are today. Back in the day, Gallaudet was founded, then NTID and CSUN were founded to support deaf people. More and more universities founded deaf support services. Where did that ripple effect come from? Isn’t that what Gallaudet protestors are preserving? Back in the day, Hearing attitudes among Deaf people, like I. King Jordan, and Jane Fernandez… have been making decisions for the Deaf people. Today, they still are. Do we want that? Just a curious way of looking at this. Stop, don’t argue…just feel, and think about it. Thanks.
Khay Jay,
I really don’t know what is going on campus at Gallaudet. Please don’t think that I know, because I don’t. That’s why I asked the question in the title of this Blog, I want to know more. Your comment gives me a better idea of what the protesters are thinking.
I do not disagree with the following statement that you said, “Gallaudet is a university for ASL, it IS supposed to be that way.”
Shane:
Help me understand how is it possible for you not to know? The information has been out there consistently and have been the same for 5 months.
What Shane is saying is that he doesn’t want to make assumptions with bits and bits of information that has been spreaded across the nation. For example, lately, I’ve been checking newspapers online, and all they have be repeatly posting, “Jane Fernandez isn’t deaf enough.” Is that even true on the reason why protestors are objecting? That was a misunderstanding, or slander if you will? What is really going on is the very fact that the procedure of selecting a president for Gallaudet university is COMPLETELY FLAWED! For example, those two of the three finalists were placed on the earlier times to do the interview. They didn’t have the time to prepare for the interview, which had one of the questions that wasn’t considered neutral for the applications and it was concerning the 8 strategies. Think about it… that was Jane Fernandez’s project throughout the year before the interview, and the best part is: She had the two weeks to prepare (relax maybe) for the interview. Is that fair? Other part is that Jane did ask the presidents of different colleges (it’s published!!!) about whether or not she should run for the president of Gallaudet University. All of the DISCOURAGED her to run for it because of the pulse of the students’ on Gallaudet Campus. She WENT for it anyways. What’s even appalling is that when students started to protest, her words: “I didn’t think that this would happen.” Girl, please.. spare me your lies. She knew! Whatta think??
To add furhter insult to the injury about the two Jewish finalists, they were given a date for interview on a Jewish holiday and only a few days to prepare.
Is this audism or racism? Because it seems to me that we’re leaving out the very fact that Glenn Anderson is one of the most qualified candidate. Shouldn’t he be one of the finalists?
Check this and it speaks for itself:
http://www.aslcommunityjournal.com/blog/?p=24
Flawed? Naturally, every president would want his/her assistant(VP) to take over so the legecy can continue.
How satisfied are the players, coaches and etc. with the new NFL Commissioner’s leadership background? The situations at Gallaudet University do not look pretty. Is Jane a leader? Many of them do not think so. Go and ask them to list the solid evidences.
From the Internet: “The NFL’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, Goodell was considered the overwhelming favorite.” “Goodell, 47, also has worked on putting a team back in Los Angeles and has a strong relationship with NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw.”
1.) Was Dr. Jane Fernandes considered the overwhelming favorite?
2.) Does Dr. Jane Fernandes have a strong relationship with the students, faculty, alumni, and staff?
3.) Did Dr. Jane Fernandes assist Gallaudet University in blossoming? If so, then in what ways the majority of people spoke highly of her?
You are right that no two individuals are the same. To lead a globally known institute is awfully a huge task. It’s crucial to have the right candidate. Is she the right one?
Evidence solid they provide, none.
BOT Jesse Thomas Ask: Oppression list examples.
Jesse Thomas Provide specific examples none.
Well, I was pondering for a while as to whether or not she should be given another chance. Looking back in past 11 years, she was given many chances (as a dean) at the Clerc Center and at Gallaudet University. Yet she still continues to make a hostile or intimidating environment for us. In addition, many issues have not been resolved under her leadership. To day, folks are still not happy with her. Now I have a big question mark about her leadership skills. I know that she is working so hard to make it better for the university; however, she will forever have a tainted reputation. She does not deserve a chance after all. All she needs is respect us and GO! She needs to prove herself somewhere else.
