St. Augustine for FSSA

GUAA Picnic Information

2006-11-02T00:42:00.000-05:00

When: Saturday, November 4, 2006

Time: 1 pm – 5pm

Where: Faver Dykes State Park

Please bring comfortable chairs to lounge around in.

Driving Directions:
Take Interstate 95 to exit #298, which is US 1.
Go north on US 1 for 300 yards and turn right on Faver-Dykes Road.
Go 1.5 miles on Faver-Dykes Road to Faver-Dykes State Park.
Follow GUAA signs to find us.
To enter the park, there’s an entrance fee of $3.00 per vehicle.

Faver Dykes State Park offers canoe rentals for $20 all day – first come first serve. They also offer a beautiful nature walk along with a small playground and a fishing pier off of Matanzas River.

For more information about the park, go to: www.floridastateparks.org/faver-dykes

GUAA Picnic Celebration!

2006-10-30T20:30:00.000-05:00

Wow, what a truly historic moment it was yesterday for all of us in the deaf community. Let us pay homage to FSSA, GUAA, NAD and the deaf community all over the world, who have worked so hard to see that the beacon at our beloved Gallaudet shines once again!!! Our tent city mayor, Carrie Cobb would love for us to celebrate jubilantly by establishing a couple of tents and paying respect to our Gallaudet this coming Saturday when we have our GUAA picnic and I agree with her.

Let us get in the festival mood and rejoice this coming Saturday. Let us also work together for a better Gallaudet!!!!!!

Long Live Gallaudet and Unity for Gallaudet!!!!!!!!!

--Debbi Penrose

News Articles about Jane's Termination

2006-10-29T23:06:00.000-05:00

Washington Post

CNN

USA Today

Interview with FSSA

2006-10-29T23:00:00.000-05:00

http://www.deafread.com/media/fssainterview.html

Statement by Jane K. Fernandes

2006-10-29T22:58:00.000-05:00

It is with deep regret that I heard the Board’s decision to terminate my contract.

I love Gallaudet University and I believe I could have made a significant contribution to its future. I hope that the Gallaudet community can heal the wounds that have been created. I trust that we all want a stronger, better, more inclusive Gallaudet where ASL and Deaf culture have been and always will be at the core of academic and community life.

Statement from I. King Jordan

2006-10-29T22:56:00.000-05:00

Statement by I. King Jordan

The struggle during the past several months has been very painful for all of us. I am deeply troubled by the divisions among us and by the anger that overtook reason, respect, and civility.

Now we must all come together for the sake of Gallaudet, particularly for the sake of Gallaudet's students--those who are our students now and those who will be students in the future.

I want to thank Jane Fernandes for her dedication and courage and her standing up for what's right. I am personally saddened--for Gallaudet and for Dr. Jane K. Fernandes--that she will not have the opportunity to show Gallaudet and the world what a great president she could have been.

Her vision and her plans to make that vision come to life would have guided the university we all love into a bright future. The Board of Trustees saw that promise when they selected Dr. Fernandes as president.

In order to resolve the current stalemate the Board has deemed it necessary to steer a different course, and I accept their decision. Now we must all put down our weapons of words and seek to restore a sense of community.

In my Town Hall speech last November I said there is more that unites us than divides us. I think we lost sight of that for a time and we must work together to refocus on the core values that unite us. We should not look for a resolution to the struggle of recent months in terms of winners and losers. If we do, Gallaudet and our students will be the losers.

Watch the Celebration!

2006-10-29T22:52:00.000-05:00

http://www.deafread.com/media/celebration.html

At last, Jane K. Fernandes is Fired!

2006-10-29T22:48:00.000-05:00

TO: Campus Community

FROM: Board of Trustees

DATE: October 29, 2006

RE: Board of Trustees Meeting

Today, we announce with much regret and pain that after serious deliberation in a special, all-day Executive Session of the Board of Trustees, we have voted to terminate Dr. Fernandes' appointment as President-Designate (currently effective) and President (effective beginning January 1, 2007) at Gallaudet University.

We understand the impact of this decision and the important issues that inherently arise when a Board re-examines decisions in the face of an on-going protest. The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the University to terminate Dr. Fernandes from the incoming President's position. Although undoubtedly there will be some members of the
community who have differing views on the meaning of this decision, we believe that it is a necessity at this point. The Board is continuing to meet to discuss transitional issues.

It has certainly been a difficult and trying time for our Gallaudet community. Now is the time for healing. The hope of the Board of Trustees is for our beloved community to come together to work for a stronger and better Gallaudet.

Pictures by Sara Winchester!

2006-10-23T19:08:00.000-04:00

Message from Debbi Penrose!

2006-10-22T19:50:00.000-04:00

Greetings Gallaudetians and Friends of Gallaudet!!!!

First of all, I wanted so much to say thanks to Carrie Cobb for her tremendous help to forward my emails to you yesterday while I was at Gallaudet. I also wanted to say thanks to Sara Winchester for taking so many wonderful pictures, especially pictures of our Floridians. Last, but not the least, I wanted to say thanks to Andy Tao for maintaining our website and editing the video of our tent city. Sooner or later, Andy will be able to post some pictures of yesterday's events on our website, which is www.staugforfssa.blogspot.com. By the way, many people we saw yesterday made very positive comments about our website.

Wow. What an incredible experience it was this past weekend at our beloved Gallaudet. Tom D' Angelo and his family, Sara Wichester and I all went to Gallaudet. Our FAD secretary and NAD Region III Representative, Lissette Molina also joined us in our historical march to the capitol. We were able to witness everything first-handed and even participated in the historical march to our capitol. It was truly an inspiring experience!!!

It is so hard to describe what we saw in words. So many stories. So many facts. So many proud deaf and even hearing people from different walks of life. Gallaudet is truly considered a home away from home for so many diverse people.

