American Sign Language Essay Example

The Deaf President Now Movement (DPN) was a protest organized by students who were against the election of a president who could hear well. A large number of people from the deaf community gathered together to demand the University’s Board of Trustees to elect a deaf person as the president. Except for one person who stood for presidency, all others were deaf, and it made sense to elect a deaf person to that post. However, the lone person with proper hearing abilities was chosen ahead of the others. When their demands were ignored and Elisabeth A. Zinser was made the president, the students at Gallaudet, with the backing of a number of alumni, staff, and faculties, shut down the campus. They demanded that if the institution was to reopen, Zinser would have to go, and there should be a minimum of fifty-one percent majority of deaf representing their interests on the Board.
The selection of Zinser was unethical, and as Gallaudet had a number of students who had doctorate degrees and some others pursuing their doctorate, it was logical to have a president who understood them and their grievances. In addition to their demand for a deaf president at the helm at Gallaudet, the protestors also pressed for clemency for those who participated in the protests. A week later, the students, staff and faculties ended their protest as their demands were met. Dr. King Jordan became Gallaudet’s deaf president. The significance of the event was that it unified the whole university against discrimination.
Bringing politics into campuses is not a way forward in a democracy. The sentiments of the students should have been heard before the Board decided to elect Zinser. Perhaps they misjudged the power of the students, who were relentless in their demand and stance. While the attitude of the students, staff and faculties can be lauded for their resolve to stand united against biases, it does not speak well of the establishment. The management should have sorted out the issue with the students before electing Zinser. Gallaudet University encourages deaf education using sign languages and to have someone other than a deaf person as its president didn’t appeal to the students studying there.