High School Students: Unity for Gallaudet?

Introduction

2007-05-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

We are Maryland School for the Deaf students who have been actively involved in the Unity for Gallaudet protest. We are:

Rachel Benedict: Class of 2007
Allison Weiner: Class of 2008

All the blogs up to this point have been written either by Gallaudet students or adults. The general public has yet to hear high school students' point of views. Our POVs are very valid because we have been to Gallaudet and participated in protest activities. In fact, we are helping educate our fellow MSD students as to the purpose of this protest. We will update the public not only with our POVs of Gallaudet protest events, but with MSD events relating to the protest.

-Rachel
Allison

Allison update No. 2

2006-05-10T17:59:00.000-07:00

May 10 events

Today was supposed to be the day of our Open Forum and Rally at MSD. The Open Forum was supposed to last for 45 minutes but, unfortunately, the school adminstrators cut the forum to 10 minutes (due to class). Rachel, Michelle [Lapides], and I tried our best to give students as much information about the protest as we could in the time allowed. After this, though, Leah Katz-Hernandez, Ryan DiGiovanni, and several other people from Gallaudet gave a speech to the students that took up more time than 10 minutes. So I am very thankful for them and would like to say I wish I was there. The school also canceled our rally entirely. This is because MSD is a state-sponsored school/property and is not allowed to be biased because if there was a rally on MSD campus, it would imply that ALL MSD students, faculty, and staff are in favor of the protest. But I am happy to report that many MSD students (that I have talked to) do support the cause. From this please do not assume that I am speaking on MSD's behalf. Anyway, there were reporters at the open forum and Rachel, Michelle, and I had several interviews. Reporters kept bothering us about why we did not like JKF, et cetera, et cetera, but I am happy to say that we [three] kept saying that JKF was not the issue here and the search process was. We also mentioned that the President of Gallaudet University must lead the deaf community in its entirety and this must be considered. Eventually the reporters stopped bothering us and asked us valid questions. I am thinking of planning a rally off-campus (but near campus) and taking photos, etc, so I can show the Gallaudet community that we really do support them. Hope this is successful.

In other news, I was recently elected (if you can call it that) the president of the MSD Jr. NAD chapter. I will be filling Michelle Lapides' shoes (big shoes to fill). And as president, I hope I can do something about the protest. (This will have to be approved by the members and advisors.) Hopefully the MSD Jr. NAD will pass a resolution stating we support the protest. (To clarify this, right now I am not speaking on the Jr. NAD's behalf.)

I have already made plans to go to Gallaudet this weekend and support the protest (if the protest is still going on, that is.)

Until Later,
Allison

P.S. Integrity is not something that you should have to think about...nor consider doing...but something in the heart that is already done. -Doug Firebaugh

quid nunc

2006-05-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

Quid nunc, in latin, what now? The protest is on its way to success (especially after the bittersweet news of CM's resignation, more on that later) but what can I do now? Before going to Gallaudet, I was an avid reader of blogspots, official sites, or wherever I could get more information about the history-defining event. I've been to tentcity two times now, the first being last Sunday just to see and try to understand what's the big deal. After setting toes on the city, it didn't take much more for me to understand. Then yesterday, I was able to go back to the tentcity for a night though the night was quiet (I assume one of the quietest nights), it still interested me. Not only that, but I'm prepping up a PowerPoint presentation (with my other blogger, allison) for our school tomorrow to educate the students about the protest, obviously telling them that its not just about JKF but about the search process. :) Finding out of CM's resignation was shocking to me at first, I mean like, why would the chair resign at a time like this? Truth to be told, I believe it's out of her consience after comprehending and agreeing with our protests and the demands asked. A chair wouldn't be able to last as the chair in a situation like this, so her resignation didn't seem much of a surprise to me later on. It is sad, actually, especially when she stated that she received personal attacks and threats which I personally doubt. But the fact here is that we have a new acting chair who cannot sign at all from what I heard. What does this say? social injustice? I wonder. :) Okay, the point of this blog- what now? It seems as if everything's been done and we are waiting on the BoT which is completely untrue because there are so much more that we need to do in our power to make this a successful and a positive protest. :) Media, baby.

-Rachel

Allison Entry No. 1

2006-05-09T19:25:00.000-07:00

Sunday, May 7th-

So recent but seems like years ago for me. This was when I doubted the purposes and the validity of the protest. But when I got hooked up with a ride to Gally, I took advantage of the opportunity and went to Gallaudet. When I arrived, there were immediately things for me to do and I became so enfulged in the protest I forgot that I even doubted it at first. By the end of the day, I was fully in support of the protest and was willing to be active in the protest. Events: Noon open forum where I participated and asked a question. Witnessed the oppression of Brian Morrison, a graduate student at Gallaudet. Was bored by JKF's elaborate and pointless answers (or lack thereof). Helped paint some banners. Was not much of a help but... anything to help out. Attended the 4 PM rally. Was inspired. Decided right then and there I was coming back. Left later that night, would say at 8 PM.

Monday, May 8th-

Was stuck at school all day but could not stop thinking about the protest. Devised a plan to go to Gally after school with Rachel and several other girls. The plan was to spend the night at Tent City and spend all day Tuesday (today) at Gally helping out. Plan went according to well... plan. Night events at Tent City were fun.

Tuesday, May 9th-

Today. Spent the day at Tent City. Woke up, got ready, and got a ride to the NPC, where I. King Jordan was going to present (and did present). Could not stop thanking my ride for the ride. Tourette's at work? Hah. Held up signs and gave out flyers to people passing by. Noticed that the people who agreed with and supported us were mostly minorities. One of the sad facts about the world. Had good conversations with people, met many cool smart people (a minority in itself). See, the protest is diverse! ;). After the protest, rode back to Gallaudet with some VERY interesting people. Attended the rally. Watched Bridgetta Bourne-Firl's presentation. Very fascinating. After that, I, Zachary Ennis (another boy at the protest), and Tawny Holmes rode the metro and met some MSD students who were at Starbucks. Tawny, Leah Katz-Hernandez, and Ryan (sorry no last name) educated these students about the protest. The students were very fascinated, we passed out handouts. Think we have more supporters on our hands. As I was riding home, found out CM Baldwin, chairperson of the BoT, resigned from the BoT completely. Felt bad for her but was not sure if this would work in our favor or not.

Future Plans:

On Wednesday, May 10th, several MSD students including Rachel and Myself will host an open forum at 2:15 pm at MSD. After that, after school, there will be an rally at MSD by the water fountain. We are enthusiastic to help MSD show Gallaudet support!

Until later,
-Allison