Janice Lozano
In March 1988, students at Gallaudet University, the world's first and only university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, protested for a deaf university president. This protest, known as Deaf President Now (DPN), was a significant event in the history of the university and the deaf community. The students, backed by alumni, staff, and faculty, shut down the campus and presented the Board of Trustees with four demands, including the resignation of the newly appointed hearing president, Elisabeth Zinser, and the selection of a deaf person as president. The protest was successful, and on March 13, 1988, I. King Jordan, a deaf candidate, was appointed as the university's new president, marking a pivotal moment for the deaf community and the empowerment of deaf individuals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of protest | 1988 |
| Name of protest | Deaf President Now (DPN) |
| University | Gallaudet University |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Protesters | Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the national deaf community |
| Type of protest | Civil rights movement |
| Protest demands | 1. Resignation of hearing president Elisabeth Zinser and appointment of a deaf president |
| 2. Resignation of Jane Bassett Spilman, chair of the Board of Trustees | |
| 3. Reconstitution of the Board of Trustees with a 51% majority of deaf members | |
| 4. No reprisals against protesters | |
| Outcome | All demands met, including the appointment of I. King Jordan as the first deaf president of Gallaudet University |
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What You'll Learn
- The protest began on March 6, 1988, when the Board of Trustees selected a hearing candidate, Elisabeth Zinser, as president
- Students blocked entrances and chained gates to shut down the campus
- The four student leaders of the protests were Bridgetta Bourne, Jerry Covell, Greg Hlibok, and Tim Rarus
- The Board of Trustees was made up of 17 hearing individuals and only 4 deaf individuals
- (dpn)The students' protests became known as the Deaf President Now protest
The protest began on March 6, 1988, when the Board of Trustees selected a hearing candidate, Elisabeth Zinser, as president
On March 6, 1988, the Board of Trustees at Gallaudet University selected a hearing candidate, Elisabeth Zinser, as the university's seventh president. Zinser was the vice-chancellor for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and was chosen over two deaf candidates, Irving King Jordan and Harvey Corson. The decision sparked protests from students, faculty, and staff, who felt that it was time for a deaf president to lead the world's only deaf university. The protest, known as Deaf President Now (DPN), began when the Board of Trustees announced its decision.
Gallaudet University, located in Washington, D.C., was established in 1864 as the world's first university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. By 1988, the university had been in existence for 124 years and had been led by six hearing presidents. When the staff and students learned that the sixth president, Dr. Jerry Lee, was stepping down, they felt it was time for a significant change. They wanted a deaf president to lead the university that had been created specifically for the deaf community.
Three candidates were put forward by the Board of Trustees: I. King Jordan, who was then Gallaudet's Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and had become deaf at 21 due to a motorcycle accident; Harvey Corson, who was superintendent of the American School for the Deaf and had been born deaf; and Elisabeth Zinser, the sole hearing candidate. Despite the strong support for the protest and the presence of qualified deaf finalists, the Board of Trustees chose Zinser. This decision stunned the Gallaudet community, and the students, backed by alumni, staff, and faculty, took action.
The students shut down the campus, barricading gates and blocking entrances with their cars. They presented the Board of Trustees with four demands: the resignation of Elisabeth Zinser and the selection of a deaf president; the resignation of Jane Bassett Spilman, the chair of the Board of Trustees; a reconstitution of the Board with a 51% majority of deaf members; and no reprisals against any student or staff member involved in the protest. The protest gained widespread support and media coverage, with the local and national deaf community uniting with Gallaudet students, faculty, and staff. The protest ended on March 13, 1988, after all four demands were met, including the appointment of I. King Jordan as the first deaf president of Gallaudet University.
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Students blocked entrances and chained gates to shut down the campus
On the morning of Monday, March 7, 1988, students at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C., blocked all the entrances to the campus with their cars and chained the gates shut. The university's first protest rally had taken place on March 1, and by March 6, the Board of Trustees had selected a hearing candidate, Elizabeth A. Zinser, as the university's seventh president, over two deaf candidates. This decision sparked outrage and led to the campus shutdown.