Andy Lange, a native of Florida and also our national GUAA president gve us a very inspiring speech while we all were at the capitol. He saidthat we all are doing the right thing and that we must take back our Gallaudet. He will ocntinue to work with our NAD President, Bobbie Beth Scoggins and other prominent deaf leaders in our deaf community.

We also had the pleasure of getting together with June McMahon, a resident of West Palm Beach and also our national GUAA Eastern Region Representative. She has been invovled in a series of meetings wiht our GUAA board to help address these urgent issues.

I also wanted to mention that FSSA coalition has done us so proud. Faculty, staff, students and alumni were truly peaceful. It is quite contrary to what some media have been saying about them. The campus looked so beautiful. We were not able to find any evidence of vandalism except for one. When they added I. King Jordan's name to the Student Academic Center building (formerly known as the Ely Center), it was removed by force and that was about it. Gallaudet looked so well-groomed and so inviting.

I can easily assure you that we have been doing the right thing all along by showing our solid support for Gallaudet, especially when we established our tent city a week ago.

Now as for some hard facts according to the latest edition of the Buff and Blue (Friday, October 20th) and some personal accounts by reliable sources, it has become so clear why many people felt that the presidential search process was not justified. For instance, it was discovered that 7 members of the PSC committee were also members of the BOT. Only 3 alumni, who were also members of the BOT were involved in the search process. 17 out of 21 BOT members were able to vote and 12 were for J. Fernandes. However, 2 of them had a change of heart recently and have agreed that J. Fernandes should resign.

It has become imperative that we work with the BOT and get them on our board. This is something that our GUAA and NAD are working on now.

Before I close, I want to make myself very clear that the information regarding our BOT is strictly my interpretation of facts that have surfaced the past couple of days and please correct me if you hear otherwise. BOT and PSC are clearly something that we all need to investigate very closely in order for positive changes to take place at Gallaudet soon.

Last, but not the least, I am so pleased to say that we saw at least 16 FSDB former students and 1 current FSDB student while we were at Gallaudet yesterday. They have done us so proud. They all were very happy and good in spirits!!!

All in all, justice shall prevail and soon, our beacon at Gallaudet shall shine again. Unity for Gallaudet is so powerful and it is there to stay.

Long Live Gallaudet, Take Back Gallaudet and Unity for Gallaudet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Debbi

Pixes by Debbi Penrose at Gally Protest!

2006-10-22T19:47:00.000-04:00

Gallaudet Trustees Split on Fernandes

2006-10-19T22:48:00.000-04:00

A must-read article from Washington Post!

Click here!

Video of St Augustine Tent City!

2006-10-19T22:19:00.000-04:00

Great, Great, Great grandaughter of Thomas Gallaudet

2006-10-18T22:07:00.000-04:00

I am disturbed by the way the current uprising has been handled, to the extent that students have been arrested for protesting. I am especially dismayed that you have apparently forgotten your history with the University and its student protesters from 1988 and the DPN movement.

GU is not simply an institution for the deaf; it is a combined force of deaf culture? past and future, the history and potential of ASL as its ownlanguage and the reality of the dreams of deaf people everywhere.

As the great, great, great granddaughter of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, elder brother to Edward, I am concerned with the divisive atmosphere the office of the President and the Board of Trustees has engendered with regard to ignoring student representatives and dismissing campus community concerns.

With as great a history as the University has from its inception and through thedecades, how then can the students and faculty be treated with such disrespect?
Sincerely,

Elise Gallaudet DeClue

Message from GUAA President

2006-10-18T22:03:00.000-04:00

Hello GUAA Alumni,

I am sure by now, everyone has heard of the news. With the very short message that was released today from President Jordan’s office - see below -, he has disenfranchised many alumni. The Classes of 1981 and 1956 were all set to host their 25th and 50th Reunion. There are also many other reunions happening on that day as well. Instead, Dr. Jordan cancelled all “University Sponsored Events.”

Needless to say, we are all upset over this and deem his reasons for doing so very weak. Dr. Jordan is “postponing homecoming” because of the protester’s refusal to open all of the gates. Let’s think about this for a minute.

1) The gate by KDES is never used. It is hardly ever opened.
2) The gate by MSSD is open ONLY from 6 am to 6 pm M-F. It is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
3) The 6th St. Gate is open ONLY from 6 am to 6 pm M-F as well. It is also closed on Saturday and Sunday.
4) The Florida Avenue and 8th Street Gate is open 24/7.

There are hundreds of reasons why the protesting is going on. I can tell you from what I’ve seen and heard this past week or so, the problems that Gallaudet has run extremely deep. The protesters (students, faculty, staff, and alumni) have occupied the front gate on Florida and 8th, and they have also occupied the gates of Kendall and MSSD. When the football team took over the campus and shut the 6th street gate, they effectively closed the University.

As a result of that, 134 of our future leaders were arrested. Mostly students and a faculty member. Esteemed DPN Leader Tim Rarus was also arrested. Why? Because we have a person chosen by a Board of Trustees who have abdicated their role as custodians of the university and have put up a wall of silence (pun intended). They have chosen a person who is extremely unpopular and by all accounts not an effective leader. If you have been following the blogs, you will see all the documentation that has come forth about the effectiveness of the leader chosen for us by the Board of Trustees. Why is the BOT not willing to see that this person is simply not able to lead? More importantly, the obvious disconnect between the 85% of the Faculty who have voted to ask for resignation and the BOT? Why is President Jordan so protective of her?

On Monday morning, the gate on 6th St. was open and traffic was allowed to come and go normally. The students continued to occupy the Florida and 8th Street Gate. So, there is clear and easy access to the campus. In fact, on Monday morning and again this morning in the rain, a lot of students, alumni and some faculty stood by the roadside leading into Gallaudet, waving, cheering, and saying “good morning” to everyone. It was very heart warming to see them doing this. This morning, it was raining, and they were out there again, cheering, waving and welcoming people to the campus.

