Wisconsin for FSSA

PAH!

2006-10-30T17:33:00.000-08:00

Unity for Gallaudet!

2006-10-30T17:25:00.000-08:00

Statements from Jane Fernandes & I.King Jordan

2006-10-29T16:13:00.000-08:00

Statement from I. King Jordan

http://news.gallaudet.edu/?id=9636

Statement from Dr. Jane K. Fernandes

http://news.gallaudet.edu/?id=9635

Office of Public Relations - Gallaudet's Board of Trustees votes to terminate Dr. Jane Fernandes' appointment as president

2006-10-29T15:27:00.000-08:00

TO: Campus Community

FROM: Board of Trustees

DATE: October 29, 2006

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.

On Reprisals
The Board of Trustees respects the right of people to express their views in a peaceful manner. However, individuals who violated the law and Gallaudet University's Code of Conduct will be held accountable. We expect the University to honor its long tradition of respect for each other and property and to return to normal.
Posted: 30 Oct 2006

http://news.gallaudet.edu/?id=9633

Inspirational Speeches at the Press Conference

2006-10-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of DawnSignPress

Yerker Andersson
Bobbie Beth Scoggins
Andy Lange
Allen Sussman
Frank Turk
Hank Klopping
Two Parents and Wilton McMillan

http://www.joeybaer.com/

Wisconsin Gallaudet University Alumni Association letter

2006-10-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Pam Holmes and L. Richard Kinney,

The members of the Wisconsin Gallaudet University Alumni Association and concerned members of Wisconsin Deaf community want to send you this letter for you to consider carefully before attending the Board meeting reported to be scheduled on October 29th at Gallaudet University. We are uniquely proud and grateful to have two members of Gallaudet Board of Trustees hail from our beloved state of Wisconsin. We are gratified to have comparably outsized representation from our small state of Wisconsin on Gallaudet Board of Trustees. However, this also present us with a burden of making sure that you represent the interests of all constitutencies of Gallaudet University including a contingent of Gallaudet alumni from Wisconsin.

As you may be aware, the demands of the Wisconsin Gallaudet alumni have been agreed upon during the October 13th tent city meeting at the Southern Lakes Association of the Deaf clubhouse in Delavan and distributed. The demands are as follows:

1. The Board of Trustee must re-open the presidential search process. Should paying off Dr. Jane Fernandes be required as per the contract that the Board of Trustee offered Jane Fernandes upon her selection as the 9th president of Gallaudet University, this option should be exercised for the greater good of the Gallaudet and the Deaf community.

2. The Board of Trustee must ensure that there are no reprisals against any members of the Faculty, Staff, Student, and Alumni (FSSA) coalition by the administration at Gallaudet University. The Board of Trustee must intervene should any reprisals occur against any members of the FSSA coalition.

3. To ensure that the Board of Trustee is responsive to the concerns of the Gallaudet community, 51% of the Board of Trustee must consist of Deaf Gallaudet alumni.

4. Board of Trustee must be actively involved in the affairs of the Gallaudet community with the full intent of learning, understanding and appreciating the complexities of issues that are fanning the flames of this conflict and of acting in a very strong and proactive manner to douse those flames.

The reasonings behind those demands cannot be boiled down to a paragraph or two. It is recommended that you peruse the attached article written by Dr. Robert Johnson, a member of faculty at Gallaudet University. The article lists some reasons that undergird our demands as outlined above. The fact that Gallaudet University has descended ever deeper into crisis with no end in sight is an excellent reason unto itself for the four demands.

We are asking that you keep those demands in mind when representing the Gallaudet alumni from our beloved state of Wisconsin and all other constitutencies of Gallaudet University. The constitutencies that you should consider and listen to are many and varied. Great majority of those constitutencies world-wide has announced their backing of the Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni (FSSA) coalition's two demands. Some including those from Wisconsin have more demands than those of FSSA's. Those should also be considered as well.

