King jordan as the first deaf president of the then 124yearold university, the name gallaudet, if not yet a household word, attained recognition undreamed of only a few weeks earlier. Department of education of the findings, conclusions, or recommendations herein. In march 1988, gallaudet university experienced a watershed event that led to the appointment of the 124yearold. The deaf president now protest successfully challenged the decision by vii. Deaf president now dpn was a student protest in march 1988 at gallaudet university. The twentieth century saw the birth of the civil rights and the womens liberation movements. Although their efforts for the equality of their respective groups are not complete, the strides that were made in the previous century were astounding. King jordan to the presidency of gallaudet, stokoe was made professor. There are several components to history through deaf eyes. This telling book reveals the critical role played by a littleknown group called the ducks, a tightknit band of six alumni determined to see a deaf president at gallaudet. Train go sorry is the american sign language expression for missing the boat. Deaf president now the 1988 revolution at gallaudet university understanding the deaf president now movement is critical to understanding deaf culture.
At the borough presidents office, hlibok is electrifying. The spark that ignited dpn was the announcement on march 6, 1988, by the universitys board of trustees that a hearing person had been selected as gallaudets seventh president. The protest began on march 6, 1988, when the board of trustees announced its decision to appoint a hearing candidate, elizabeth zinser, over the other highly qualified deaf candidates, irving king jordan and harvey corson, as its seventh president. A majority of the candidates were of hearing and just a couple were of deaf nature. Lee resigned at the end of 1987 and the school needed to find another president to take place. This fascinating book details the civil rights movement of the deaf. Alan hurwitz and a discussion of the legacy dpn, as many here call the movement, has left, both for the campus and for deaf people far from here. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Jane spilman must step down as chairperson of the board of trustees.
It is taught in every beginning asl course and any class on deaf history and culture. King jordan, gallaudet universitys previous president who was brought into the office as a result of the deaf president now movement announced his retirement for. The board then chose a deaf person to be gallaudets president and, also for the first time, selected another deaf person to lead the universitys board of trustees. A study looked at washington post and new york times coverage of deaf persons from 1986 to 1990 to quantify the coverage and presentation of deaf persons.
This account was published within months of the actual event. Deaf president now in march 1988, gallaudet university experienced a watershed event that led to the appointment of the 124yearold universitys first deaf president. On march 6th, 1988, gallaudet university students made history when they refused to accept the decision the gallaudet board of trustees made. In march 1988, gallaudet university experienced a watershed event that led to the appointment of the 124yearold universitys first deaf president. Deaf people must constitute a 51% majority on the board. Deaf president now contemporaneous letters and press releases, februarymarch 1988. I also would like to recommend a wonderful book written about it by someone who was there and active in the protest at the time. I also hadnt realized that gallaudet university, which ive heard is one of the best postsecondary school for deaf students, has had only hearing presidents until the late 1980s.
Deaf president now the 1988 revolution at gallaudet. Deaf president now dpn was a student protest in march 1988 at gallaudet university, washington, d. Background information deaf president now is a spark ignited and announced in 1988, the university board trustees at gallaudet university elected a hearing person as the eighth president. Deaf history resources deaf resources in the tcc library. Hope you enjoy and let us know what other historical events you would like to know about.
Greg hlibok, student leader of the deaf president now protest at gallaudet university this isnt just a book for people interested in adoption. Deaf president now essay example topics and well written. The deaf president now movement and gallaudet university protest did not only achieve its aims, this revolution brought unity to the deaf community and awareness to the general public. Deaf history and heritage are very rich and fascinating. Gallaudet university is the liberal arts university for the deaf in washington, d. In 1980, the national association of the deaf nad presented a festschrift, sign language and the deaf community, to him in honor of his many years of service to the american and world deaf communities. March 7, 1988 students and protesters barricaded the universitys entrance with cars the protest background day 1. More telling disclosures in this book reveal the critical role played by a. This decision reflected a general sense that deaf people were not ready to lead. This telling book reveals the critical role played by a littleknown group called the. The first panel, held at gallaudet on tuesday, featured the first three deaf presidents jordan, robert davila, and current president t. Elisabeth zinser must resign and a deaf person selected president.
This telling book reveals the critical role played by a littleknown group called the ducks. King jordan is a towering figure in the deaf community, because 18 years ago, he became the first deaf president of gallaudet university. This publication shall not imply approval or acceptance by the u. The deaf president now movement and gallaudet university protest 3124 words pages.
People wanting to learn about deafness in history can read about events such as the deaf president now movement that brought gallaudet university its first deaf president, learn about the development of hearing assistive technology, read about segregation in schools for the deaf, and learn about the many people in history who were deaf. In the monthsor by some accounts, the yearsleading up this date, many in the deaf community and on campus had advocated for a deaf person to be named to the presidency. Sharon n barnartt annotation in march 1988 students at the washington, d. Lessons for change from the deaf president now protest. To read more about dpn and gain a more indepth understanding about what happened that year, we highly recommend this book. Sacks covers the deaf president now protests, from a more detached yet detailed perspective than rarus did, and that was my favourite part of this book. Gallaudet marks deaf president now the washington post. This episode of the emmywinning tv series, filmed in 1988, is devoted entirely to the deaf president now movement.
The pride and joy that was felt on the day that a deaf president was sworn into the office of president at gallaudet university is still felt every time it is told. While the deaf president now movement changed gallaudets campus, students and others say more needs to be done to boost deaf leadership. Deaf president now, 25 years later inside higher ed. The unity for gallaudet movement was a protest movement started by students, faculty and alumni of gallaudet university and other sympathizers who do not support the nomination of dr. Since then, deaf president now dpn has become synonymous with selfdetermination and empowerment for deaf and hard of hearing people everywhere. Books about deaf culture the printing of this publication was supported by federal funding. Following the deaf president now dpn movement and the accession of i. As a society, what portion of our own humanity is missed when we fail to recognize that deaf people are members of a unique culture. Deaf president now, a massive student uprising in march 1988, drew global attention to the campus in northeast washington and in general to the cause of advancing equal opportunity for the deaf. Civil rights issues of disabled people are gradually gaining attention from the news media. This book chronicles the events leading up to and the deaf president now revolution at gallaudet university. Strange as it seems now, the level of student involvement at this. The article below takes the reader through the events of two deaf president now rallies that occurred in 1988 and 2006.
Deaf persons made that clear in 1988 during the deaf president now movement at gallaudet university. Elisabeth zinser must resign and a deaf person selected president jane. March 6, 1988 the four demands gallaudet board of trustees announces the election of elizabeth zisner outraged students formed. Deaf president now or dpn and which culminated in the selection of i. The deaf president now protest the 1988 protest by deaf students at gallaudet university was a defining moment for the disability rights movement. An articulate signer can build up a picture in front of himself, and the iconic content of a.
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