I know from my discussions, that the students and leaders have been very careful to communicate with the DPS and DC Police to make sure there is no mis-communications. They were told by everyone that the 6th street gate had to be open, and as long as it was open, it would not be a problem.

Apparently President Jordan thinks otherwise. Postponing the HC day and events, is in effect a CANCELLATION for class reunions and for alumni participation. Especially for the Classes of 1981 and 1956. Those classes have spent two years planning their reunion. Catering food has been reserved, entertainment reserved, and members of the classes have already paid for plane tickets, taken time off from work, book hotel rooms, and prepared for the reunion. I am sure all of them were looking forward to seeing their classmates from 25 and 50 years ago. Me included, as it is my 1981 class reunion. I am not able to come back in November to attend what would be considered an “Official Class Reunion.” I am sure that this is true for many our alumni who are unable to come in November. In fact, I have seen some our international alumni already here for the festivities. I feel bad because I encouraged them all to come.

Shock waves reverberated throughout Gallaudet when the announcement was made. Dr. Jordan and Dr. Fernandes have repeatedly stated that this is a “local” issue and not really a community wide issue. How very wrong of them. About 2 minutes after the announcement went out; I received pages from Florida, California, South Dakota, and many other states asking me if it was true. In about 10 minutes, people from England were asking the same question. ”Local” indeed!

I cannot describe to you adequately the upheavals and turmoil Gallaudet is in now. It is awful, sad, and quite simply, disgusting. You have to be here on campus to see it and feel it for yourself. For those of you who were “against” the protest, or not very supportive. I assure you, when you get here, you’ll see it for yourself.

The worst thing anybody can do is turn on their own family members. Since Gallaudet is home for us, the students arrested on Friday evening last week was an incredible, terrible and heart breaking experience. It was awful, sad, and demoralizing. Our kids were trying to make a statement, they were expressing their opinion. This is AMERICA, this is what we do. Blocking the gate maybe was not the “legal” thing to do, but it was a way to get attention. Very obviously, they felt that they were not being “heard.”

Well, I don’t know about you folks, but to put it bluntly, I am heart broken and outraged that President Jordan can continue to oppress the community of Gallaudet. Very clearly, he’s lost focus on what we are all about. Today we were interviewed by the local media, I told President Jordan that the oppression must stop. We are fed up with it. Is it right for us to feel oppressed in our own home? After a life time of oppression, Gallaudet is the one place where we are free to be
ourselves, and not suffer the oppression we experience EVERYDAY of our lives outside of Gallaudet!

Nevertheless, we will PREVAIL, and life will get back to normal at Gallaudet. Some people need to realize that they are not wanted at Gallaudet and will never have the ability to lead the university or our cherished campus. By cancelling an event that hundreds of alumni have paid airplane tickets, dinner tickets, event tickets, hotel rooms, and taken time off from work to attend, President Jordan has made it clear
to all of us, that the alumni is not a valued entity at Gallaudet University.

Therefore, I am calling upon ALL ALUMNI to come to Gallaudet. Come on foot, rent buses, fly here, and be here. Our home needs us!

We must take back Gallaudet.

Andy Lange
GUAA President

PS. The GUAA was NOT consulted on this “postponement.” The GUAA had no input into this decision whatsoever.

PSS. It’s nice that President Jordan can send emails to ALL Alumni when we at GUAA are unable to do so.

Gallaudet Homecoming is postponed!

2006-10-18T20:55:00.000-04:00

To Members of the Gallaudet Community:

We regret that due to the fact that Gallaudet University is not operating under normal circumstances, and the protesters continue to refuse to open all of the gates, we must postpone homecoming and all related activities.

I. King Jordan
President

Faculty Demands Fernandes to Resign - 138 Ayes, 24 Nayes

2006-10-16T21:46:00.000-04:00

(Note: there are 221 eligible voting faculty members at Gallaudet University; 168 are present at this meeting, representing 76% of eligible voting faculty)

Motion A
“The University Faculty moves that Faculty Governance. Through their official contacts with the Administration and the Board, examine and discuss models for including faculty, staff, students and alumni as members of the Board, and set a timetable for incorporating one of these models into practice at Gallaudet.

PASSED Unanimously (168 by standing vote)

Motion B
“Be it resolved that the faculty demand that Jane Kelleher Fernandes resign or be removed from her position for the greater good of Gallaudet University”

PASSED

Ayes 138
Nayes 24
Abstain 6

Motion C
“Be it resolved that the Faculty request the Board of Trustees convene an emergency meeting with four elected representatives from the students, four elected faculty members, two elected staff members, two elected Clerc Center representatives, and two elected members of the Alumni Association to determine how to manage Gallaudet University during the interim and to plan for a re-opening of the search process.”

PASSED
Ayes 131
Nayes 23
Abstain 2

MOTION D
“Be it resolved that the Faculty request no reprisals against any member of the community, including students, staff and faculty, Clerc Center teachers and staff, Trustees and alumni for their support of or dissent from the current protests.