We understand that FSSA is not a sanctioned group at Gallaudet. You should consider FSSA to be an umbrella coalition under which numerous organizations and people have decided to affliate themselves with through the submission of countless resolutions and open letters such as that submitted from the Wisconsin Gallaudet alumni. This should not stop you from considering demands from a multitude of organizations and people within the Deaf community world-wide. Ignoring FSSA and all organizations and people affliated with it will not help you as a member of Gallaudet Board of Trustee resolve the crisis at Gallaudet University at all. It simply is not possible. Ignoring FSSA and their demands simply because it is not a sanctioned group is indefensible and foolhardy.

We are also concerned that you might not receive all information from the world-wide Deaf community expressing their displeasure at the crisis at Gallaudet University and their almost universal agreement with FSSA's two demands as a way to resolve the crisis at Gallaudet University. We strongly recommend that you read all letters of resolutions and open letters from all over the world at www.gufssa.com We have some serious concerns on whether the President's office is sieving the information that you are receiving about the crisis leading us to believe that the information that you are getting downplay the magnitude of the crisis.

Please understand that the Wisconsin Gallaudet alumni and concerned Deaf community members are supportive of you and your efforts to best serve Gallaudet University. We are watching you with anticipation of successful resolution of the stalemate at Gallaudet University. We believe the successful resolution is best achieved by meeting our four demands. Any other ways short of this may not result in any resolution and may actually worsen the situation further. People have been harmed physically, mentally and emotionally by the whole situation. It is best that you resolve the situation post haste at this emergency meeting in order to begin the healing process sorely needed within the Gallaudet community. Failure to resolve the stalemate at this meeting may result serious and unexpected consequences that may hurt all of us.

We also understand that not every one may be at the meeting due to travels and other prior commitments. Do not let this stop you from doing your fiduciary job to Gallaudet University and resolve this at once. Do not sit back and wait for certain members of Board of Trustees to be present to advocate for the right solution to this serious stalemate.

Many thanks for carefully considering the messages within this letter and acting on those.

Submitted by Wisconsin Gallaudet Alumni and concerned Deaf community members.

The Fate of Future Gallaudet Is In Your Hands

2006-10-27T16:22:00.000-07:00

October 27, 2006

Gallaudet University Board of Trustees,

Never in the history of Deaf America in the eyes of the American deaf
community and national organizations as well international deaf community
are deeply disturbed, dismayed and even petrified by the ongoing and
escalating crisis at Gallaudet. Dr Jane Fernandes has clearly exhibited
her case repeatedly on her embarrassing incompetence in handling Gallaudet
University crisis by using intimidating management style and has
continued to damage the public image of Gallaudet University further.

This must stop NOW. I strongly support the demands of the Faculty
Student Staff and Alumni (FSSA) that Jane K. Fernandes must resign or be
removed from the office immediately. Obviously Jane will not resign on
her own. Therefore you are our only hope. It is you who can make vital
decision by FORCING her to resign in order to preserve the finest and
prestigious Gallaudet University. The outcome of damages including legal
recourse will be much greater if we keep Dr. Jane Fernandes as the
President of Gallaudet.

I can not stress this enough and beg you to scrutinize your integrity
further and wisdom deeper in order to protect the education and the future
of Gallaudet University. By doing so, please take appropriate and
necessary action by forcing Dr. Jane Fernandes to resign immediately.

Jack R. Cassell, 75 Madison Wisconsin

An open letter from Robert E. Johnson, Ph.D.

