Students at Gallaudet University, an internationally known university for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, were protesting the selection of a new university president when they were arrested Friday night after a three-week blockade of the gate leading to the university's Washington campus.
Student protestors say they feel the new president-to-be, Gallaudet University Provost Jane K. Fernandes, failed in her leadership as provost and was uncooperative in dealing with issues concerning racism and audism, or discrimination against people based on an inability to hear, Student Body Government President Noah Beckman said in an e-mail interview.
Students also said they feel they are not being listened to regarding their feelings about Fernandes, Beckman added.
Gallaudet University campus police arrested 133 students late Friday night and charged them with blocking the entrance to a building, a misdemeanor requiring a fine of $50. The arrests came after the three weeks of protesting that completely shut down the university Wednesday, Oct. 11, Gallaudet spokesperson Mercy Coogan said.
Gallaudet has faced student protests since May 1, when the Board of Trustees announced the decision to name Fernandes the next president of the school, Beckman said.
The initial protest lasted two weeks, ending when students left for summer vacation.
"The reason why the students were so angry is because Jane Fernandes failed as Chief Academic officer," Beckman said. "She was our provost for six years. During her six-year term, she did some things and did not do [other] things. What she did not do is [deal] with the problems on campus such as audism and racism."
Discontent was still evident when students returned from their vacation, Beckman added.
The student body government held a town hall meeting to discuss the issue in September and Beckman presented student's complaints to the Board of Trustees, Beckman said.
"When I was done, the board was indifferent and replied with the accusation of [the protest] stalemating Gallaudet University," Beckman said. "In short, the students at Gallaudet do not have a voice among the administration and the board."
Protests began after the Board of Trustees meeting, Coogan said.
On Friday, Oct. 13, the current university president, I. King Jordan, announced in a press release that he would ask "Gallaudet University Department of Public Safety, their consultant, and the Metropolitan Police Department to take the actions necessary to reopen Gallaudet University for educational purposes." Classes began again Monday, according to the university Web site.
Students plan to continue their protests despite the arrests, Beckman said.
"The students will not move until the two demands are met and that is to re-open the search process [for university president] and no reprisals be taken upon those students" involved, Beckman said.
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