PASSED
Ayes 133
Nayes 15
Abstain 0

MOTION E
“Be it resolved that the Faculty express loss of confidence in I. King Jordan as the leader of Gallaudet University.”
Ayes 80
Nayes 60
Abstain 7

MOTION F
“Be it resolved that the Faculty express a loss of confidence in the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees”
PASSED
Ayes 106
Nayes 10
Abstained 0

POSTPONEMENT OF VOTE DURING A SPECIAL MEETING TO BE CALLED

MOTION G
“Immediately bring an outside. Neutral. Professional mediation team to campus. The team should include Deaf and hearing representatives who are familiar with Deaf issues and Gallaudet University to facilitate discussion between the various stakeholders involved in the current crisis”

MOTION H
“Bring and outside neutral party to investigate the search process that resulted in the selection of Dr. Jane Fernandes as the 9th President of Gallaudet University”

MOTION I
“Establish fixed, renewable terms for the Gallaudet University president. At the end of each term, Gallaudet presidents will have a performance evaluation by the Board of Trustees that will include feedback from the campus community. The performance evaluation will be used to help determine whether reappointment should occur”

MOTION J
“Ask that Committee A and the Senate work together to change faculty guidelines such that all previously tenured faculty will be required to take the same sign language assessment test that untenured faculty take. GU till rovide interps in the classroom for any currently tenured fac member who does not pass the sign lang assessment at the same level required for new fac to gain tenure. This would not replace the system of testing non tenured faculty”

Press Release from FSSA, GUAA and NAD

2006-10-15T22:19:00.000-04:00

October 15, 2006

Concerned Gallaudet University faculty and staff, the Gallaudet University Alumni Association, and the National Association of the Deaf called a press conference at the front gate of the university today at 1:00 p.m.

The following points were covered by faculty, staff, alumni, and student representatives:

Gallaudet is in crisis; this crisis is a result of a serious leadership failure on the part of I King Jordan and Jane Fernandes.

I King Jordan’s order of student arrests on October 13, 2006, was reprehensible shocking, and unnecessary. His claim that the decision to arrest students lay with the Metro DC Police is untrue.

Jane Fernandes, I King Jordan, and the Board of Trustees are out of touch with the reality and seriousness of the issues brought before them both before and after the protest began.

The Faculty officers have called for Jane Fernandes to resign for the good of the University.

The Gallaudet University Alumni Association has called for Jane Fernandes to resign for the good of the University.

The National Association for the Deaf has called for Jane Fernandes to resign for the good of the University.

The Board of Trustees is derelict in its responsibilities for leaving this crisis in the hands of I King Jordan and Jane Fernandes.

The Board of Trustees must immediately return to the University to assume full responsibility for this crisis.

The Board of Trustees must immediately begin to work with the Gallaudet community to resolve this crisis.

Dr. Fernandes stated in today’s Washington Post that she does not believe the protest is about her, but “about evolution and change and growth in the deaf community.” Whereas, the protest has focused on an unfair and flawed search process, the protest is now indeed about Dr. Jane Fernandes. It is about her eleven-year history of leadership failures at Gallaudet University.

By consistently claiming she does not understand the issues brought forth, as she did again in today’s Post, Jane Fernandes, has demonstrated that she the wrong choice to lead Gallaudet University.

The only resolution to this crisis is for Dr. Jane Fernandes to resign or be removed.

Our Messages to Tent City II!

2006-10-15T22:11:00.000-04:00

More Pictures from Carrie Cobb!

2006-10-15T21:59:00.000-04:00

Debbi Penrose and Record Newspaper Reporter

Commitee members standing from left to right: Tom D'Angelo, Cindy D'Angelo, George Boyd, Carrie Cobb, Chris Wagner, Lissette Molina, Debbi Penrose, Donna Drake, Jessica Stultz, and Sara Winchester. In absentina but with us in spirits: Michael Stultz and Andy Tao.

Our Future Leaders!

75+ Supporters from Florida!

Statement from I. King Jordan

2006-10-15T21:27:00.000-04:00

October 15, 2006

Dear Members of the Campus Community,

For those on campus who say they want to be heard, I assure you have been heard. You have been heard by me. You have been heard by the Board. We have heard you from the beginning of your protest. We have considered and discussed your points of view. We just haven't agreed with you. And we still don't.

We recognize your right to continue expressing your opinion, but we cannot defend your tactics. Taking control of Hall Memorial Building and locking out students, teachers and staff is indefensible. Blocking entrances to the campus is unjustifiable. No one has the right to stop education.

The protestors are making accusations in the media which do not reflect the reality of the past week. The Administration negotiated with the leaders of the protests in good faith and around the clock. There was a complete lack of good faith on the part of the protestors. Agreements were reneged upon and demands changed at the last minute. I have attached a timeline of events to demonstrate the enormous efforts put forth by this Administration and the Metropolitan Police Department to peacefully end the standoff.

Most of you do not know how long and hard we negotiated with the protestors. On Monday afternoon, the SBG president signed an agreement to reopen HMB and then reneged. The protestors then made public a list of more than 20 demands, some of which were obviously unacceptable. They proceeded to shut down the campus by blocking access at all the gates, with complete disregard for the havoc their actions wreaked on the rest of the Gallaudet community. We continued to negotiate but when it became clear the protestors had no intention of allowing access to the campus, I had no choice but to call the Metropolitan Police Department. MPD Assistant Chief Wilson was on campus for two days also trying to negotiate a way to peacefully reopen the campus. It is impossible to have a negotiation when only one side is willing to act
in good faith. Chief Wilson and his team repeatedly explained to the protestors that they would be arrested if they did not allow access. Unfortunately, many protestors chose to be arrested. Let me be clear, this was a method of last resort but it was their choice. They were arrested for breaking the law.

I do believe that diversity, including diversity of opinion, is our strength and absolutely essential for academic excellence. Freedom is about choices within the law that respect justice for all people. It is our responsibility to teach these important concepts to our students.

Dr. Jane Fernandes has the leadership qualities needed to lead this University. The Board of Trustees has selected her from a diverse field of candidates. Dr. Fernandes can meet the challenge to lead during a time of change. She can help expand Deaf culture to include all deaf people. She knows and loves Gallaudet. Her years of educational and administrative experience have prepared her to help our students to be successful in a changing and diverse world. Encourage your sense of fairness to surface and give Dr. Fernandes the respect that is due her and the opportunity to bring us all together in pursuit of academic excellence and strengthening our inclusive deaf university.

