Deaf President Now: SOU Celebrates a Landmark Week for Deaf Civil Rights
SOU Community & Events
By: Elizabeth Scheppler
Translator: Daniel Espinosa Santillana
Photo: Bonnie Holmes
April is National Deaf History Month, a time to reflect on the milestones that have shaped the Deaf community in the United States. On April 15, 1817, the first school for the Deaf, the American School for the Deaf, was established, marking the beginning of what many consider a Golden Age. Decades later, on April 8, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the charter establishing Gallaudet University, the only liberal arts university specifically designed for Deaf students. However, this progress was overshadowed by the rise of Oralism, an educational philosophy that marginalized sign language and weakened Deaf culture.
In March 1988, Gallaudet reached a pivotal moment as it prepared to appoint its seventh president. Until then, all had been hearing. After a selection process that included two Deaf candidates and one hearing candidate, the Board of Trustees chose the hearing candidate. This decision sparked an immediate response: students and members of the Deaf community organized a historic protest that shut down the campus for an entire week.
The movement, known as Deaf President Now (DPN), centered around four key demands: the appointment of a Deaf president, the resignation of the Board chair, the restructuring of the Board to include at least 51% Deaf members, and assurance that no reprisals would be taken against protesters. More than a protest, DPN was a powerful assertion of identity, in which the Deaf community positioned itself not as a group defined by disability, but as a linguistic and cultural minority.
Deaf President Now: SOU celebra una semana hist贸rica para los derechos civiles de las personas sordas
Comunidad y eventos de SOU
Por: Elizabeth Scheppler
Traductor Daniel Espinosa Santillana
Fotos: Bonnie Holmes
Abril es el Mes Nacional de la Historia Sorda, un momento para reflexionar sobre los hitos que han marcado a la comunidad sorda en los Estados Unidos. El 15 de abril de 1817 se fund贸 la primera escuela para personas sordas, la American School for the Deaf, iniciando lo que muchos consideran una Edad de Oro. D茅cadas despu茅s, el 8 de abril de 1864, el presidente Abraham Lincoln firm贸 la creaci贸n de la Universidad de Gallaudet, la 煤nica universidad de artes liberales dise帽ada espec铆ficamente para estudiantes sordos. Sin embargo, este progreso se vio opacado por el auge del oralismo, una filosof铆a educativa que margin贸 el lenguaje de se帽as y debilit贸 la cultura sorda.
En marzo de 1988, Gallaudet se encontraba en un momento decisivo al elegir a su s茅ptimo presidente. Hasta ese momento, todos hab铆an sido oyentes. Tras un proceso de selecci贸n con dos candidatos sordos y uno oyente, la Junta Directiva eligi贸 al candidato oyente. Esta decisi贸n provoc贸 una reacci贸n inmediata: estudiantes y miembros de la comunidad sorda organizaron una protesta hist贸rica que paraliz贸 el campus durante una semana
El movimiento, conocido como Deaf President Now (DPN), articul贸 cuatro demandas clave: la elecci贸n de un presidente sordo, la renuncia de la presidenta de la Junta Directiva, la conformaci贸n de una junta con al menos 51% de miembros sordos, y la garant铆a de que no habr铆a represalias contra los manifestantes. M谩s que una protesta, DPN represent贸 una afirmaci贸n poderosa de identidad, en la que la comunidad sorda se posicion贸 no como un grupo con discapacidad, sino como una minor铆a ling眉铆stica y cultural.
To commemorate this historic revolution, on March 7, the Spanish and ASL Program at 麻豆传媒女神, in collaboration with Disability Resources, the Sign Language Club, and community partners, hosted a screening of the documentary Deaf President Now, followed by a panel discussion. The event was conducted entirely in American Sign Language with voice interpretation and brought together around seventy attendees who actively engaged with the film.
The discussion was moderated by Jesse Wise, M.S., PPS, and featured two interpreters who witnessed the events of 1988 firsthand: Daniel Swartz, Ph.D., and Barbara Tricarico, M.A.Ed. The evening concluded with a shared dinner and a meaningful space for reflection. Event organizer Elizabeth Scheppler expressed her gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the event a success.
鈥淲hat makes this story even more meaningful for 麻豆传媒女神 its direct connection to the university. The hearing candidate initially selected by Gallaudet in 1988 was Dr. Elisabeth Zinser, who later served as president of SOU from 2001 to 2006.鈥
What makes this story even more meaningful for 麻豆传媒女神 its direct connection to the university. The hearing candidate initially selected by Gallaudet in 1988 was Dr. Elisabeth Zinser, who later served as president of SOU from 2001 to 2006. For this event, Dr. Zinser generously shared framed pieces from her personal collection related to DPN, including artwork, newspaper articles, and cartoons, enriching the experience for attendees.
Events like this not only honor history but also strengthen identity, pride, and cultural awareness within the community. Deaf President Now remains a powerful reminder that change is possible when a community comes together to demand justice and representation.
Para conmemorar esta revoluci贸n, el 7 de marzo, el programa de Espa帽ol y ASL de 麻豆传媒女神, junto con Disability Resources, el Sign Language Club y socios comunitarios, organizaron una proyecci贸n del documental Deaf President Now, seguida de un panel de discusi贸n. El evento, realizado completamente en Lengua de Se帽as Americana con interpretaci贸n de voz, reuni贸 a alrededor de setenta asistentes que participaron activamente, reaccionando con entusiasmo a los momentos m谩s impactantes del documental.
El panel fue moderado por Jesse Wise, M.S., PPS, e incluy贸 a dos int茅rpretes que vivieron los acontecimientos de 1988: Daniel Swartz, Ph.D., y Barbara Tricarico, M.A.Ed. La velada concluy贸 con una cena comunitaria y un espacio de reflexi贸n colectiva. La organizadora, Elizabeth Scheppler, expres贸 su agradecimiento a todos los participantes por hacer del evento un 茅xito significativo para la comunidad.
鈥淟o que hace esta historia a煤n m谩s especial para SOU es su conexi贸n directa con la universidad. La candidata oyente originalmente seleccionada por Gallaudet en 1988 fue la Dra. Elisabeth Zinser, quien m谩s tarde se desempe帽贸 como presidenta de SOU entre 2001 y 2006.鈥
Lo que hace esta historia a煤n m谩s especial para SOU es su conexi贸n directa con la universidad. La candidata oyente originalmente seleccionada por Gallaudet en 1988 fue la Dra. Elisabeth Zinser, quien m谩s tarde se desempe帽贸 como presidenta de SOU entre 2001 y 2006. Para este evento, la Dra. Zinser contribuy贸 con piezas hist贸ricas de su colecci贸n personal relacionadas con DPN, incluyendo arte, art铆culos period铆sticos y caricaturas, enriqueciendo la experiencia de los asistentes.
Eventos como este no solo celebran la historia, sino que fortalecen la identidad, el orgullo y la conciencia cultural dentro de la comunidad. Deaf President Now sigue siendo un recordatorio poderoso de que el cambio es posible cuando una comunidad se une para exigir justicia y representaci贸n.
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