Miss-Delectable
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- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
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The Exponent - Purdue's Student Newspaper
This semester I began taking American Sign Language, a course taught by a professor who is deaf. I haven’t had any experience with deaf culture in the past, so I would say it has been quite an eye-opening experience in just the last couple of weeks. In a class where silence is the key to success, it is difficult to determine when speaking is appropriate. One thing I can be sure of, however, is that playing music while a deaf professor is trying to teach is disrespectful. Not to be ironic, but I was at a loss for words when another student decided this was acceptable. Few times in my life have I seen such utter disrespect (and I’m from New Jersey � ), let alone in a classroom at Purdue University.
At first the music had been playing at a level that was only barely audible, yet would be completely unacceptable in any other class (typical iPod-type headphone playing as loudly as possible). This is where it’s important to remember that silence is encouraged in A.S.L. classes in order to develop an understanding and a respect for deaf culture. After a few glares of disgust from other students in the class, this student looked me right in the eyes and turned the music up louder. So loud that I was having trouble believing that these were normal headphones. At first, I was impressed that these headphones could reach such a high decibel level. Then I was taken aback by the audacity of this student; I wondered how such an act could ever seem appropriate. I didn’t know such childish disobedience existed in any college setting, let alone at Purdue. I just hope that this lapse in character was temporary because such actions shouldn’t have a place here at Purdue.
Kyle Mitrione
Junior, College of Liberal Arts
This semester I began taking American Sign Language, a course taught by a professor who is deaf. I haven’t had any experience with deaf culture in the past, so I would say it has been quite an eye-opening experience in just the last couple of weeks. In a class where silence is the key to success, it is difficult to determine when speaking is appropriate. One thing I can be sure of, however, is that playing music while a deaf professor is trying to teach is disrespectful. Not to be ironic, but I was at a loss for words when another student decided this was acceptable. Few times in my life have I seen such utter disrespect (and I’m from New Jersey � ), let alone in a classroom at Purdue University.
At first the music had been playing at a level that was only barely audible, yet would be completely unacceptable in any other class (typical iPod-type headphone playing as loudly as possible). This is where it’s important to remember that silence is encouraged in A.S.L. classes in order to develop an understanding and a respect for deaf culture. After a few glares of disgust from other students in the class, this student looked me right in the eyes and turned the music up louder. So loud that I was having trouble believing that these were normal headphones. At first, I was impressed that these headphones could reach such a high decibel level. Then I was taken aback by the audacity of this student; I wondered how such an act could ever seem appropriate. I didn’t know such childish disobedience existed in any college setting, let alone at Purdue. I just hope that this lapse in character was temporary because such actions shouldn’t have a place here at Purdue.
Kyle Mitrione
Junior, College of Liberal Arts