For now, the University's top priority must be to keep open the campus and to resume providing education to all of the students in the Gallaudet community, in a safe environment.

I. King Jordan

President

Pictures from Carrie Cobb

2006-10-15T21:02:00.000-04:00

Standing from left to right:Kathi Abenchuchan, Jose Abenchuchan and Bob Lange. Sitting from left to right: Maryly Penrose, Mrs. Heinz, RID Interpreter, Geneva Lange and Tom Penrose

St. Augustine Tent Cinty established at 1:00p.m. on Oct. 14, 2006

Cindy D'Angelo and George Boyd - "Unity for Gallaudet "Song

More Pictures from our Tent City!

2006-10-15T19:33:00.000-04:00

Tent City II needs our sunny help!

2006-10-15T12:02:00.000-04:00

Hi everybody, there’s a serious shortage of money due to the bail outs of our decidated protesters who were arrested last night. Not only that, we’re low on food and supplies. There’s a frost advisory tonight so it is a very dangerous position for our protesters to be exposed to the cold and the damp.

We desperately need heaters, electric wires, heated tents, and especially sleeping bags. We also need charcoals to keep our grills going so we can be warm. We also need hot food such as soup, meat (to be cooked on the grill), and hot drinks. I’m working right now in trying to get the red cross and salvation army to come and help. Please contact Jeanine Wiesblatt at bluesun@tmail.com . Remember, our survival depends on you. Remember we’re fighting for you like soliders and heroes. We’ll not give up!

Jeanine Wiesblatt

St Augustine Record

2006-10-15T11:54:00.000-04:00

Greetings Gallaudetians and Friends of Gallaudet -

I wanted to share this message with you regarding the article in today's newspapers. Unfortunately, the article did not contain all the facts regarding our tent city. It did not even mention about our GUAA and FSSA's involvement. Not only that, there were at least 75+ supporters in attendance. So please be on the lookout for factual information soon.

I also wanted you to know that I am in this for as long as it takes even if it takes very long. I expect that we will face many more obstacles yet to come, but we shall overcome them because we all truly believe in our cause. We know that at this point, Jane Fernandes MUST resign no matter what the circumstances are. It has become so CLEAR that there are so many alumni and friends of alumni throughout this nation and throughout the whole wide world who agree that Jane Fernandes MUST go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay tuned for further developments. We shall be back soon, more resolved than ever to tackle this monumental task before us to remove Jane Fernandes right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Justice and truth shall prevail. LONG LIVE GALLAUDET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim Rarus arrested...

2006-10-15T11:52:00.000-04:00

Photo by Kerri Cianciotti

Message from Tent City

2006-10-15T11:48:00.001-04:00

Greetings Gallaudetians and Friends of Gallaudet!!!!!

First of all, out Tent City was a smashing success. Our Tent City Mayor, Carrie Cobb thanked 75+ proud supporters, who came as far as Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale and Miami for coming to show our unwavering support to Gallaudet. St. Augustine GUAA Chapter President, Debbi Penrose then started a round of introductions to our three keynote presentators. The three keynote presentators gave us factual information regarding the protest at Gallaudet and agreed that Dr. Fernandes must resign in order for healing process to start at Gallaudet. These three keynote presentators are listed below.

Former National GUAA President and current St. Augustine GUAA Chapter Vice-President, Donna Drake

FAD Secretary and NAD Region III Representative, Lissette Molina

NAD Vice-President, FAD President and FSDB Board of Trustees Member, Chris Wagner

After listening to three very informative presentations, Tom D' Angelo fired us up with his inspiring presentation for us to unify together and show our unwavering support for Gallaudet and ask that Dr. Fernandes be resigned from her position immediately. George Boyd and Cindy D' Angelo then did their Unity for Gallaudet song with Jessica Stultz as our drummer. We all were so moved and became one big happy Gallaudet family!!!!!

Not only that, we would like very much to recognize our heroes namely our former FSDB students who were arrested last night for our cause. They are Chris Cassell, Kathleen Roberts, Ryan Di Giovanni, Amanda Willard and Amy Weaver.

We are so determined and so resolved to unify together and see that Dr. Fernandes be resigned from her position in order to protect and preserve our Gallaudet's legacy!!!!!

Long live Gallaudet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Debbi says...

2006-10-15T11:48:00.000-04:00

Greetings Gallaudetians and Friends of Gallaudet -

I want very much to recognize Andy Tao, our webmaster for his hard work to maintain our outstanding website and for his research on the timeline.

Thank you, Andy and you definitely rock! - Debbi

AND........................

We also were honored to have Andy Lange, our National GUAA president's parents, Bob and Geneva Lange among us. Elisa Abenchuchan's family also came and she is the one, who maintains www.elisawrites.com. June McMahon, our National GUAA Eastern region representative's father, Bernard Rothenberg showed his support, too.

Message from Tent City

2006-10-14T22:38:00.000-04:00

Greetings Gallaudetians and Friends of Gallaudet!!!!!

Former National GUAA President and current St. Augustine GUAA Chapter Vice-President, Donna Drake

FAD Secretary and NAD Region III Representative, Lissette Molina

NAD Vice-President, FAD President and FSDB Board of Trustees Member, Chris Wagner

Not only that, we would like very much to recognize our heroes namely our former FSDB students who were arrested last night for our cause. They are Kathleen Roberts, Ryan Di Giovanni, Amanda Willard and Amy Weaver.

We are so determined and so resolved to unify together and see that Dr. Fernandes be resigned from her position in order to protect and preserve our Gallaudet's legacy!!!!!

