ASL Morning Meeting vlog: I have been doing some ASL Morning meeting vlogs designed for Elementary Department at the California School for the Deaf at where I work. Since I badly want to join Walk for ASL this month, I am dedicating this to “Walk for ASL” participants and committees especially Facundo Element. So for any K-12 teachers, feel free to share this with your students and open discussions on various of topic! Thanks!
On August 24, 1987, Gallaudet’s 6th president, Dr. Jerry Lee, announced that he would be leaving the presidency of Gallaudet. It prompted new (or rekindled) discussion among the Deaf community that it is time for Gallaudet to have a Deaf president leading the one and only Deaf university in the world. The search committee narrowed down from 67 applicants to 3 finalists: Dr. Harvey Corson (Deaf), Dr. Elizabeth Zinser (hearing), and Dr. I. King Jordan (Deaf).
On March 6, 1988, it was expected that the board would announce the new 7th president in the field house at 8:30 pm. Instead of making a formal announcement, the audience was told that “a news release had been hastily distributed two hours earlier” revealing that Dr. Elizabeth Zinser has been selected as first 7th president of Gallaudet.
The reaction to the news was “met with shock, anger, disbelief, and, in some cases, tears” because every effort were made to the Gallaudet Board of Trustees with strong urgency that it is time for Gallaudet to have a Deaf president to lead the university. Upon the selection of Dr. Zinser, the birth of the now well-known Deaf President Now (DPN) protest officially began.
• The board held an emergency meeting all day.
• Around 7:40 pm, Phil Bravin called via Teletype (TTY) and asked for Greg Hlibok.
• A press conference was held at 8 pm with Phil Bravin announcing:
• I. King Jordan was elected Gallaudet’s 8th president, first Deaf ever.
• Janet Bassett Spilman resigned from Gallaudet Board.
• Phil Bravin was elected new Board chair, first Deaf person in Gallaudet history to become Chair.
• A taskforce was set up to determine 3rd demand. (51% deaf majority on the Board.)
• No reprisals.
• Students gave up control of the campus immediately.
• Biggest celebration in Gallaudet University history to?date followed.
• The day was termed as “Board Buster Day”
• Free Spilman dogs and board burgers were given out.
• All day Arts Festival
• “Ole Jim” remained full of people and the press waiting for news
• $27,000 has been raised for DPN fund.
• The board members who went home last week returned for an emergency meeting.
• Approximately 500 letters were received and only 5 supported board’s selection of
Zinser.
• Approximately 250 letters were delivered to Janet Basset Spilman.
• At 10 am at a press conference, Zinser formally announced her resignation.
• Busloads of supporters from Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts arrived to join the protest.
• Many other national organization’s supporters joined as well.
• 3,000 marched from Gallaudet to The Capitol Building and the speakers emphasized that we will not stop until 3 1?2 demands are met.
• ABC Worldwide News selected Greg Hlibok as Person of the Week.
• At 7 pm, a regular nightly meeting was held at the Field House because of the
larger number of protestors.