Gallaudet Protests Fall On Deaf Ears

Gallaudet students speaking out

Despite weeks of protesting, students at Gallaudet University, the nation’s most well known deaf university, say the administration has yet to listen. Students have been protesting since the announcement of the new president, Jane K. Fernandes, who is only partially deaf, and whom students feel is not in touch with their needs.

Students have been holding a several weeks long moment of silence, refusing to speak at all, in protest to Ms. Fernandes appointment. Residents around the campus say that an eerie silence has fallen amidst the protests.
“I haven’t heard as much as a word out of any of these kids’ mouths in weeks,” said local resident Angela Dauburn.

Fernandes said she understood that the students were upset and she said she was “more than willing to open a dialogue. All they have to do is come to me and voice their opinions. Not one student has done that yet.” She added, “I’m all ears.”

Local police chief Ron Wiggs said a number of arrests had been made and leaders of the protests were in custody. Formal charges have not been made, and none of the students in custody have confessed. “Not a peep out of any of them. We even tried waterboarding,” said Wiggs, referring to a torture technique that simulates drowning to get a person to talk.

Several students approached refused to comment, gesturing wildly, which this journalist took as a sign of hostility.

Fernandes is scheduled to give a speech to the crowd of protesters on Monday. She is hoping that students will “hear her out.”