Long live Gallaudet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Statement by I. King Jordan

2006-10-14T18:03:00.000-04:00

October 14, 2006

Dear Members of the Campus Community,

First, let me assure all of you that the campus is reopened and access to campus is available through the Sixth Street entrance. We are awaiting a report on the status of the Hall Memorial Building. Unfortunately, damage was done to the building during the protest. We are assessing the extent of the damage and will report back as soon as possible.

Having said that, I also want you to know that last night was one of the saddest of my life. After a week of fruitless negotiations we were forced to reopen the campus with the help of the Metropolitan Police. I want to be clear that we did not choose to arrest the students, they chose to be arrested. But the result was the same.

I want to ask everyone on this campus and those of you who feel you are and always will be a part of Gallaudet University to look into your hearts and to think about what is best for our University. We need to work together to heal the rift that separates us. We need to work together to address the issues that confront us. We need to accept our next President Jane Fernandes and help her as she leads this University we love to new heights. Encourage your sense of fair play to surface and give Jane Fernandes the respect that is due her and the opportunity to bring us all together in pursuit of academic excellence.

Sincerely,

I. King Jordan
President

More Information on donations

2006-10-14T17:34:00.000-04:00

If you wish to make donations to Gallaudet, please write a check addressed to GUAA and give it to Sara Winchester, our St. Augustine GUAA Treasuer and she can deliver to our national GUAA board this weekend when she flies up to Gallaudet.

Or you can make payment through Paypal.

Tent City Map!

2006-10-14T16:13:00.000-04:00

Click on map!

St. Augustine Record !

2006-10-14T16:10:00.000-04:00

Our local newspaper came and interviewed the Tent City of St. Augustine!

More Pixes from Tent City of St. Augustine!

2006-10-14T16:02:00.000-04:00

55 People at Tent City of St. Augustine!

2006-10-14T15:04:00.000-04:00

Tent City of St. Augustine is established!

2006-10-14T13:42:00.000-04:00

Timeline since Day 1 of Gallaudet Protest!

2006-10-14T12:35:00.000-04:00

September 1, 2005
President I. King Jordan announced that he would be stepping down as president of Gallaudet University, effective December 31, 2006.

November 9, 2005
The Presidential Search Committee comprises 17 members—six members of the Board of Trustees, four faculty members, two University staff members, one Clerc Center representative, one undergraduate student, one graduate student, and two alumni. This group of individuals was chosen not only to represent the diversity of the campus constituents but to also represent gender, racial, and deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing status as well. The names can be found here.

December 23, 2005
The Presidential Search Committee selected Academic Search Consultation Service of Washington, D.C. to lead the national search for the University's ninth president. Academic Search Consultation Service is a search firm specializing in searches for college and university presidents and senior administrators. The consultants helped ensure that best practices in presidential searches, including inclusiveness of diversity and freedom from bias, were followed

March 31, 2006
The Presidential Search Committee met to review all candidate applications submitted. Thirty-eight candidates were nominated in the process and 24 applied. Twenty-one of those 24 were deaf or hard of hearing. After careful review, six were chosen by the Presidential Search Committee to be interviewed. This group of six included candidates of color and gender diversity (three of the six were either women or people of color). Lengthy reference checks were done on each of the six using the same questions for each reference.

Second week in April 2006
Each of the six candidates met for an extensive interview with the Presidential Search Committee and was interviewed by the Presidential Search Committee and was given the opportunity to share his or her vision for Gallaudet’s future. The Presidential Search Committee interviewed each of the six candidates using identical questions that were designed to give each candidate the opportunity to describe how he/she would lead the University.

April 13, 2006
The three finalists were announced. Steve Weiner, Ron Stern and Jane Fernandes.

April 17-26
Each of the finalists had a two-day schedule of appointments and activities as part of their campus visits. In addition to meetings with Gallaudet constituencies—students, faculty, staff, teachers and administrators, the Presidential Search Committee scheduled an Open Forum and informal reception so that all members of the University community can meet each candidate. Following the various key constituent group meetings and Open Forum with each of the candidates, feedback forms requesting the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate were available at the meeting location.

April 27-30, 2006
The Presidential Search Committee carefully reviewed, analyzed, and categorized all feedback received on the forms, via e-mails, letters, and polls. All this information was summarized by the Presidential Search Committee and shared during a meeting with the full Board of Trustees. The Board also watched each finalists’ campus presentations as well as their Q and A sessions on DVD, interviewed each of the finalists, and reviewed all of the feedback material that was categorized in binders for each candidate according to student, faculty, staff, administrator, alumni, and unknown. The Board also had all the applications materials and a report of all the reference information. The community actively participated in all aspects of this search and all perspectives were assessed carefully. President Jordan was informed by the Board of Trustees of their selection.

May 1, 2006
The Board of Trustees announced their selection of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes as the ninth president of Gallaudet University. Several clapped and several walked out at the announcement ceremony. Protest begins. Tent City I was established.

Two demands were made:

1) Reopen the Presidential search process (with Jane K. Fernandes resigning) and
2) No reprisals for those involved in the protest remain.

May 8th, 2006
The University Faculty Meeting was held regarding to the situation. A vote of no confidence in Jane Fernandes as President-elect was passed. 93 Ayes to 47 Nays.

A vote of no confidence in this decision of Board Trustees to appoint Dr. Fernandes as President was passed. 80 Ayes to 57 nays.

May 25th, 2006
Tent City ends as spring semester ends.

September 20th, 2006
A Student Body Government Meeting was held regarding to the situation. A vote of no confidence in Jane Fernandes as Presidet-elect was passed almost unanimously.

October 2nd, 2006
This morning at 7:45 a.m. one lonely tent was pitched near the sidewalk on the Gallaudet campus 8th Street Gate. Not for long, though; one became two, two became four, four became ten. Tent City was resurrected! Now known as Tent City II.

