Classes resume, but protests contine
Classes resumed Monday at Gallaudet University, but protests are still ongoing despite the arrest last Friday of 133 students. Those students were fined $50 and released. They returned to the campus on Monday. The school also cancelled homecoming, but that didn’t stop Gallaudet alumni from returning, anyway.
Gallaudet faculty voted overwhelmingly in favor of the students, and called for the resignation or removal of incoming president, Jane Fernandes, who assumes the office in January. They also issued a no-confidence vote for the Board of Trustees, and outgoing president, I. King Jordan. Fernandes, however, is resolute in her determination to stay on, and does have the support of some students and faculty at Gallaudet, as well as the Board of Trustees.
Students have now taken their fight to Capitol Hill to garner support for their stance. They feel that Mrs. Fernandes, the former provost, is a poor choice because she is cold, aloof, and disrespectful to students, and is not open to new ideas. The students also feel that she allows discrimination against them by employing faculty and staff who are unable to communicate with them. Though the Board of Trustees feels that Fernandes was the strongest candidate, students feel that the process was too rushed, and smacked of racism because several strong candidates were overlooked, including an African American who had served as Chair of the Board of Trustees. The Board, itself, is split over the issue, and some members have threatened to resign.
Many students, staff, faculty, and others hope that this situation will be resolved to that things can get back to normal at Gallaudet. A petition, started by some students, is demanding that very thing. It has over 300 signatures. I, too, hope that this can be resolved, but I fully support the students in their protest, and their right to do so. As for Mrs. Fernandes, my thought is this: While I understand her resolve to stand firm, she is at the center of this crisis, and while she is around, the bad feelings will remain, and the protests will continue. If, as she asserts, she loves and cares about the school and the students, perhaps she should seriously consider stepping down, if only for the good of all concerned. It would be a very difficult decision to make after such a long, hard, fight, and I can only imagine the pain and disappointment that she, her family, and her supporters would feel. However, at this point, it’s not all about her, but all about Gallaudet, and hopefully, after putting aside any pride and ego, Mrs. Fernandes will do some deep soul searching and do the right thing.