The thing though is that I don’t think she’ll be resigning her post anytime soon. Is it really worth it to oppose her leadership for the entire duration of it? Is this a protest that will last for the next five years? Is this going to undermine the recent initiative she’s taking in reaching out to Gallaudet through the funds allocated for diversity outreach?
You got a good point…that may have a great impact on Gallaudet. However, it may not make any difference if she decides to stay. If she persists, she will hurt Gallaudet University anyway. Both FSSA or JKF hurt Gallaudet one way or the other. What is the best answer? JKF has to go. Look at the 1988 DPN…Zinser decided to resign out of respect and it was a big successful. Gallaudet had no problem with fund raising. Think about it?
The protest only needs to last 1 year that is her probationary period, which in effect would show she cant lead, cant CHANGE to the NEW WORLD ORDER! that is her statement on the radio of all places!Audism at work!
You’re forgetting something here… Folks have already seen Jane’s leadership, and DON’T want her to run the University (not just the students, mind you). Do you seriously think the faculty would pull a “vote of no confidence” out of their asses without validation?
Bluebird,
The faculty vote of no confidence is a powerful statement which deserves more attention than it is currently getting (at this time, the students are getting most of the attention).
Curious Eyes over at Juanita’s Blog “All the Deaf World’s a Stage at Gallaudet” raises a valid concern about the legitimacy of the vote. In any case, it is a troublesome issue that must be addressed.
“On this same vein, Dr. Jane Fernandes, who has been under siege since her selection as the new Gallaudet President last spring, is a different kind of leader. If anything, she has portrayed herself as a departure from the status quo, at least from this outsider’s perspective. Probably in part due to her own unique style of leadership and because of the influence of the Gallaudet community and the current protest.”
So.. you just believe what she says? Without verifying it for yourself? Jane says it, so it must be so, is it? Critical inquiry is important when we are choosing the people who will lead us into the future. Since when do we just believe the Public Relations out there. That’s just lazy reporting, Shane. I expect better from you. I’ve enjoyed your articles and appreciate your cool, level head. This is like when you reported that rumor that some protesters caused a ruckus at JK’s house without verifying first.
I do agree with you that JK is not IJK. However, just because JK is a different person doesn’t mean she’s not the RIGHT person. It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t bring up serious questions about her ability to lead. The faculty had spoken. The students have spoken. How many people do you need to hear from to be convinced that maybe, maybe something is just amiss in the land of the deaf?
By all means, just keep on reading the public relations articles and repeating them ad nauseum. Don’t question. Don’t commit to a query. Just accept what they say.
We can all do better than that!
Wildstarryskies,
I didn’t report that rumor, you must be referring to the Kaftan’s Blog on DeafDC.com from last spring.
What I described in my Blog was an “outsider’s perspective”. It is an attempt at grasping the “truth” but unfortunately none of us really know the truth. Of course I will not stop there and will keep inquiring and analyzing. We all create our perspectives on each situation with the information available to us but we may interpret the information differently.
For example, you and I may have the same amount of information about the war in Iraq but we could reach different conclusions and perspectives.
That’s fair enough. We do have different perspectives. I’m not there in person myself, but I’ve been following along, and this is the perspective I have.
I apologize. I didn’t realize it was the Kaftans that reported the rumor. Regardless, I hope I did make my point.
Sorry if I came across as shrill. I have a lot of passionate feelings about the situation, and thank you for that lovely cool-head on your shoulders. :)
Katie
Not to deviate from the discussion here but if we’re going to talk about facts and get things out in the open - the rumor that you refer to was not a rumor but a fact. Read RLM’s open admission in “Gallaudet Memories” (written by Adam Stone) that he went to Dr. Fernandes’ AND IKJ’s house to “check things out”.
Rumor. Right.
*laughing*
That could be a rumor too.
I don’t understand your comment - How is RLM’s online admission a possible rumor?