October 13, 2006
At 6:45 this evening, Gallaudet University President I King Jordan authorized the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department to begin the arrest of protesters in the ongoing demonstrations at Gallaudet University.

133 reported arrests (number subject to change as final count has not been official)

Committee Meeting

2006-10-14T11:10:00.000-04:00

Our meeting is held at St. Augustine Deaf City Hall aka the Stultz's residence

Tent City starts @ 1pm!!

2006-10-14T10:04:00.000-04:00

One of you asked if we will start before 1 PM. The answer is no because our committee will be busy meeting before then so please help us and wait until 1 PM to show up. We appreciate it because we want things to run smoothly.

Donate for Bails

2006-10-14T09:05:00.000-04:00

FSSA is bailing some people out. Help FSSA with the bails by donating through paypal!

http://donate.gufssa.com/

URGENT: Latest News on our Tent City

2006-10-14T08:31:00.000-04:00

Dear Gallaudetians and Friends of Gallaudet -

In light of recent events at Gallaudet, a committee of 11 members has been formed to help with our tent city today and also our website, www.staugforfssa.blogspot.com as well. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact any of the following committee members when you come to our tent city this afternoon. We also wanted to let you know that we will have our committee meeting at 11 AM this morning.

Our committee members are:

Carrie Cobb - Mayor of St. Augustine Tent City
George Boyd
Cindy D'Angelo
Tom D'Angelo
Donna Drake - Former National GUAA President and current St. Augustine Chapter of GUAA Vice-President
Lissette Molina - FAD Secretary and NAD Region III Representative
Debbi Penrose - St. Augustine Chapter of GUAA President
Jessica Stultz
Michael Stultz
Andy Tao - St. Augustine for FSSA Webmaster
Sara Winchester - St. Augustine Chapter of GUAA Treasurer

We also wanted to let you know that Debbi Penrose and Sara Winchester have already bought flight tickets and are heading for Gallaudet this coming Friday to show our support.

See you all at our tent city this afternoon! UNITY FOR GALLAUDET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Front Gate Protest Ends!

2006-10-14T02:09:00.000-04:00

Arrests has ended. A student leader has annouced that they did a good job and need to regroup at front gate.

135 is the final count of arrests made tonite. (subject to change)

A statement has been made tonite!

Will keep you posted tomorrow! Good night! :)

100th Arrest!

2006-10-14T01:04:00.000-04:00

Arresting continues... predict the number to be over 150!

25,000 page views of the live update in 2 hours!

1st Arrest of the 2nd Wave!

2006-10-14T00:20:00.000-04:00

Arrest have begun again. The 2nd wave is the new 80 students. There is a 3rd wave ready!

Keep on reading the LIVE update in this website!

93 Arrested!

2006-10-14T00:12:00.000-04:00

93 students who blocked the front gate has been arrested. Now the front gate is cleared....

BUT! New 80 (about) students have sat down the front gate! DPS is now annoyed!

A truly Friday the 13th night!

Video of the Arrests!

2006-10-13T23:47:00.000-04:00

Watch video of the arrests!

List of names who have been arrested

2006-10-13T23:39:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Tate!

http://www.xanga.com/thetate

UPDATE: List of names can also be found here.

Scallionstallion.com is THE website!

2006-10-13T23:26:00.000-04:00

Again, the third website is known as

http://www.scallionstallion.com/

the best site on the updates of the arrests period. Even the numbers of arrests up this far. LIVE reporting from Elisa Abenchachan!

RidorLive.com Crashed

2006-10-13T22:44:00.000-04:00

Now ridorlive.com has crashed due to too many hits!

Moved again! Click HERE!

Live Updates on Arrests - RidorLive.com!

2006-10-13T22:28:00.000-04:00

Deafread.com and ythree.com has crashed due to many hits.

Now www.ridorlive.com is covering the updates of the arrests!

75 People Arrested at Gallaudet and Counting...

2006-10-13T21:54:00.000-04:00

To see the recent updates go to www.ythree.com!

DPN 1988 leader Tim Rarus has been arrested. He stated "King, we helped you in 1988 and now you are arresting me."

Clarification For You, St. Augustine!

2006-10-13T21:05:00.000-04:00

As of right now, you probably heard that there are some arrests being made by Department of Public Safety at Gallaudet University.

NBC news is covering the arrests and they post the news on their website here.

More specifically, please read this statement by Delia Lozano-Martinez (a student from Gallaudet) from the NBC website below (UPDATE:it is now removed):

"The presidential search committee was all white, all hearing, no multicultural ... and they were not familiar with Gallaudet University, that it is a deaf university."

That is not true. Allow me to make clarifications here for the people of St. Augustine and as well as the world who read this:

Completing the 17-member Search Committee are: Dr. Derek Braun, Dr. John Christiansen, Ms. Emilia Chukwuma, and Dr. Janet Pray from the faculty; Ms. Sandi Larue-Atuonah, and Ms. Lynne Murray from the staff; students Mr. Michael Higgins (Undergraduate) and Ms. Caroline Pezzarossi (Graduate); Clerc Center representative Ms. Nicole Sutliffe; and alumni Ms. Judith Gilliam and Mr. John Yeh. They are joining the following Board members: Dr. Brenda Jo Brueggemann, Ms. Susan J. Dickinson, Mr. Frank Ross, Dr. Benjamin J. Soukup, Jr., and Mr. Christopher Sullivan, III.

Ms. Emilia Chukwuma, Ms. Sandi Larue-Atuonah, Mr. Frank Ross, and Mr. John Yeh are minorities. So, the committee is not all white.
Dr. Derek Braun, Mr. Michael Higgins, Ms. Caroline Pezzarossi, Ms. Judith Gilliam, Dr. Benjamin Soukup are one of the few names on this commitee who are deaf. They also one of the few names on this commitee who graduated from Gallaudet University. So, the commitee is not all hearing and they are not unfamilar with Gallaudet Univeristy.
9 out of 17 on the committee are women

Please be careful on what you read in the media. I will put as much truth and clarification for you folks here at St. Augustine!

