Rally Flyers

Promotional Flyer for the March 1, 1988 Rally
Text from a flyer distributed around campus in late February 1988

It's time! In 1842, a Roman Catholic became president of the University of Notre Dame. In 1875, a woman became president of Wellesley College. In 1875, a Jew became president of Yeshiva University. In 1926, a Black person became president of Howard University.

AND in 1988, the Gallaudet University presidency belongs to a DEAF person. To show OUR solidarity behind OUR mandate for a deaf president of OUR university, you are invited to participate in a historical RALLY!

Flyer distributed at the March 1, 1988 Rally

DEAF PRESIDENT NOW DEAF PRESIDENT NOW DEAF PRESIDENT NOW

WHAT IS THE RALLY ALL ABOUT?

The purpose of the rally is to indicate support for choosing a deaf president of Gallaudet University for the first time in the 124-year history of the university.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RALLY? The Deaf President Now Committee (DPN) which consists of Gallaudet students, alumni, faculty and staff members.

WHY A DEAF PRESIDENT? It is time for Gallaudet University, the only liberal arts university for the deaf in the WORLD, to become sensitive to the needs of deaf people of Gallaudet and of the United States. Here are a few examples of the lack of sensitivity shown towards the needs of the deaf by Gallaudet University.

1. Only 22% of Gallaudet employees are deaf. only 18% of the employees in administrative positions are deaf.

2. The Gallaudet Board of Trustees has twenty-one (21) members of only which four (4) are deaf.

3. There are faculty Tembers who can't sign very well but meet the minimal requirements needed to teach at the university. some of those teachers have been teaching at the universitv for =any years. Needless to say, this deprives students of a good education.

4. Senators Bob Dole and Bob Graham, among many other legislators have a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) in their office and yet, Senator Dan Inouye, member of the Gallaudet Board of Trustees has no such machine in his office.

We do not accuse the people responsible for the conditions mentioned above of callousness. It is merely a lack of awareness on their patt. With a deaf person in the position of leadership, one that has the same views, experiences, and needs that we do, people will become more informed of the needs of deaf people.

The remaining deaf candidates for the office of the Gallaudet presidency have a prodigious background in deaf education as compared to the remaining hearing candidates. The position is considered the highest office, possibly attained in the world of deaf education, one that indicates leadership of the deaf educational world. The remaining deaf candidates also have the administrative and financial abilities needed to manage the office of the presidency as indicated by their past experiences.

HAS THE DPN RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES? Senators Bob Dole (R) of Kansas and Bob Graham (D) of Florida have each sent a letter to the Board of Trustees indicating support for a deaf president.

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) has sent individually addressed letters to each Congressman, Congresswoman, and Senators urging them to send letters to the Board of Trustees or call the Gallaudet President's office in support of a deaf president.

Deafpride, Inc., a social service agency in the Washington, D.C. area has contributed the use of four American Sign Language interpreters to today's rally.

HOW CAN I HELP GET A DEAF PRESIDENT OF GALLAUDET? You are helping by showing your support at this rally. You can also contribute further by giving just five minutes of your time to call your congressperson and senators. CONGRESS HAS A CENTRAL TDD-RELAY NUMBER, IT IS (202) 224-1904. BE SURE TO HAVE THE NAMES OF YOUR CONGRESSPERSON AND SENATORS READY. The message should be brief and to the point. Say that you are in support of a deaf president of Gallaudet University and WANT your congressperson and senators to send a letter to the Gallaudet Board of Trustees as soon as possible. Also add that the NAD has sent a letter to your legislator and that the legislator can refer to it for further information. DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Remember, the number is (202) 224- 1904. Share this number with as many people as possible. Time is-short but only five minutes of your and their time will make a WORLD OF A DIFFERENCE. Also call the Gallaudet President's office and leave a message to the Board of Trustees in support of a deaf president, the number is (202) 651-5005.

WHAT WILL THE DPN DO IF A HEARING PERSON IS SELECTED?

The DPN's work is just beginning. Regardless of the outcome, our next goal is to get a majority of deaf people on the Gallaudet Board of Trustees. The Commission on Education of the Deaf has recommended this and we wholeheartedly support this.

AGAIN, PLEASE CALL YOUR CONGRESSPERSON AND SENATORS, THE NUMBER IS (202) 224-1904. ALSO CALL THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, THE NUMBER IS (202) 651-5005. UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.

Thank you for coming today, your support counts.