There is one advantage to keeping Jane which no one seems to recognize. She darn well knows she is being watched and her every move and word scrutinized. There is not going to be any kind of ‘honeymoon’ period for her. The woman is under a virtual microscope. In that sense, the students and FSSA HAVE had an impact. That woman is going to be trying hard to do a damn good job to prove all the protesters wrong. I think that diversity money is a good start and good example.
Zinser stepped down because she was a hearing person and recognized it was time for Gallaudet to have a deaf president. That doesn’t apply to Jane. I don’t think you can compare the two.
Newbie - you beat me to it. I think that’s exactly what she’s going through right now.
The students should list all of the shortcomings that Gallaudet has so they can present to Fernandes and see what she can do to improve that. Then we can determine her success.
They did try. If you read Jesse Thomas’ 10/05/06 blog (www.xanga.com/powhog), you can clearly see that they’re not presenting the facts effectively:
“I wish I was more prepared for the meeting, though, because when they asked for examples of oppression (they asked with extremely doubting and skeptical facial expressions - like our oppression is a figment of our frigging imagination!), my mind was racing all over the place.”
If there really were “facts”, wouldn’t it be easy to spit them right out? After all, they had all summer to collect facts.
That paragraph from Jesse Thomas’ blog speaks volumes. Talk about grasping at straws…
To me, the main issue I see with Gallaudet is that the education STINKS. Not instances of oppression (though I was outraged at the gay-bashing by other Gally students).
I’ve learned more here at the local community college than I ever did at Gallaudet. And I’m not alone in that sentiment. There are several others here in my hometown… and the number from here who attend Gallaudet is SMALL.. so I wonder how many out there left Gallaudet for that reason. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
I hope you will continue to learn more from your local community college.
If education at Gallaudet stinks, then it must have stunk from when IJK was president and from when JF became provost. Then why should JF be president if education at Gallaudet stinks? Does this make you wonder at all?
Check this website on Gallaudet’s performance during I. King Jordan and Jane Fernandes’ control of the University by our very Federal Government:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/......2005.html
Add that to the list of problems that contributed to the present saga.
To ^__^, I don’t actually blame JKF for the crappy education. She inherited it, really. She became provost during my last year at Gallaudet.
As for JKF being the Gallaudet president, I honestly don’t know. I’m not there anymore. And both sides have skewed the story to such extremes, that it’s hard to decipher the truth now.
I think at this point, only time will tell if the BoT made the right decision in selecting JKF.
But like other posters said, JKF knows she’s under a very intense microscope, so you can be pretty sure that she’ll be doing something. Because if she doesn’t, she damn well knows that completely ignoring what’s going on the compaus only will give legitimate ammo to the protestors, and a smart politician like her isn’t going to give them any ammo. From what I’ve seen so far, she IS a smart politician. Or else she wouldn’t have gotten this far.
To select JKF is also to select her allies (cronies) at Gallaudet, many of whom already have positions of power. If JKF is the leader of her allies, and if they won’t hesistate to comply with her wishes, then JKF is in position to change things for the better or to continue IJK’s policy that has guided her actions as provost.
But why should we wait and watch while we know very well what has happened over her six years as provost? And we know how IJK and JKF has responded to the current protest. I don’t see anything in their response suggesting changes for the better. And Thursday’s naming ceremonies should never have taken place, but clearly IJK thought it was perfectly acceptable in the midst of this turmoil that can very well be the end of Gallaudet.
Hey hey - can you elaborate on why the education at Gallaudet stinks? All I am witnessing you saying that it stinks but not providing any examples. To support your argument, you must provide examples. So, why does the education at Gallaudet is below average?
Then you would need to prove that Fernandes will not be able to improve the educational reputation. Yes, that’s a tough challenge, but keep trying.
My opinions:
1.) That’s a weak analogy. Goodell was approved by the majority of the owners whereas JKF was selected by the BOT. There are more NFL owners than Gallaudet BOT members and NFL owners are far more represenative of the whole NFL than the BOT is of the Gallaudet community.
