Open Letter to the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees, Administration, Campus and External Community on the Gallaudet Presidential Announcement
May 3, 2006
To refer others to the NAD webpage with this letter, please use:
http://www.nad.org/GallaudetOpenLetter3
On Monday May 1, 2006, the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees Interim Chair Celia May Baldwin announced its selection of Provost Jane K. Fernandes as its 9th president. The announcement (see http://pr.gallaudet.edu/presidentialsearch/?ID=8658) quoted Baldwin as saying: “Jane has a deep understanding of how this university works, having served in senior leadership positions here for more than a decade.” That same afternoon, Gallaudet students protested the decision. Faculty and staff concerns are also surfacing. The NAD has all along been communicating with students, faculty, staff, and alumni – and others having a vested interest in Gallaudet University. We stand with these concerned stakeholders, who sincerely believe that they are not being respected nor heard.
Last October, the NAD Board of Directors wrote an Open Letter to the Gallaudet Board of Trustees (see http://www.nad.org/GallaudetPresidentOpenLtr). In that letter, the NAD Board noted the long-standing and positive relationship between the NAD and Gallaudet. The letter continued by articulating priorities and principles important to the NAD. Among those were that Gallaudet’s next president be an individual who can sustain Gallaudet’s historic role as a “beacon of hope for all deaf citizens in the world” and who has “a deep understanding of the challenges faced by deaf people every day in this country and worldwide”. The Open Letter added that “the next president must also be a visionary in promoting academic excellence, as well as committed to diversity in hiring and promoting qualified deaf administrators, faculty, and staff members”.
The NAD also brought together, in a December 2005 a round table with four individuals who represent different segments of our large and diverse community (see http://www.nad.org/gallaudetroundtable ) who expressed their hopes and expectations for Gallaudet.
Last month, the NAD wrote a second Open Letter (see http://www.nad.org/GallaudetOpenletter2). In that communication, which was addressed to the Gallaudet University Search Committee, Board of Trustees, campus community and the larger deaf and hard of hearing community, the NAD noted the fact that all three finalists were deaf individuals with records of distinction. This second letter referenced the role of the NAD in advocating for a deaf president even before and during the historic Deaf President Now events of 18 years ago (http://www.nad.org/NAD-DPN). The NAD urged the Trustees to appoint as the next president, a person “able to unite the community behind a common vision and inspire individuals and groups both on and off campus to reach for a noble cause bigger than any single person or issue.” Further, the NAD urged stakeholders to closely scrutinize each candidate according to the Presidential qualifications and expectations as outlined by the search committee—and to communicate their expectations and views to the committee and the Trustees.
We recognize the tremendous level of unrest this week on and off campus. We believe that current furor is fueled by disconnect between the stated goals of the University and the actions of the administration. Specifically, we are troubled by growing evidence that the final decision by the Board of Trustees may not reflect deeply felt values of students, faculty, alumni, and other community stakeholders – values arising from Gallaudet’s unique place in our community and articulated in our previous open letters, as well as in the Presidential Agenda outlined by the Trustees (see http://pr.gallaudet.edu/presidentalsearch/?ID=8140). Tumultuous and rapidly spreading undercurrents among the students and the campus community also seem to be influenced by ongoing issues related to a lack of diversity within campus, distrust of the current administration, perceived low academic expectations, and poor community morale. Progress is also being restrained by the twin chains of bigotry – audism and racism – which deserve attention and action.
We also recognize the unique role of a University community in promoting freedom of speech, respect for diversity, support for vigorous debate, and tolerance for the exercising of civility in response to dissent and strongly expressed discourse. At this time, discussion is warranted and should be not only tolerated, but encouraged. The current unrest reflects the deeply felt values assigned to Gallaudet by students, faculty, staff, alumni and other community stakeholders, values the NAD and others in the national and worldwide community of deaf and hard of hearing people also hold dear. Gallaudet acknowledged, and expressed commitment to such values in the announcement of the search. There, the University stated that it was eager to identify a president with the abilities to “ensure full access and open communication throughout the University.” The Trustees also set as a qualification the ability to “lead the entire Gallaudet community and its students (K-12 and college level) through times of crisis and challenge.”
Accordingly, the NAD calls upon the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees, President I. King Jordan, and Provost Jane K. Fernandes to take corrective action with courage and wisdom to resolve in a positive manner the growing discord, divisiveness and disconnect on and off campus. Such decisive action would begin the healing process and enable all involved to move forward. The current leadership must move expeditiously to “unite the community behind a common vision and inspire individuals and groups both on and off campus to reach for a noble cause bigger than any single person or issue.”
Members of the NAD and its supporters are deeply concerned that if this crisis is not resolved immediately and decisively by Gallaudet University, there would be increased risk for long term and permanent impact in the areas of recruitment, enrollment and financial giving.
The NAD is determined to stand firm for the cherished values of our community and for the well-being of the world’s only liberal arts university for deaf and hard of hearing people. This is precisely why the NAD stands with Gallaudet students and the entire community in retaining the true greatness of Gallaudet University and the hope it represents to the nation and the world.
