Gallaudet Protest 2006

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Gallaudet Protest2006
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Timeline

• 2006- Dr. I King Jordan plans to retire Dec.31
• 8th President of Gallaudet
• 1st Deaf president
• 21 candidates apply to BOT

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1988- DPN

• I King Jordan starts tenure at Gallaudet after a
  week-long protest shuts down the school

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May 1st, 2006

• Dr. Jane K. Fernandes-
• Provost at Gallaudet since 2000- announced as 9th
  President
• As she walks to podium to accept---students begin
  walking out

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Outside about 200 students gatherand the Protest
begins..

• JKF NOT ACCEPTABLE
• NO FERNIE

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May 8, 2006

• Students react to No-confidence vote by
  faculty 96-49
• Faculty vote is important- as Provost, JKF
  supervised teachers
• 2 demands-
• JKF resign and new search begins
• No reprisals

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May 9, 2006

• This quote will come back to haunt Dr. Fernandes-
  didnt learn signs til age 23
• Hearing people think its Deaf Drama- not much
  media coverage

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Summer 2006

• Most students leave for summer
• Dr. Fernandes stays
• Over ?????
• FSSA created-
• Faculty Staff Student Alumni group- want a
  unified approach to selecting a President

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Fall 2006Tent City (with video webs and
IM)re-emergesnot only at Gallaudet- but around
the countrythe protesters are re-energized
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Oct. 2006

• Much more tension ..
• Hundreds of protesters took over the main
  classroom building at Gallaudet University on
  Thursday night (Oct. 5th) and refused to leave
  yesterday, demanding that the board of trustees
  reopen the search for a president.

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Oct. 13, 2006 Black Friday

• 133 students are arrested for blocking gates
• NAD calls for BOT action

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Oct 17 Faculty Vote 138 to 24. Six
abstained.

• The Gallaudet University faculty marches in a
  candlelit vigil to Dr. Jordans home on campus
• October 18, 2006.
• They protest Dr. I. King Jordan's refusal to
  heed a faculty vote of 82 against the incoming
  president Jane Fernandes

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OCT. 18, 2006- I King Jordan enrages Alumni by
canceling Homecoming
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We regret that due to the fact that Gallaudet
University is not operating under normal
circumstances, and the protesters continue to
refuse to open all of the gates, we must postpone
homecoming and all related activities.

• Gallaudet Alumni Association President, Andrew
  Lange counters
• I. King Jordan announced..that his homecoming
  has been cancelled.
• Excuse me, OUR homecoming continues.

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Even 70 year olds participate in the Alternative
Homecoming EventsOct. 21, 2006

• Hello,
•  
• Here is the picture of One of many Gallaudet
  Marchers from Gallaudet Univ. to the Capitol this
  morning on a beautiful, cool day. We are proud
  Gallaudet Alumnus to take a part in the March
  today. It was an enjoyable time and fun for us to
  take a long walk with many people to the Capitol.
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• Sorry, Larry Obray was not included as he was
  busy to take some pictures nearby somewhere
  else. Also I am not in the picture as I took it
  with my SK pager camera. I was told over 4,000
  marchers today.
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• Hugs,   Kay Francis

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• Pressure builds with 84 tent cities around the
  world
• Classes are not going on
• The BOT must act---so they meet on
• Oct 29

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Sunday, October 29, 2006, 534 p.m. TO Campus
Community FROM Board of Trustees
RE Board of Trustees Meeting Today, we
announce with much regret and pain that after
serious deliberation in a special, all-day
Executive Session of the Board of Trustees, we
have voted to terminate Dr. Fernandes'
appointment as President-Designate (currently
effective) and President (effective beginning
January 1, 2007) at Gallaudet University. 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. Although undoubtedly there
will be some members of the community who have
differing views on the meaning of this decision,
we believe that it is a necessity at this point.
The Board is continuing to meet to discuss
transitional issues. It has certainly been a
difficult and trying time for our Gallaudet
community. Now is the time for healing. The hope
of the Board of Trustees is for our beloved
community to come together to work for a stronger
and better Gallaudet.
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Oct. 29, 2006 Unity for Gallaudet CELEBRATION
TIME!!!!!!!!!!
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Interim President ChosenDr. Robert Davila

• Well respected in the Deaf Community
• Born in Southern California to poor Mexican
  parents
• Deaf at age 8 from spinal meningitis
• Grad of Gallaudet 1953

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May 9, 2007 Robert Davila becomes
Gallaudets 9th President