2.) Does JKF deserve a chance? I say yes as long as the search/selection process was done correctly from the get go, IMO.
3.) The search/selection process was questionable at best, IMO. How could someone without a Phd. make it into the final 3? How could some very qualified candidates not make it to the final 3? I have read stuff on how the selection process worked…and I must say that it’s at least ‘questionable’…maybe it was fair..maybe it wasn’t…there should be an investigation, IMO.
4.) Is JKF qualified? I say yes. Anyone who has read the “9th Prez” website would have fell asleep trying to read all of her accomplishments…I hope I can even accomplish 1/10th of what JKF has done in her life so far!
5.) Is JKF the BEST person for the job? I am not sure. I would have liked to read up more on other candidates. Personally, I liked Stern the best…albeit he did not have a Phd.
The issue with me is that Gallaudet is NOT JUST A UNIVERSITY. It is the mecca of the Deaf world. I feel that its leader must be a very public person and posses the charmastic needs to inspire and lead the Deaf community. Fernandes has been described as a good leader who leads from “behind and within”. I have no doubt about her ability to lead the University’s day-to-day operations, collecting grant $$$, working with congress, and etc… I just doubt her ability to effectively lead the ENTIRE Deaf community…
6.) Disclaimer: I do not know Jane K Fernandes, nor have I ever been a Gallaudet student. So, take what I said here with a grain of salt.
For that reason alone, I am not a supporter of the protest nor am I against the protest. I am confused like many others.
One thing for sure, the BOT never really put out a feeler to the Gallaudet community about the selection. They seemed surprised by the protest last May. That was a mistake.
Additionally, the entire University is alientated and now I seriously doubt that JKF can effectively lead. Her every move will be scruntized to death. It would be as if a democractic majority was voted to congress this year and rendered president Bush’s final 2 years “lame duck” status.
Great response, thanks for thinking the situation thoroughly.
Gallaudet is indeed the mecca of the deaf community and ASL universe.
There may be a few flaws in your first point:
“1.) That’s a weak analogy. Goodell was approved by the majority of the owners whereas JKF was selected by the BOT. There are more NFL owners than Gallaudet BOT members and NFL owners are far more represenative of the whole NFL than the BOT is of the Gallaudet community.”
I think that JKF was approved by the majority of the BOT. That’s how she was selected President.
I don’t think that the different number of NFL owners and BOT members significantly diminishes my point.
The BOT may actually be more representative of its community than NFL owners. For example, the players’ union or even the hot dog vendors do not have a hand in selecting the new Commissioner.
Shane, FYI, five Gallaudet BOT members were systematically manipulated by the chairperson and other BOT members. Two Gallaudet BOT members were formally told that there already were the votes on the selection of new Gally president few days before May 1st’s secretive BOT meeting.
The sleath oppression of the Gallaudet community like slapping the PNG (persona non grata) status on handful of Gally alumnus and keep them away from the campus for being actively involved with the protest months earlier. I am one of the example, who have been unjustifitably slapped by the university adminstration for my active role in the Gally protest through the entire summer.
Jane Fernandes misfumbled few things like the first day of protest and other opporunities.
Jane and her family and supporters would be better off resigning for the sake of community healing. I really feel bad for JK which she face the stormy sea from the beginning. Jane’s astrological sign - Leo and August 20th reveal much about her personality .
Jane did not reach out to the Gallaudet alumnus throughout the entire summer. Every questions go to the office of IKJ, not JK herself.
With the information provided, to qualify you need to have a PHd, whereas 1 candidate did not! Therefore the process is flawed, fixed, and FLUNKED!
Lets have a new Process please!
In NFL, how was the selection of Goodell made? By the confidence of majority or all of NFL team owners and perhaps coaches.
In Galluadet, how was the selection of Fernandez made? Assuming that selection was made by the BoT alone including IKJ. Correct me if I’m wrong but where is the vote of confidence by each departments in Galluadet? Was there one?
Use this an analogy, all directors from each department represents similar to owners of all NFL. Now you can paint the picture.