2006-10-27T05:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.deafbison.net/BPN/Dr%20Johnson%20Note%20to%20Colleagues.pdf

WAD Board Position Letter: Gallaudet Crisis

2006-10-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.wi-deaf.org/images/documents/wad_letter_to_gallaudet.pdf

A letter from Pam Holmes

2006-10-26T19:28:00.000-07:00

Pam Holmes wrote:
Dear concerned Wisconsin deaf community member,

The Board is already coordinating a special meeting to take place in the time frame you have noted. We will discuss the serious matters at hand.
Please be aware that pressures and protests against Board members will not help matters in any way. These type of actions will only alienate and disrupt the good efforts of those of us who are trying to think clearly and wisely in bringing about a positive resolution. We clearly recognize the seriousness of the circumstances. Surely you will agree the current circumstance is very complex.
Thank you for sharing our mutual concern in the matters Gallaudet now faces. Those who know me well, know that I am finding the circumstances as troubling as you do.
Sincerely,
Pam Holmes
'74

Videos made by a Wis Gally student, Frank Germinaro Jr.

2006-10-26T05:09:00.000-07:00

Hello! Do you want to see videos of the Gallaudet protest march to the Capitol? This video is made by a Wisconsin Gallaudet student, Frank Germinaro Jr.

http://www.xanga.com/Frank_Sandra

Enjoy!

A message from Ms. Garcia

2006-10-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

FYI- you may share this news to Wisconsin ppl or I can add comments on Wisc's blog-

today at noon, I will meet a Senator from Wisconsin, Davey Obey to discuss issues about Gallaudet for
15-30 mins along with 5 other students who will speak with a senator
from their state.. I will respectfully request that he give a public
letter or statement to strongly urge our BOT to resolve this crisis and
we deeply hope he will continue to support Gallaudtet Univ regardless of
the outcome of this current crisis.

Currently, BOT are divided. This is the second time that BOT urged Jane
to consider rather she should remain as the 9th president with her
family.

Ms. Garcia

Gallaudet Trustees Split on Fernandes

2006-10-18T21:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/18/AR2006101802035.html

Gallaudet Faculty Opposes Incoming College President

2006-10-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

No-Confidence Votes Against Jordan, Trustees

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/16/AR2006101601198.html

Let's Meet Gideon!

2006-10-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.mosdeux.com/blog/?p=26

Wisconsin for FSSA's ASL VLog

2006-10-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

Special Thanks to Joey Baer for posting Wis for FSSA ASL Vlog

http://www.joeybaer.com/?p=36#comments

A letter to President I.King Jordan from Jack Cassell

2006-10-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

Dear President I. King Jordan,

Recently, Jane K. Fernandes released a statement in which she said that
she remained committed to becoming the ninth president of Gallaudet
University. She also felt strongly that she can lead the university. I
would like, very much, to believe her that she can lead the university
effectively. By nature, I am not negative person and like to get all
facts first before I reach my conclusion of the big picture. Therefore,
there are several could not help but notice observations based on what I
have seen so far and many discussions with many people, including myself
who are deeply affected by Gallaudet's outcome of selecting Jane as the
9th president.

As she was selected as 9th president, she has had loads of opportunities
to show us what she is capable of in her leadership skills especially
dealing with crisis. Since then, I have not seen any evidence of her
leadership action in dealing with peaceful protest. In addition, I am so
embarrassing for her on her inability to be in charge during protest, at
least to show her true color results of leadership by leading the
Gallaudet University/Community ineffectively, not just words.

I had to revisit the Gallaudet University Presidential Search Committee's
website when Gallaudet University invited nominations and applications for
president last February.

As I revisited preferred qualifications that I hand picked a few key
points on purposes in the areas of leadership to confirm on latest Janes
leadership results as follows below:

# Bring deep roots in deaf culture with knowledge, appreciation and
understanding of deaf/hard of hearing/hearing communities;

# I believe we need a new kind of leadership, a leadership that puts the
people front and center, not the president.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/billbradle173566.html ]Bill
Bradley

My Observation: I have not seen in Jane's leadership by putting Deaf/HOH
people front and center especially the crisis and show appreciation and
understanding of Deaf/HOH communities. Instead, she made it worse by
telling the world that she was not deaf enough. What was she thinking?

