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LOL...you're so folksy here! You are just about folk linguistics and folk culture. Non-academic! I respect you more when you fight fires.
Folksy? That's a new one here.
Carl, isn't that what you want for Gallaudet University to be? An ASL-only educational institution and have Gallaudet be exempted from the Section 504 requirement?
At least somebody is honest here.
You sh*t! and more sh*t and on more sh*t! Wait minute! you have still learned lesson take it. Then you full of sh*t on blog!!!!!!
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God Mike! Give it a rest! There are plently of university that may suit the lower case "deaf" people needs better.
Gallaudet is a major center for Deaf culture around the world. The people of the lower case of “deaf” (i.e.: senior citizens with hearing loss, hard of hearing who prefer to use the oralism method and know absolutely nothing about ASL or the culture, so on…) are NOT part of the Deaf culture. Those people don’t belong to Gallaudet. They could have gone to another university that fits their needs and their cultures better.
Will you just stop making ignorant comments about Gallaudet or the protest? You've spent way too much attention on your blog. Do you ever give enough attention to your wife? I am sure that your wife rather to have you fondle with her than writing a long useless article.
Thank you!
There are plenty of universities for upper case "D"s as well, especially going into graduate schools. This is true for undergrad.
As for me, I do represent Gallaudet University. So, my articles are quite valid and shares many concerns about communication issues.
I'll continue to write on whatever topic I wish that I feel is important for Kokonut Pundits readers.
Why not just come out in the open and say it publicly that you want Gallaudet University to be an all-Deaf university and that Gallaudet should be exempt from providing alternative forms of visual communications on signing except for ASL.
Be honest, now.
McConnell, I'm just impressed to death with the intelligence, wit, and persuasive, articulate arguments of your detractors... NOT.
When I was at Gallaudet, my class talked about the language policy and why it was decided that one language (ASL) could not be the exclusive language for the whole campus. Yes, it's a center of deaf culture and ASL, but culturally deaf ASL users are not the only ones who can benefit from the Gallaudet environment. Many formerly oral deaf come to Gallaudet and experience personal growth from meeting and learning from other deaf people from all walks of life, including the culturally deaf ASL users. GU is like any other university, it has to accommodate all communication modes. Legally, there's no way they can refuse to accommodate, just like a hearing university cannot deny a deaf person admittance and must provide interpreting services for all the years that person is in school.
Hello Mike,
I studied at Gallaudet in the fall of 1986, and it appears the university has become more polarized between the Deaf and deaf after I left. Yes, I have experienced Deaf students signing pejoratively that I was a "think-hearing" person. At this point in my life, I don't care what they think.... because they haven't walked a mile in my life-long struggle to live comfortably between both the deaf and hearing worlds. I actually studied ASL with Carl Schroeder years ago but at this juncture, I no longer feel the need nor the desire to learn more about Deaf culture or community because this community is so close minded.
Thank you for verbalizing some of my thoughts about the Deaf community in regards to the protest at Gallaudet. I agree that the Deaf community at heart really wants a private Deaf-only ASL-signing university. I actually agree they should chip in and buyout Gallaudet from the federal government if they really want a private ASL-only university. I mean, there are ASL-only charter schools around the country, so why not an ASL only college? But federal money should not be used to support such an institution where students' basic right on the choice of communication is denied.
anonymous...yet, this is what protesters want out of Gallaudet. An ASL-only campus. Since Gallaudet has to abide by Section 504, so, what's your problem? That students shouldn't be signing in SimCom? Even if they prefer it?
Thank you hohviolist.
I, too, played the violin once. Actually, I taught myself to play it after a year's worth. It's the one piece of musical instrument I would love to have that I can take with me if I can't take the piano. Someday...
someday...
I wish Jane very well, as she begins her job as the the main compass of the university, that she has the strength and courage to bounce off the storms of flak and scourge coming from the dissent.
Richard Roehm
hohviolist put it very well
As for G. if it *wants* to be ASL only, that's just fine by me -- make it private and go for it. I couldn't care less. But legally, as long as it accepts Federal funding, it must make everything accessible to all students (just as with any other university; I was able to use notetakers in my classes when I attended a public university).
What I object to, and which I would always object to regardless of G.'s own status is the scorn heaped on the deaf by the Deaf. What they choose to use to communicate with is fine with me and I'd never mock them for that.
If I had to deal with an ASL speaker, I'd work with that -- get a terp, use pen & paper, whatever I could work out on the spot. If I had a job that had a lot of interaction with ASL folks, I'd learn ASL the best I could and make sure there was always some way to communicate. I would not scorn them or make fun of them for being unable to speak, for poor English skills and so on. I expect the same consideration in return.
But all the time on the Deaf-only blogs, I see mocking of the deaf all the time. I don't get it. More importantly, while I wanted to learn ASL when I was younger (in college), I am no longer motivated to do so. What's the point? I would only get crap for not being a native-fluent signer.
I speak Spanish, ferchrissakes, and I've never ONCE been made fun of because my speech or grammar wasn't fluent/perfect. It blows my mind, the difference here.
--Deaf Gadfly
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