I bet there is definitely a big difference in the selection of the top 2nd person was made between NFL and Galluadet.
Were there even a vote of no confidence made against the BoTs, rather than the decision per se?
McConnell raises a unique and very important question in his comment.
Regardless of the outcome, will the protesters trust the BOT to make the right decisions in the future? Will they stop at JKF or will they continue until all BOT members step down?
We do not really know how much the BoTs know about everything that has gone wrong, so it’ll be premature to do a vote of no confidence without sufficient information.
As far as JKF goes, she had many chances and the faculty/staff had first hand experience with her. As a result, they did the vote to get their message to the BoTs.
According to FSSA two demands, for BoT members to step down is not part of it. However, I believe there’ll be changes on who and how one can become a BoT.
One of the faculty’s resolutions proposed last May after the announcement was a vote of no confidence in the BOT. But apparently out of respect for the BOT, they changed the original wording to “no confidence in the BOT’s decision” or something like that. Given how the BOT has treated the faculty representatives (for example, the BOT chair was speaking to the media about their sticking with JKF while the faculty representatives were still talking with the BOT members who were still around), I wonder how the faculty will respond to the BOT now.
Those talking with the BoT were representatives of FSSA and not representatives of the Faculty Senate.
Representatives from the Senate meet with BoT members at virtually all their meetings both informally at a ‘Tea’ and by giving a formal report during the official meetings so I doubt this incident is going to influence them either way.
On my blog I try to be as neutral as possible. I’ve said from Day One it’s possible Fernandes has changed and my own personal experience with her, while still painful, is in the past and we can move forward to a bright future. People make mistakes.
I haven’t seen any evidence this is true. I haven’t seen the leadership qualities people keep talking about. She has had since the announcement in May several months to take actions to promote unity and get out there. She had had scheduled discussions with students which she cancelled. She has issued no statements about this protest whatsoever. She and the Jordans have adopted a habit of ignoring students at every turn. Frankly… she’s playing politics. Which is all she was accused of, when you boil it down.
But a University President is not a politician. I admire Fernandes’ politican abilities, but Gallaudet is ready for a real President: an academic leader who’s capable of acknowledging the existence of those protestors and bringing them up on the stage and talking to them until they have nothing to complain about.
Look, I know what the protestors object to, ok? It’s not that Jane isn’t Deaf. She is. She just… has a certain opinion of certain types of Deaf people, and it shows through. And the thing is, I think a President of Gallaudet University should not have that kind of prejudiced attitude. She should have standards of excellence, certainly. But she needs to be the role model for those standards.
If she’s not saying Hi, how is she providing that model?
Not that I’m saying she needs to speak to every Deaf person. But we’ve had enough of people who speak for the Deaf community. We can speak for ourselves, now. We need someone who will speak to us… You cannot lead a University from “behind and within.” Especially, my God, a University that’s the only university for Deaf people in the world!
University presidents are not politicans? I think they have to be! Leaders of research groups within academia may or may not need political savvy, depending on the constituency of the group. But an university is more a mini-country than anything else. And people in authority aren’t democratically inclined. (And if Gallaudet was run in a way that democracy is supposed to, JK would never have been president.)
Well, because someone’s job involves some politics, doesn’t make them politicians… art teachers use paint, but they are not necessarily artists; cows chew grass but are not lawn mowers. University Presidents must negotiate teams etc. yes, but their interests include the furthering of knowledge and fostering of connections to and support for students. This means she should have been there for day one, taking care of the family, sorting out the problems, getting things under control. She must think always of the students as part of her team, not as enemies, which is the feeling I’m getting right now (certainly the students feel so.)
I think I understand what you mean. But here’s an analogy: Would you say that the Pope is not necessarily a politican? Sure, he gives Mass from time to time. However, he is first and foremost charged with the health of the Catholic Church and the souls of Catholics (and everyone else’s, I guess). Part of the job includes keeping everyone in line. No female can be priests. No priest can do or say anything counter to the Church’s doctrine. Churches must thrive or be shut down. Medical institutions and programs funded with Catholic money must not allow discussion or access to abortion or birth control. There are different sects under the Catholic umbrella whose philosophies, etc. are not always compatiable, and the Pope must make decisions that puts one sect at an disadvantage. All for the good of the Church and the human soul.