# Build community through open, responsive and visible communication that
encourages reciprocal trust both internal and external to Gallaudet;

# Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to communicate something
people want. Dianne Feinstein

My Observation - Not even that close. Jane, unfortunately, has not made
herself visible enough to others in order to create several perfect
opportunities to re-establish reciprocal trust both internal and external
to Gallaudet. She failed to produce new leaders and pull both sides
together on her watch. She blew it big time.

# Inspire others, both within and outside the Gallaudet community, to
become engaged in the University's mission and work;

# [ http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/33631.html ]Leadership is based on
inspiration, not domination; on cooperation, not intimidation. William
Arthur Wood.

My Observation: By nature, she does not have the ability to inspire
others. If she does, the crisis would never occur in the first place.

# Lead the entire Gallaudet community and its students (K-12 and college
level) through times of crisis and challenge;

My Observation: Where was she when Gallaudet community needed her the
most to take the lead through time of crisis and challenge?

I can go on and on. It appears to me that Jane was selected as the 9th
president mainly based on her resume. I saw her resume and I must admit
it was very impressive. I am absolutely sure it is impressive to a lot
people who do not know Jane personally. Unfortunately the resume does not
measure her character, leadership, creativity and perseverance as the
president should possess.

Bottom line, Can Jane K. Fernandes lead the university and community via
her inspiration, not authority, not just words but actions, on cooperation
with full access and open communication without intimidations and threats
in her ship in the perfect storm where we feel safe together and sail in
harmony with a clear cut mission to redefine the world class education
for Deaf and HOH students within an increasingly diverse America, and an
increasing interconnected world?

Frankly, I will have to say with due respect, ABSOLUTELY NO!

In the conclusion, when Jane perceptibly fails to lead the university and
community, anyone with right mind would move forward with dignity and
respects to be replaced by another leader who effectively puts the people
front and center and inspire his/her stakeholders. I am a reasonable
person with good intention to believe in humanity. For the life of me, I
fail miserably to understand why Jane refuses to acknowledge that she does
not have the ability to lead the university. Am I missing something
here? Or am I simply dim-witted to understand the big picture? She had
her chance, and she lost it. Till this day as I see it, Frodo lost and
Jane has the ring. Gallaudet's leadership is serious jeopardy.

Jack R. Cassell, '75 Wisconsin

A letter to Washington Post Editor from Jack Cassell

2006-10-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

To Washington Post Editor,

Although I live in Madison, Wisconsin, I was able to read a lot of stories
with great interests and concerns about Gallaudet's protest against Jane
Fernandes as the ninth president of Gallaudet University. With an open
mind, I gathered fair and balance information for the last couple of
months. I now reached my conclusion from what I have read, seen and spoke
with various sources that Jane is CLEARLY NOT the President that she
appears to be.

I would want to respond to your editorials appearing in the Washington
Post related to the protest at Gallaudet - specifically Standoff at
Gallaudet (October 10) and Giving Gallaudet a Bad Name (October 13).
Your editorials beg more questions about your journalisms best practice
particularly the accuracy of your perception of what is really going on in
Gallaudet.

There are always two sides to the story. What they said and how they acted
are two completely different things. In order to get more information
from the other side, I would suggest you to read several great articles
under [http://www.gufssa.org/]www.gufssa.org which will give you better
insights to the root of Gallaudet's leadership crisis. I also suggest to
meet with them in person.

I am surprised that you fell into same trap like everyone else leads to
believe that Jane was not deaf enough to be president. The truth is there
is much more to Jane's "not deaf enough" to lead Gallaudet University.
That is a classic example of how Gallaudet faculty, staff, students and
alumnus have been dealing with Jane's manipulations and intimidations for
years while she was working at Gallaudet University.

Let me put you in perspective of what is really going on in Gallaudet
campus. If Jane Fernandes does not have hearing loss and was selected to
be president of hearing university, you will see the exactly same result
protest will occur without any doubt.

