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Deaf President Now (DPN) was a student protest at Gallaudet University, the liberal arts university for the deaf in Washington, DC, pushing for the selection of a deaf university president. The university, established by an act of Congress in 1864 to serve the deaf, had always been led by a hearing president. The protest was set into motion on March 6th, 1988 when the Board of Trustees anounced its decision to appoint a hearing person as president.^[1]

DPN took place over an eight day period between March 6 and March 13, 1988. Because it received national media attention for the entire duration of the protest, some have identified the event as a watershed moment that raised awareness of Deaf culture. On the fourth day of the protest, Ted Koppel on ABC's Nightline interviewed some of the major actors in the clash. Parallels were drawn between DPN and the American Civil Rights Movement.

Origins

Deaf students at Gallaudet began campaigning for a Deaf president when Jerry C. Lee, who had been president since 1984, resigned in 1987 to work for Bassett Furniture Company.^[2] Students supporting the selection of a Deaf president participated in a large rally on March 1.

For the rally, Gallaudet alumnus John Yeh printed flyers that read:

"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 1886, 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."

Yeh underwrote a good deal of the costs of the rally, including the thousands of yellow-and-blue buttons that read "Deaf President Now." Many other alumni participated in the events as well. A candlelight vigil occurred on March 5. The board of trustees considered three finalists: Elisabeth Ann Zinser, Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; I. King Jordan, Gallaudet's Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who had been deaf at age 21 due to a motorcycle accident; and Harvey Corson, president of a Louisiana residential school, who had been born deaf.

On March 6, 1988, the board announced the selection of Zinser — the sole hearing candidate among several qualified deaf applicants. Further causing astonishment and outrage, Zinser had little experience with deaf education and no sign language skills at all.

Protest

Monday March 7, 1988

Students gained control of the campus. They barricaded the campus gates using heavy-duty bicycle locks and hot-wired school buses, moved them in front of the gates and let the air out of the tires. The locked gates kept people from coming onto University grounds, while also forcing the Board of Trustees to come and receive their 4 demands. The Board ignored the demands, and following an unsuccessful student/Board discussion, the supporters of DPN took their first march to the capitol. "We want a Deaf President Now!" they shouted as they marched through Washington D.C.^[3] The protest was led for the most part by four student leaders: Bridgetta Bourne, Jerry Covell, Greg Hlibok, and Tim Rarus, along with other students and protesters. The protesters issued four demands, which were supported by faculty and staff:

1. That Zinser must resign and a deaf person must be selected as president;
2. That Jane Bassett Spilman, chair of the board of trustees (who, it was alleged, announced the board's choice with the comment that "the deaf are not yet ready to function in the hearing world") resign immediately;
3. That the board of trustees, at that time composed of 17 hearing members and four deaf, be reconstituted with a 51% majority of deaf members;
4. That there be no reprisals against any students or staff members involved in the protest.

Tuesday March 8, 1988

Students continued to rally on Gallaudet's campus, burning stuffed representations of Zinser and Spilman's bodies, illustrating the seriousness of the protest and its demands. The mass of people continued to grow, while the protest for a Deaf President persisted. Supporters of DPN found themselves spread throughout the D.C. area, all over the GU campus, and standing firm on the capitol.^[3]

Wednesday March 9, 1988

In light of spring break, the students refused to allow Gallaudet to reopen; they argued that they wouldn't open the gates until they were given a Deaf President first. Consequently, the students decided to stay at school during the spring recess explaining simply, "We want a Deaf President Now!" That day, Zinser spoke in support of the board, "It is the role of the Board to choose a president and to replace a president," stirring outrage in the protesters. Later that evening, Greg Hlibok one of the student leaders of the protest was featured on NBC's Nightly News in an interview with a reporter and Marlee Matlin explaining the reasoning behind the protest and the importance of hiring a Deaf President.^[3]

Thursday March 10, 1988

Students met president Zinser. She openly agreed to the second and fourth demands of the students, but that did not satisfy the protesters. They stated that Gallaudet needed to stand as a role model for Deaf people and other Deaf schools, but that couldn't be achieved without a Deaf President. The buses remained blocking the entrances of the campus. Furthermore, in the interpreter/communication center, hearing protest workers received phone calls from businesses, friends and anonymous donations of money, food and paint to help aid the protest. Other help outside the Deaf Community came from worker unions like the American Postal Workers Union. During this day, Moe Biller, the president of the American Postal Workers Union shared his support for the movement. Lastly, one of the most important turn of events was delivered in I. King Jordan's speech where he proclaimed, 'I only have anger towards the decision of the board. We need to focus the world's attention on the larger issue. The four demands are justified.'^[3]

Friday March 11, 1988

Zinser announced her resignation from the presidency. Protestors numbering over 2,500 marched on capitol hill holding a banner that read, "We still have a dream!". Later, Greg Hlibok was named Person of the Week by a nightly report show and expressed his gratitude towards the supporters, all the hard work and excitement in achieving the ultimate goal.^[3]

Sunday March 13, 1988

The four demands set by the students were met and I. King Jordan was selected as the new Deaf President of Gallaudet University. Additionally, Phil Bravin was appointed chairperson of the Board because Spilman resigned. The students, faculty and staff celebrated in the field house on Gallaudet's campus - they had finally won. Upon taking his position as President, I. King Jordan stated, "One can seize an idea with such force that it becomes a reality."^[3]

Reactions

The protest received international attention, increasing awareness of issues affecting the Deaf Community.

Resolution

On March 13, 1988, the Board of Trustees met for nine hours. Philip Bravin, the new (deaf) chair of the board, announced that Spilman had resigned, and that I. King Jordan, the deaf dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Gallaudet, had been elected President. Furthermore, all four demands of the protesters were met. The new president publically said, "Deaf people can do everything except hear." -I. King Jordan

References

External links

• Deaf President Now anniversary A day-by-day overview of the Deaf President Now movement, from Gallaudet University
• "At Gallaudet, a Turn Inward Opens New Worlds", April 30, 2006 All Things Considered