Sure, the Pope is a religious leader, but at the same time he must be a competent politican (or have sufficient power). This is what a real Pope is.
So my guess is that Gallaudet’s Board of Trustees, like the College of Cardinals who elect the Pope, would, all things being equal, value political ability over other abilities. So an university president is more a politican than an acadmeic. “Sorting out problems”, “getting things under control”, etc. are what politicans do. How Fernandes does politics is at issue here. Fernandes is being charged with the health and soul of Gallaudet.
I can’t talk long now, Shane…I understand your points. The only problem with your premise is that Dr. I. King Jordan had basically handed Dr. Jane Fernandes full control of the university’s day to day operations while he focused on fundraising efforts. Dr. Jordan himself said so. Since Dr. Fernandes has had the reins for years, she IS status quo. If you have a counterargument, I’m certainly interested in hearing it.
Ben M,
Good point. Let’s assume that Dr. Fernandes also decides to focus on fundraising and leave the University’s day-to-day operations to the new permanent Provost. Would that change your opinion on the future of Gallaudet under Dr. Fernandes?
Interesting question there, Shane. And there seems to be a bit of a deafening silence on this question.
The problem is, it’s not just JKF. IJK/JKF cronies are still working in the administration, so the system set up by IJK is still in place. In case JKF does not resign, Gallaudet must get an outsider as provost, someone who represents the ASL-signing community and whose loyalties clearly does not lie with JKF. Ron Stern is an example. Would she get someone like Stern to be provost? (Never mind his educational credentials–he is more an unifier than JKF will ever be.) This person and the team rallying under this person might keep JKF in check if needed. This person would save Gallaudet.
Where can I find information about Gallaudet’s plans to find the next provost?
Would Stern choose to work for JKF?
sure, why not? especially if he accomplish twin goals — get some university administration experience and be “groomed,” as JKF was, as the next president of Gallaudet. It could happen. I hope he applies.
That’s a lot to ask of him…considering…
… considering? please elaborate, I’m interested.
If I were Ronald, and believed (which I assume he does) that I was the most appropriate choice for the job, and then didn’t get it… would I want to go back to help them clean up the mess? I dunno. He’s an alum, he has long roots at Gally, probably loves Gally, but if I were him, I don’t know if I could work for the person I lost out to, and help clean up the mess. Maybe, I dunno. But then, I’m not Ron. cheers
God no, I do not want JKF to choose Stern nor Stern applying for a job as a provost.
Who would with JKF and the same cronies except for IJK in December? Ron Stern is better off staying in NMSD and continue flourishing the school with assistance of a caring and wonderful Governor of New Mexico.
NMSD is joining the rank of good quality education with CSDF, ISD, TSD and a few others.
I dunno … personal feelings aside, if Ron Stern really wanted to be an administrator at Gallaudet, he would have to start somewhere. Just seems funny to me that he would apply to be president, or nothing. Is he in it just for ego, or because he really wants to be there? Steve Weiner worked at Gallaudet as an administrator for years and in lots of different jobs, and he’s still there — I think that says alot about his loyalty to Gallaudet. Hmm… maybe he should apply for Provost instead.
Curious Eyes,
Adam Stone thought so too when he wrote about Weiner’s presentation last spring. Check it out at:
http://www.deafdc.com/blog/ada.....en-weiner/
Curious: I think why Ronald applied and how Ronald feels now could be pretty different… again, I’m just projecting how I might feel if I had applied and not gotten the job…and seen what has happened….
got to agree with you there, Regina… I’d sure think twice about applying for a job at Gallaudet, myself.
How do we know JKF did the day-to-day operations without consulting with IKJ? It looks like JKF does everything IKJ wants at the expense of everyone at Gallaudet.