Again, I challenge you to dig deeper and wider carefully to learn more
about the source of Gallaudet's peaceful protest and leadership crisis.
Unfortunately, not being deaf enough is Jane's infamous tactic to take
an advantage of your ignorance. No offended intended. She had her chance
and ample opportunity to lead Gallaudet University since she was selected
as the ninth President last May and she blew it away big time. All I am
asking of you is to explore further to get fair and balance report about
Gallaudet's serious leadership crisis. Thanks!

Jack R. Cassell, '75, Madison, Wisconsin

CC:
Bobbie Beth Scoggins, NAD President
Andy Lange, GUAA President
Gallaudet University FSSA
Jane K. Fernandes (President Designate)
Dr. I. King Jordan, President
Michael Moore (Interim Provost)
Dr. Brenda Jo Brueggemann, Acting Chair
Dr. Cynthia Ashby, Trustee
Susan J. Elliott, Trustee
Dr. Tom Humphries, Trustee
Frank H. Wu, Trustee
Benjamin K. Soukup, Jr., Trustee
Dr. Harvey Goodstein, Trustee
Cheryl Heppner, Trustee
Pamela Holmes, Trustee
Nancy Kelly-Jones, Trustee
Richard Kinney, Trustee
Pamela Lloyd-Ogoke, Trustee

Donations!

2006-10-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody, there’s a serious shortage of money due to the bail outs of our decidated protesters who were arrested last night. Not only that, we’re low on food and supplies. There’s a frost advisory tonight so it is a very dangerous position for our protesters to be exposed to the cold and the damp.

We desperately need heaters, electric wires, heated tents, and especially sleeping bags. We also need charcoals to keep our grills going so we can be warm. We also need hot food such as soup, meat (to be cooked on the grill), and hot drinks. I’m working right now in trying to get the red cross and salvation army to come and help. Please contact Jeanine Wiesblatt at bluesun@tmail.com . Remember, our survival depends on you. Remember we’re fighting for you like soliders and heroes. We’ll not give up!

Jeanine Wiesblatt

Wisconsin GUAA meeting with L. Richard Kinney

2006-10-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

This is a summary of the Wisconsin GUAA meeting with L. Richard Kinney on Wednesday, Oct. 11. This has been written, reviewed, revised, expanded, reduced, vetted and finally approved by the GUAA members in attendance.

Brief summary of the meeting:

On Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 4-6:15pm, there was a gathering of about 20 GUAA members and a Gallaudet Board of Trustee member, Mr. L. Richard Kinney at the Southern Lakes Association of the Deaf clubhouse in Delavan, WI. An interpreter was present to assist L. Richard Kinney with the proceedings. Videotaping and photographing of L. Richard Kinney was not allowed as per the Gallaudet University's rules regarding his employ as a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT). The meeting started off with an introduction of L. Richard (Dick) Kinney by Steven Fuerst to the assembled GUAA members. Chris Woodfill came up to the podium and gave a 5-10 minutes presentation summarizing the events since the end of the first Tent City back in May and some of the reasons behind the re-awakening of the protests. Dick Kinney came up and sat down in the front of the group with an interpreter and a hearing GUAA member assisting the interpreter with the interpreting process. He clarified that he is here as a private citizen, not as a member of BoT. He talked for about 45 minutes non-stop without any interruptions/ questions until Steve Fuerst asked him to wrap up his comments soon. We planned on giving him 10-15 minutes to comment before starting question and answer session. At that point he made it clear that he was still on second of his four points that he wanted to share/discuss. The questions started to come at him after this request to wrap things up. The questions continued until the end of the meeting at 6:15pm. The participants started to leave the meeting at 5:50pm for prior commitments and plans. The last participants left at 6:15pm. No resolutions or discussion occurred at that point. It was agreed that another get-together to discuss things and to develop resolutions will happen at 3:30pm on Oct. 13 on Friday.