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Lange
President
National Association of the Deaf
May 3, 2006
To refer others to the NAD webpage with this letter, please use:
http://www.nad.org/GallaudetOpenLetter3
On Monday May 1, 2006, the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees Interim Chair Celia May Baldwin announced its selection of Provost Jane K. Fernandes as its 9th president. The announcement (see http://pr.gallaudet.edu/presidentialsearch/?ID=8658) quoted Baldwin as saying: “Jane has a deep understanding of how this university works, having served in senior leadership positions here for more than a decade.” That same afternoon, Gallaudet students protested the decision. Faculty and staff concerns are also surfacing. The NAD has all along been communicating with students, faculty, staff, and alumni – and others having a vested interest in Gallaudet University. We stand with these concerned stakeholders, who sincerely believe that they are not being respected nor heard.
Last October, the NAD Board of Directors wrote an Open Letter to the Gallaudet Board of Trustees (see http://www.nad.org/GallaudetPresidentOpenLtr). In that letter, the NAD Board noted the long-standing and positive relationship between the NAD and Gallaudet. The letter continued by articulating priorities and principles important to the NAD. Among those were that Gallaudet’s next president be an individual who can sustain Gallaudet’s historic role as a “beacon of hope for all deaf citizens in the world” and who has “a deep understanding of the challenges faced by deaf people every day in this country and worldwide”. The Open Letter added that “the next president must also be a visionary in promoting academic excellence, as well as committed to diversity in hiring and promoting qualified deaf administrators, faculty, and staff members”.
The NAD also brought together, in a December 2005 a round table with four individuals who represent different segments of our large and diverse community (see http://www.nad.org/gallaudetroundtable ) who expressed their hopes and expectations for Gallaudet.
Last month, the NAD wrote a second Open Letter (see http://www.nad.org/GallaudetOpenletter2). In that communication, which was addressed to the Gallaudet University Search Committee, Board of Trustees, campus community and the larger deaf and hard of hearing community, the NAD noted the fact that all three finalists were deaf individuals with records of distinction. This second letter referenced the role of the NAD in advocating for a deaf president even before and during the historic Deaf President Now events of 18 years ago (http://www.nad.org/NAD-DPN). The NAD urged the Trustees to appoint as the next president, a person “able to unite the community behind a common vision and inspire individuals and groups both on and off campus to reach for a noble cause bigger than any single person or issue.” Further, the NAD urged stakeholders to closely scrutinize each candidate according to the Presidential qualifications and expectations as outlined by the search committee—and to communicate their expectations and views to the committee and the Trustees.
We recognize the tremendous level of unrest this week on and off campus. We believe that current furor is fueled by disconnect between the stated goals of the University and the actions of the administration. Specifically, we are troubled by growing evidence that the final decision by the Board of Trustees may not reflect deeply felt values of students, faculty, alumni, and other community stakeholders – values arising from Gallaudet’s unique place in our community and articulated in our previous open letters, as well as in the Presidential Agenda outlined by the Trustees (see http://pr.gallaudet.edu/presidentalsearch/?ID=8140). Tumultuous and rapidly spreading undercurrents among the students and the campus community also seem to be influenced by ongoing issues related to a lack of diversity within campus, distrust of the current administration, perceived low academic expectations, and poor community morale. Progress is also being restrained by the twin chains of bigotry – audism and racism – which deserve attention and action.
We also recognize the unique role of a University community in promoting freedom of speech, respect for diversity, support for vigorous debate, and tolerance for the exercising of civility in response to dissent and strongly expressed discourse. At this time, discussion is warranted and should be not only tolerated, but encouraged. The current unrest reflects the deeply felt values assigned to Gallaudet by students, faculty, staff, alumni and other community stakeholders, values the NAD and others in the national and worldwide community of deaf and hard of hearing people also hold dear. Gallaudet acknowledged, and expressed commitment to such values in the announcement of the search. There, the University stated that it was eager to identify a president with the abilities to “ensure full access and open communication throughout the University.” The Trustees also set as a qualification the ability to “lead the entire Gallaudet community and its students (K-12 and college level) through times of crisis and challenge.”
Accordingly, the NAD calls upon the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees, President I. King Jordan, and Provost Jane K. Fernandes to take corrective action with courage and wisdom to resolve in a positive manner the growing discord, divisiveness and disconnect on and off campus. Such decisive action would begin the healing process and enable all involved to move forward. The current leadership must move expeditiously to “unite the community behind a common vision and inspire individuals and groups both on and off campus to reach for a noble cause bigger than any single person or issue.”
Members of the NAD and its supporters are deeply concerned that if this crisis is not resolved immediately and decisively by Gallaudet University, there would be increased risk for long term and permanent impact in the areas of recruitment, enrollment and financial giving.
The NAD is determined to stand firm for the cherished values of our community and for the well-being of the world’s only liberal arts university for deaf and hard of hearing people. This is precisely why the NAD stands with Gallaudet students and the entire community in retaining the true greatness of Gallaudet University and the hope it represents to the nation and the world.
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Lange
President
National Association of the Deaf