Look what happened to Roslyn Rosen who got demoted by IKJ because she doesn’t agree with him on some things. He didn’t hesitate to replace her with JKF. Afterward, things started going downhill.
Forget the whole thing and let JKF lead the University along with her cronies, no way Jose. Too many things have gone wrong and can’t send the wrong message to the world.
Shane- I think you made excelent points and I agree with your topic that no two people are the same.
Here is my two cents.
I have to laugh when the students blame the adminstration for getting a lousy education at their college. What you put in, is what you learn and earn. Honestly, how many Gally students are there to party, and how many are there to learn?(undergrads level) Gally has many well qualified and over qualified professors and staff working there and making an effort to enhance the deaf community… while the students are not taking advantage of this opportunity.
How can you blame an adminstrator when you flunk a test??? espeically if you were off smoking up and getting drunk the prior to the exam? how does this help you prepare for the exam?
Did Jane and the adminstration buy the students pot and booze to drink before their test? do they host keg parties? What has Jane done to inhibit the students body’s ability to study and get an education?
Perhaps the students need to take a long look at themselves and figure out how to take advantage of the educational opportunies that are in front of them, instead of protesting. I would fully support the protesting if the students could demonstrate that the teaching faculty was not qualified to be teaching them or Gally was not providing a educational program that meets the department of education standards to be CHEA Insitution.
If the protesters want to be really effective and if they think Jane is that bad for Gally why dont they just transfer out of gally? With a low enrollment rate the BOT will have to make changes in order to get the student population back up. I highly doubt this would happpen… no other college would stand for the amount of laziness/over soicalization that is on the gally campus in regards to academic performance of students. These students know they are safe there to party, flunk classes, and get in trouble becuase they are in a sheltered community that protects them and gives them the opportunity to stay there and repeat this behavior with out any punishment.
I think the faculty at Gally should be protesting the adminstration for not imposing strict academic standards on the students.
MJH,
The problems that you describe with Gallaudet students also confronts all Universities across the country, even RIT. I don’t think your assessment of Gallaudet students is a fair one.
On another note, it has been announced on other Blogs that some of the Gallaudet Student Body Government officers have withdrawn from Gallaudet. So it may be reaching the point you think they need to get to in order to become an “effective” protest.
Shane-
I am in no way applying that no successful people come from gally or there are no hard working students, it just seems like a small number of students put in the effort… In fact I know a number of deaf professionals that are very sucessful and graduated from gally… can one honestly say that the majority of the students put an equal effort forward and take getting an education seriously?
Every college has students that slack off, yet these students arent allowed to stay and repeat this… also when you flunk out or get kicked out the student body tends to look down on those people… these people get mocked and teased… you know this as well as I do from RIT if people changed the major they were teased cuz they could not pass the classes…
college allows for social growth and learning along with academic education… most people say these are the best years of their lives and they have developed who they are today in those years. who doesnt want to go back to college??? those were fun times… but at the sametime I am having fun as a young professional…
I wonder if that students at gally do not have good role models or exposure to deaf professionals that have become sucessful and achieved many things in life… and this is why they are not highly motivated to take advantage of their educational opportunities… at the same time there are many sucessful deaf people that may not want to assicate themselves with Gally do to the reputation that the students have earned it from their social behavoir such as last falls home coming incident, and other events. Or is this the result of living in such a large country that people are spread out all over the place which makes it harder for the students to see what these people are achieving? I remember at RIT they were always showing us what different alumni where doing and where they were working and the sucess they have acheived.
gally is a great school and offers top notch education I am just bothered to see people let this go to waste. There are still people from our time SVP 96 at gally partying it up without a care to complete their education and enter the real world, to show that deaf people can be “equal professional peers” in the working world.
The math department did, I think. The administration pressured them to give passing grades to students who did not deserve them.
And given how the Board of Trustees responded to faculty concerns recently, the faculty should protest en masse.
Shane, My answer is no. She was the Provost for 5 years. Countless chances. “Enough is enough.”