Details:

Chris Woodfill gave a 5-10 minutes presentation. The presentation started with a brief summary of reasons behind the protests in May and FSSA's demands. After that, he detailed all events since May. Infamous "There is no crisis" comment by I. King Jordan at the National Association of the Deaf and the June 28 memo sent out by I. King Jordan suppressing the freedom of speech were explained. The reappearance of the tent cities on Monday, Oct. 2 in Bay Area and at Gallaudet University and the "Earth Juice" fertilizer incident on the first day of tent city at Gallaudet University was covered. The movement of Tent City to the mall and eventually to HMB was described. Stalemate statement by Tom Humphries and the protests against the naming ceremony at WAB and SAC on Thursday were discussed also. HMB and eventually campus-wide lockdown were detailed. Negotiation failures were covered. The Gallaudet University Alumni Association and Gallaudet University Alumni Relations office situation were the closing part of the presentation.

Dick Kinney: Excerpts.

-Personal: He is the only person on BOT who cannot sign. Also, he is the only white hearing male. He is the only financial person on BOT. He has a deaf daughter who graduated from Gallaudet last spring. He works as a financial advisor/consultant to large non-profit organizations. He currently serves on two company boards including Midwest Airlines.

-Gallaudet Finances: It costs $150,000,000 to operate Gallaudet per year of which $110,000,000 comes from the federal government. The endowment currently stands at $180,000,000. Endowment increased by $45,000,000 in only two years. Dick's goal is to grow the endowment to a size that Gallaudet will only need help from federal government to cover a third of its annual budget, down from two-thirds in the next six years. His goal is to earn 15-18% a year on the endowment funds through various investment strategies. One of the investment strategies is to set up a venture capital fund worth $1,000,000 to help Deaf people start their businesses.

-Board of Trustees (BoT): It has only two duties. They are to run the university and to hire/fire a president. The board of trustees spend about two weeks of their times per year in form of meetings and retreats to run the university. BOT get a five-inches pile of paper on many different topics about two weeks before each board meeting. It took Dick several hours each night for two weeks before meeting to read through everything. Stuff he read includes tenure requests (about 10-12 per year), financial reports and approvals (even little expenditures such as fertilizers must go through BoT, more on that later), review rules/procedures, review of personnel decisions, naming of the buildings and many other such stuffs. The president is accountable to BoT. Also, BoT did do an in-depth research on the campus climate back in 2004 by hiring outside company to do a survey on this. The survey found that there were three key issues that affected the campus climate: Audism, Racism and Management By Intimidation (MBI) BoT have directed the administration to resolve all of those issues. Dick claimed that 11 out of 18 BoT are Gallaudet alumnus. After the meeting ended, Steve Fuerst asked Dick about this. Dick clarified that actually only 6 are Gallaudet alumnus and 5 has other connections to Gallaudet such as being a parent of a student and that he really meant that 11 people on BoT has connections with Gallaudet University. Steve also suggested that 51% of BoT should be consisted of Gallaudet Alumni. Dick did not agree with this. Dick said that the BoT is a group of very sophisticated, respected, intelligent and clear-thinking people. BOT are a high-status group of people.

-Presidential Selection process-The PSC process was not discussed directly but Dick felt that the last part of the BoT presidential search process was very honest and fair. There is no favoritism or anything like that in the process as they relate to the final three candidates. A company was hired at the cost of $200,000 to conduct the presidential search process. Dick cannot mention the names of any candidates other than the three named finalists. He was not able to confirm whether a certain person or the other was a candidate or not. He did mention Dr. Glenn Anderson but would not confirm whether he was a candidate or not. He feels that the process was transparent and fair. The process need not to be re-done or re-opened. Dick said that he was limited to only three choices and that he had to choose the best out of three. Among the three, Jane Fernandes was clearly the best according to the presidential search criteria. The criteria are PhD degree, administrative experience at university level and Deaf. Jane meets all three and is the most qualified of the three.

