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The Daily Colonial - Thorpe to support Gallaudet students
Student Association President Lamar Thorpe '07 has agreed to lend his support, in the form of food and blankets, to the protestors at the all-deaf Gallaudet University. The students of Gallaudet University have been protesting the selection of its new president since last week.
Thorpe said he received an e-mail last week from a member of the Gallaudet community asking for support. Initially, Thorpe remained cautious, saying he didn't want to commit to anything without understanding it completely.
Then, on Wednesday night, Thorpe said that he received a letter from the student body president of University of Maryland, asking for the GW student body's support towards the cause.
Remaining steadfastly cautious, Thorpe decided to go and visit Gallaudet to see firsthand what was going on.
Thorpe said upon arrival at Gallaudet, it was "like a third world country," with the front and back gates to the university closed off, and numerous tents set up by protestors outside the campus.
Thorpe said he met with a committee of student leaders, and also spoke with the protestors, who included people within the community, not just students.
"It's not a student protest," said Thorpe. "It's a community protest that includes faculty, students, staff and alumni as well as members of the surrounding communities."
According to Thorpe, the protestors indicated that the search process conducted to find the next president was their main bone of contention; the reason they were protesting.
The search, which was a six-week process, according to Thorpe, culminated with the selection of former university provost Jane K. Fernandes.
Thorpe said he had trouble understanding the real heart of the issue, as Gallaudet is somewhat of a different culture than GW, being the only deaf liberal arts university in the country.
However, Thorpe said the students tried to draw parallels he could relate to. The students said one of the problems they have with Fernandes is that she can only sign at what they have determined to be a "third grade level."
"They asked me if I would like it if our new university president could only speak English at a third grade level," said Thorpe. "And I said 'no, probably not.’"
Thorpe said he was there for about five hours, walking around to various campsites, simply talking to people.
"They really impressed me," said Thorpe. "They inspired me, I left feeling inspired."
Almost as soon as Thorpe left, the conflict escalated again.
On Friday night, 133 people were arrested for protesting on campus grounds.
In an article in the Washington Post yesterday, the president of the National Association for the Deaf said the arrests are "totally unnecessary," and the "situation is out of control.
In the same article, Fernandes said she felt the arrests were "necessary," albeit "painful." Her first priority is to "reopen the university," which serves a larger deaf community well beyond its gates.
Thorpe has called an emergency Senate meeting tomorrow night at 8 p.m. in order to brief the Senate on the situation, which Thorpe calls a "cry for help," and get the senators involved.
This situation comes as GW starts to choose its own next president.
GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg announced his plan for retirement last spring, to the surprise of the student body.
Thorpe, who serves as the only student representative on GW's presidential search committee, made clear that he "doesn't necessarily support their cause, just their right to evoke their constitutional rights in protest."
As far as the GW administration is concerned, Thorpe could not comment on whether or not they support his involvement with Gallaudet University, and his pledge of support through blankets and food.
Thorpe did say however, "I represent the student body…and I don't necessarily know that the administration would take a position on this issue."
"These are our peers," added Thorpe. "It's important to support their initiatives as such."
As for support from the Student Association senators, Thorpe said he plans to contribute as planned to the protestors, regardless of whether they're behind him or not.
Said Thorpe, "I'm moving forward with this."
Student Association President Lamar Thorpe '07 has agreed to lend his support, in the form of food and blankets, to the protestors at the all-deaf Gallaudet University. The students of Gallaudet University have been protesting the selection of its new president since last week.
Thorpe said he received an e-mail last week from a member of the Gallaudet community asking for support. Initially, Thorpe remained cautious, saying he didn't want to commit to anything without understanding it completely.
Then, on Wednesday night, Thorpe said that he received a letter from the student body president of University of Maryland, asking for the GW student body's support towards the cause.
Remaining steadfastly cautious, Thorpe decided to go and visit Gallaudet to see firsthand what was going on.
Thorpe said upon arrival at Gallaudet, it was "like a third world country," with the front and back gates to the university closed off, and numerous tents set up by protestors outside the campus.
Thorpe said he met with a committee of student leaders, and also spoke with the protestors, who included people within the community, not just students.
"It's not a student protest," said Thorpe. "It's a community protest that includes faculty, students, staff and alumni as well as members of the surrounding communities."
According to Thorpe, the protestors indicated that the search process conducted to find the next president was their main bone of contention; the reason they were protesting.
The search, which was a six-week process, according to Thorpe, culminated with the selection of former university provost Jane K. Fernandes.
Thorpe said he had trouble understanding the real heart of the issue, as Gallaudet is somewhat of a different culture than GW, being the only deaf liberal arts university in the country.
However, Thorpe said the students tried to draw parallels he could relate to. The students said one of the problems they have with Fernandes is that she can only sign at what they have determined to be a "third grade level."
"They asked me if I would like it if our new university president could only speak English at a third grade level," said Thorpe. "And I said 'no, probably not.’"
Thorpe said he was there for about five hours, walking around to various campsites, simply talking to people.
"They really impressed me," said Thorpe. "They inspired me, I left feeling inspired."
Almost as soon as Thorpe left, the conflict escalated again.
On Friday night, 133 people were arrested for protesting on campus grounds.
In an article in the Washington Post yesterday, the president of the National Association for the Deaf said the arrests are "totally unnecessary," and the "situation is out of control.
In the same article, Fernandes said she felt the arrests were "necessary," albeit "painful." Her first priority is to "reopen the university," which serves a larger deaf community well beyond its gates.
Thorpe has called an emergency Senate meeting tomorrow night at 8 p.m. in order to brief the Senate on the situation, which Thorpe calls a "cry for help," and get the senators involved.
This situation comes as GW starts to choose its own next president.
GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg announced his plan for retirement last spring, to the surprise of the student body.
Thorpe, who serves as the only student representative on GW's presidential search committee, made clear that he "doesn't necessarily support their cause, just their right to evoke their constitutional rights in protest."
As far as the GW administration is concerned, Thorpe could not comment on whether or not they support his involvement with Gallaudet University, and his pledge of support through blankets and food.
Thorpe did say however, "I represent the student body…and I don't necessarily know that the administration would take a position on this issue."
"These are our peers," added Thorpe. "It's important to support their initiatives as such."
As for support from the Student Association senators, Thorpe said he plans to contribute as planned to the protestors, regardless of whether they're behind him or not.
Said Thorpe, "I'm moving forward with this."