Unity for Gallaudet!!

Unity for Gallaudet petition

2006-10-13T19:53:00.000-04:00

There is a petition circulating "Gallaudet University President Search Process".

Please join us signing the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference.

The link is also at the right sidebar of this website.

Purpose of our Tent City of St. Augustine

2006-10-11T20:32:00.000-04:00

Greetings Gallaudetians and Friends of Gallaudet!!

We are here to give our unwavering support to Gallaudet during this dark hour. As you all already know, there is always dusk before dawn. Sooner or later, we will see the light and Gallaudet's beacon will shine brightly again for the whole deaf community throughout the nation and throughout the world. We also need to bear this in mind that FSSA (Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni) is truly the backbone of Gallaudet. Therefore, we need to work together to protect our Gallaudet's legacy and to have our hands be heard. This is where our Tent City comes into the picture and this is our opportunity to show our unity for Gallaudet. Not only that, we all also know that justice and truth shall prevail in the long run.

Long Live Gallaudet!!!

Information on our Tent City!

2006-10-10T21:04:00.000-04:00

Address of our St. Augustine Tent City:

St. Augustine Beach Pier
350 A1A Beach Boulevard
St. Augustine Beach, Florida

Directions to St. Augustine Tent City:

Turn onto Route 312 from US1
Stay on it all the way down to the beach and the road will eventually becoem A1A
Turn left onto the parking lot when you see pier on your left side and Panama Hattie's restaurant on your right side
Meet us on the right side of the pier near the bait and the tackle shop to set up your tent

Click Here to see Google Map

Schedule of Events:

1:00 PM: Set up Tent (We will not sleep overnight since it is not permitted)

2:00 PM: Presentations given by

Donna Drake
Former National GUAA President and
Current Vice-President of St. Augustine GUAA Chapter

Lissette Molina
FAD Secretary and NAD Region III Representative

Debbi Penrose
President of St. Augustine GUAA Chapter

2:30 PM: Unity for Gallaudet Song led by Cindy D'Angelo and George Boyd; Jessica Stultz as drummer.

3 - 5:00 PM: Group picture and Rally

What Can You Do?:

Bring your chairs and small tents (preferrably beach tents/umbrellas)
Wear any kind of Gallaudet shirt or any shirt that has blue and yellow in it
Make your own banner and flags (see catchy slogans below for ideas)

Slogan Ideas:

St. Augustine for FSSA
Don't Give Up!
What Happened to Social Injustice at Gallaudet?
Take Back Gallaudet! (GUAA theme)
Unity for Gallaudet
We are with FSSA!

Message from Andy Lange

2006-10-09T21:53:00.000-04:00

Let's encourage people to attend homecoming. Let's show them that the ALUMNI do care! If you have friends or relatives in the Gallaudet area, MD, DC, VA tell them to go! Let's get a big showing. Come up yourself! Smile.

Saturday, Oct 21, 2006 meet at 11:30 at the mall area between the library and the EMG Statue.

Let's show what a positive force the alumni can be. Gallaudet needs us now, more than ever!

Thanks.

Andy Lange

GUAA President

Tent City in St. Augustine

2006-10-09T18:32:00.000-04:00

We would like to announce that we are going to have a tent city here in St. Augustine to show our support for Gallaudet and of course for FSSA.

What: St. Augustine for FSSA Tent City
Where: near St. Augustine Beach Pier on the beach
When: this coming Saturday, October 14th
Time: 1 PM until 5 PM

More details will be forthcoming soon.

St. Augustine for FSSA

GUAA Picnic Information

GUAA Picnic Celebration!

News Articles about Jane's Termination

Interview with FSSA

Statement by Jane K. Fernandes

Statement from I. King Jordan

Watch the Celebration!

At last, Jane K. Fernandes is Fired!

Pictures by Sara Winchester!

Message from Debbi Penrose!

Pixes by Debbi Penrose at Gally Protest!

Gallaudet Trustees Split on Fernandes

Video of St Augustine Tent City!

Great, Great, Great grandaughter of Thomas Gallaudet

Message from GUAA President

Gallaudet Homecoming is postponed!

Faculty Demands Fernandes to Resign - 138 Ayes, 24 Nayes

Results of Faculty meeting Oct 16 2006

Press Release from FSSA, GUAA and NAD

Our Messages to Tent City II!

More Pictures from Carrie Cobb!

Statement from I. King Jordan

Pictures from Carrie Cobb

More Pictures from our Tent City!

Tent City II needs our sunny help!

St Augustine Record

Tim Rarus arrested...

Message from Tent City

Debbi says...

Message from Tent City

Statement by I. King Jordan

More Information on donations

Tent City Map!

St. Augustine Record !

More Pixes from Tent City of St. Augustine!

55 People at Tent City of St. Augustine!

Tent City of St. Augustine is established!

Timeline since Day 1 of Gallaudet Protest!

Committee Meeting

Tent City starts @ 1pm!!

Donate for Bails

URGENT: Latest News on our Tent City

Front Gate Protest Ends!

100th Arrest!

1st Arrest of the 2nd Wave!

93 Arrested!

Video of the Arrests!

List of names who have been arrested

Scallionstallion.com is THE website!

RidorLive.com Crashed

Live Updates on Arrests - RidorLive.com!

75 People Arrested at Gallaudet and Counting...

Clarification For You, St. Augustine!

Unity for Gallaudet petition

Purpose of our Tent City of St. Augustine

Information on our Tent City!

Message from Andy Lange

Tent City in St. Augustine