-Jane Fernandes-She has only one year contract as President of Gallaudet University. If she is unable to deal with and resolve issues related to Audism, Racism and Management By Intimidation (MBI) within one year, she is out. Dick was asked about the 2-3 million dollars buy out package by a participant who attended the NAD convention and heard about it there. Dick said that the buyout clause is not worth 2-3 million dollars as reported but is actually worth less than $1,000,000. Jane has been mandated to resolve the issues affecting the campus climates as her priority as the president of Gallaudet University. If she is unable to accomplish this in one year, she is out. Her new contract as the president of Gallaudet University supersedes her tenure. After being questioned by Chris Woodfill on whether Jane Fernandes is actually the best person to be the president of Gallaudet University, Dick admitted that he is of the opinion that Jane is not the best candidate that applied or are available out there. However, he insists that she is the best of the final three. Jane is just not the best out there. Some declined to apply (he did not say who) that he felt could have been a better president. However, Dick did defend Jane claiming that with her qualifications, hearing universities would clamor to have her as their president.

-Faculty-Dick was very unhappy with a cabal of six faculty members who he claimed forced the students in their classes to participate in protests or risk getting their grades lowered. When challenged on this by Chris Woodfill, he strongly insisted that he with his own eyes saw this happen three times during the two days that the BOT met at Gallaudet University. When questioned about this by Chris Woodfill, he declined to name six faculties who have been doing this. He said that they are the main instigators of the protests and it was they who fanned the flames at Gallaudet University. They are reprehensible people, so he says. He argued that it was not really the majority of the faculty who were against Fernandes. It was a tiny minority. He said that there are 225 faculties at Gallaudet. About 65 showed up at that meeting where Faculty voted no-confidence at Fernandes. He said that the majority of that group of 65 out of 225 faculty voted no-confidence at Fernandes. Not representative of all Gallaudet campus. A participant asked about the students' participation, Dick said that only 250 out of 1800 students participated. The number is very small. Not a large part of the campus as it was made out to be.

-GUAA vs. GUAR- Under questioning/discussion with Karla Gunn and a few others, it was clear that Dick has no knowledge or understanding of what was happening with this. He seemed to be surprised and confused by this issue. It was all new to him. He was not aware that GUAA was not allowed to use the database. He said he is going to investigate this issue. He felt this was wrong, shameful and a sign of MBI. This must be resolved. He said that GUAA should be allowed to return to Ole Jim since GUAA gave 1.5 million dollars for renovation. GUAA should be allowed to use it. He will try his best to take care of this somehow.

-Fertilizer incident-Dick said he personally read and approved the report for fertilizers on campus back in August. He said that fertilizer is 100% organic and is very expensive. It came from Milwaukee. The name of the product and company escaped the reporter, sorry. He reviewed the report when he heard about the fertilizer incident. He confirms that fertilizer treatment was indeed planned in the specific area where tent city was on that very day.

-I. King Jordan- After hearing a story about a husband and wife's first encounter with I. King Jordan at a mutual friend's wedding which went badly, Dick replied saying that I. King Jordan for all practical purposes is gone. There is no point in worrying about him. He is a goner. However, he felt that I. King Jordan was an amazing person and an amazing president over the last 18 years.

-NAD resolutions- A GUAA and NAD member asked about resolutions submitted by the NAD. Dick said that the resolutions submitted by the NAD concerns and bothers him. He was not sure what to do about that.

-DPS attack-Dick Kinney heard about the DPS attack against students in Hall Memorial Building. He wanted to see evidence of it. Karla Gunn provided pictorial evidence printed out from various blog sites.

