ASL Vlog by Joey Baer

English Translation by Rob Voreck

(Begin ASL Vlog)

Hello, I’m Joey.

Many of you are aware of the turmoil at Gallaudet which has gotten only worse in the past few days. The crisis has now reached severe proportions. I’ve noted that there is one crucial factor missing with the Gallaudet administration; one key word that is completely absent.

That word is “Leadership.”

I have seen no indication of leadership at Gallaudet. How the administration has been handling things has only angered us more.

I’d like to take the moment to discuss several of my observations…

In examining Gallaudet’s administrative system, made up of the Board and President, I King Jordan, interesting observations are made.

We have been informing and cajoling the Board to take action on our concerns but the Board’s response has been that it’s King Jordan’s responsibility to manage and make decisions. The Board has essentially given a “blank check” to Jordan.

In observing King Jordan, I asked myself if he was making decisions in the best interest of Gallaudet. The answer is “NO.” It is obvious that Jordan is an ardent supporter of Fernandes.

All of those numerous letters of concerns mailed to the university had to go through the President’s Office. Of course the letters are being screened by the President’s Office, which allows for only a few approved letters to make their way to the Board.

This is an example of Jordan controlling the Board and that is WRONG. That is a sign of a defective system.

The Board should be superior to the President. The President should be subordinate to the Board. The Board should be overseeing all that are subordinate to it.

In observing the actions of Gallaudet’s Public Relations Department, I was appalled by its choice of words: dissenters, shot, mob, bomb threat, anarchy, terrorism, disrupting, tumult, riot, insubordination.”

As you’ve seen, all of the words have negative connotations. The administration has consistently labeled us with negative words with an accusatory tone. Any type of upheaval, regardless of the reason, immediately resulted in the administration publicly blaming us, again and again. That is not leadership.

Leadership means being willing to sit down with us, to engage us in dialogue, and to challenge us. We want them to challenge us! We’ve already challenged them with concrete numbers, statistics, and facts and we’ve bombarded the administration with letters.

And what was the administration’s challenge to us? Absolutely nothing.

Instead, the administration responded with punitive measure after punitive measure after punitive measure. That is not leadership.

I’d like to mention that I’ve had dinner with Jane Fernandes last July in Palm Springs, California, at the NAD conference. Jane had invited me to dinner and I attended with my brother. There was a Gallaudet employee present at the table along with Jane. We conversed for two hours. Naturally, since she had extended the invitation to dinner with me, I took the opportunity to know her better as well as raise some questions with her. After two hours, we wrapped up and said our thanks for dinner and left.

Do you know what was the first thing that came to my mind after leaving the dinner table?

“THAT person is Gallaudet’s next President?!”

I was truly surprised. Now, don’t get me wrong, Jane is a nice lady and conversationalist; but as a leader of a university? No.

Do you know why I came to that conclusion? During the course of talking with her for two hours, she did not ask me a single question. Not one.

She was involved in discussions with my brother and myself, yes, but not once did she say “I’d like to raise a point, to make a challenge, to ask questions straight from the heart.” Not once.

Since then, after observing her leadership skills, I have noted that she has shown more of her true colors. The final straw that completely repulsed me was her use of the word “terrorism” as quoted in a recent newspaper article. Right then and there, that was it for me.

She is not a leader PERIOD.

We do not need her despite her repeated claims that Gallaudet needs her. She has stated that if she were to leave, Gallaudet University would collapse.

That is not true!

We have many wonderful deaf leaders…Many!

· 81% of students found Dr. Fernandes unacceptable (4/27/06)

· 66% of graduate students found Dr. Fernandes unacceptable (4/27/06)

· 82% of faculty asked Dr. Fernandes to resign (10/2006)

As you can see by the numbers presented, the point is obviously clear beyond debate. 82% of the faculty got together and voted for Fernandes to resign. Fernandes has stated that she must stay on because she has many outside supporters and that she was worthy enough to make decisions.

I have to take issue with that. The university’s support starts from the inside. The university’s support starts with the faculty and students. When these two university groups cooperate and work together, the university itself becomes successful.

Another issue I’ve found interesting was Fernandes’ televised comment of the need for change in these times. I think she contradicts herself here.

I King Jordan has been president for eighteen years. During the past six years, who was his right-hand person? Jane. They worked very closely: breathing the same air together, sitting together, discussing and meeting together constantly. Their mindsets became similar. Their ideas became similar. And now you’re seeing Jordan saying that we must accept Jane since they’re so similar. The times are changing? My perception is that the times are changing to show that they both need to move on. King is retiring, he’s moving on; Jane needs to move on likewise.

We need to bring forth another leader: one who will inspire the faculty; inspire the students; one who will improve alumni and university relations; one who will collaborate with fellow educators; one who will work with CEASD; one who will inspire from the heart!

Up until now, all we’ve seen is heartbreak and devastation.

Jordan and Fernandes need to leave and move on. The Board needs to take up its responsibilities.

Fernandes has said that it’s crucial to track the advancement of technology in consideration of where the deaf will be able to hear and speak better.

My response to that is “So what?”

This dates back to the 1880s with the Milan Conference, in which a motion was passed to prohibit the use of sign language. The oral method came to the forefront in the 1880s but struggles and debates have been the same ever since. To this day, the oral method has its failures as well. There are not many successful oralists today as well.

Most ironically, the Milan Conference’s intention to bring deaf people on par with the hearing world with the oral method actually resulted in severe oppression of deaf people.

If you recall the Deafhood lectures, the issue of “deaf vs. deaf” was raised. The current events are an example of this issue. We need to move away from this thinking.

We are now thinking better and we can think on a higher level. I wholly agree with one presenter who said that in 1988, we demanded and got a deaf president; however, it does not mean that now, in 2006, that we want any warm-bodied deaf president, much less one who emphasizes the future of deafness. “So what?” I say!

We’re smarter today! We want a president who excels in all areas including sign language, interacting with people, faculty, staff, and alumni. As to the issues about cochlear implants and how we approach them, sure the president can bring it up as well! We need that kind of leader!

Jane, please resign so that we can all come together and work with one another in a healthy manner.

The following list of names that you are about to see represent the people who have asked Jane to resign for the best interests of Gallaudet University and to allow the healing to begin.

(Name Scroll)

Unity for Gallaudet!

(END ASL VLOG)