-Building naming changes-Dick said that he never heard about the Gallaudet naming committee after a brief discussion about this with Chris Woodfill. Dick said that he is the chair of the committee that names the buildings. He never heard of such a committee not within BoT. He thought his committee is solely responsible for naming of the buildings and whatnots on campus. Dick did have major concerns about naming a gallery after Linda Jordan in Washburn Arts Building. He felt okay after asking many questions to somebody (not sure who) and after rationalizing that the gallery is small. He was uncomfortable with Linda Jordan Gallery but went ahead with it anyways. We never got to the Student Academic Center so that was not discussed.

-FSSA and other student organizations-Dick said that FSSA is not a recognized, sanctioned group at Gallaudet University. FSSA has no official standing at Gallaudet University since it never went through formal process of being a recognized, sanctioned group at Gallaudet. Student Body Government, Graduate Student Association, and various other ethnic-based groups at Gallaudet University are not recognized, sanctioned groups either. Dick said he cannot in good conscience fire Jane Fernandes over the demands of the non-sanctioned groups. How could he sleep well knowing that he fired Jane over the demands of the non-recognized, sanctioned groups? He cannot do so.

This report is written, read, revised, reviewed and approved by the GUAA members in attendance of the Wednesday Oct. 11, 2006 meeting with L. Richard Kinney at the Southern Lakes Association of the Deaf clubhouse from 4-6:15pm.

Breaking News: Gallaudet Arrests!

2006-10-13T21:01:00.000-07:00

Check live protest blogging
Submitted by Tayler Mayer

http://www.scallionstallion.com/

POLICE MAKE ARRESTS AT GALLAUDET PROTEST

2006-10-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=1171673&version=1&locale=EN-US

Wisconsin GUAA Resolution

2006-10-13T20:44:00.000-07:00

Wisconsin GUAA Resolution
Developed by 40 people at the second Tent City on Friday, October 13, 2006 at the Southern Lakes Association of the Deaf clubhouse in Delavan, Wisconsin

Wisconsin GUAA chapter hereby with heavy heart declare that the situation at Gallaudet University is indeed in a serious crisis with both sides of the crisis deeply entrenched in their positions and with the Gallaudet University Board of Trustee being seemingly impotent in trying to resolve the crisis. We are very concerned about the crisis at Gallaudet University. Because of this, we hereby declare the following four demands that we feel will best resolve the situation at Gallaudet University.

1. The Board of Trustee must re-open the presidential search process. Should paying off Dr. Jane Fernandes be required as per the contract that the Board of Trustee offered Jane Fernandes upon her selection as the 9th president of Gallaudet University, this option should be exercised for the greater good of the Gallaudet and the Deaf community.

2. The Board of Trustee must ensure that there are no reprisals against any members of the Faculty, Staff, Student, and Alumni (FSSA) coalition by the administration at Gallaudet University. The Board of Trustee must intervene should any reprisals occur against any members of the FSSA coalition.

3. To ensure that the Board of Trustee is responsive to the concerns of the Gallaudet community, 51% of the Board of Trustee must consist of Deaf Gallaudet alumni.

4. Board of Trustee must be actively involved in the affairs of the Gallaudet community with the full intent of learning, understanding and appreciating the complexities of issues that are fanning the flames of this conflict and of acting in a very strong and proactive manner to douse those flames.

Those demands are agreed to by every Wisconsin GUAA members in attendance. We strongly encourage the Board of Trustee consider those demands and act accordingly.

Wisconsin GUAA Resolution meeting @ SLAD

2006-10-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

Friday, Oct 13th

Wisconsin for FSSA meeting at SLAD

2006-10-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

October 11, 2006

Tent City

2006-10-12T20:56:00.000-07:00

Tent City @ SLAD (Delavan, WI)

Friday, October 13 @ 3:30 pm

Wear your Gally Shirt!

Please forward to others who may be interested to be part of Tent City in Delavan.

Agenda (2 to go):
1. Summary about Gally Protest ( Complete)
2. Q/A with one of Board of Trustees ( Complete)
3. Open Discussion
4. Resolution