The students' protest, known as Deaf President Now (DPN), had a clear goal: to have a deaf person run the world's only deaf university. The students had risen early on March 7 to drive their cars to campus and deflate the tires, ensuring the vehicles couldn't be moved easily. They kept the main entrance on Florida Avenue open, forming a "human shield" to allow entry to other students and staff. This action led the university administration to cancel classes for the day, enabling students and staff to attend meetings and organise rallies.
The students presented four specific demands:
- Zinser must resign, and a deaf president must be selected.
- Jane Bassett Spilman, the chairperson of the Board of Trustees, must resign.
- The percentage of deaf members on the Board of Trustees must be increased to at least 51%.
- There must be no reprisals against any of the protesters.
The DPN protest was a watershed moment for Gallaudet University and the deaf community worldwide. It became a symbol of self-determination and empowerment, sending a powerful message that resonated with many, even those with no direct connection to the deaf community. The protest was also likened to a civil rights movement, drawing parallels between the deaf community and other minority groups.
The students' actions were well-planned and strategic, with the Alumni House serving as the headquarters for protest planning. The students also formed the Deaf President Now Council, which included students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of other deaf advocacy groups. Their efforts were successful, with all four demands eventually met, including the appointment of I. King Jordan, a deaf candidate, as the university's eighth president.
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The four student leaders of the protests were Bridgetta Bourne, Jerry Covell, Greg Hlibok, and Tim Rarus
In 1988, students at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C., led a protest demanding a deaf university president. This demonstration, known as the Deaf President Now (DPN) protest, began on March 6, 1988, when the Board of Trustees selected a hearing candidate, Elisabeth Zinser, over two deaf applicants as the university's next president. The students were supported by alumni, staff, and faculty, and they shut down the campus by barricading gates and blocking entrances.
The students' protests gained widespread support, including from worker unions and politicians such as Representative David Bonior of Michigan and Vice-President George H. W. Bush. The local and national media covered the protests, and the students formed the Deaf President Now Council to organise their efforts. They presented four specific demands to the Board of Trustees, including the resignation of Zinser and the selection of a deaf president, an increase in deaf members on the Board, and no reprisals against protesters.
The protest ended successfully on March 13, 1988, after all four demands were met, and I. King Jordan, a deaf candidate, was appointed university president. This protest was a significant moment in the deaf community's push for representation and acceptance in society.
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The Board of Trustees was made up of 17 hearing individuals and only 4 deaf individuals
In 1988, students at Gallaudet University, the world's first and only university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, protested for a deaf university president. This protest became known as Deaf President Now (DPN).
At the time, the Board of Trustees was made up of 17 hearing individuals and only 4 deaf individuals, with the chair of the board, Jane Bassett Spilman, also being a hearing person. The Board's decision to appoint a hearing candidate, Elisabeth Zinser, as the university's seventh president, despite the presence of two qualified deaf finalists, Irving King Jordan and Harvey Corson, sparked outrage among the students, staff, and faculty.
The students' protest was a powerful statement of self-determination and empowerment, sending a clear message that "deafness is not a disability, but a quality that brings deaf people together as a community and a culture that can function on its own." The protest was also a response to the perception that the administration and Board of Trustees did not truly believe in the capabilities of deaf people, despite the university's mission and history.
The DPN protest had a significant impact, not just within the university but also on a national and international level. It sparked a conversation about the representation and inclusion of deaf people in positions of leadership and administration, not just in educational institutions but in society as a whole. The protest also led to a wider discussion about paternalistic views and the need for societal change to promote true equality and acceptance.
The DPN movement empowered the deaf community and inspired similar movements in other countries, leading to the establishment of collegiate programs for deaf students worldwide. It also had a lasting impact on Gallaudet University itself, with the appointment of I. King Jordan as the first deaf president in the university's 124-year history, marking a significant step forward in the fight for equal rights and representation for the deaf community.
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(dpn)The students' protests became known as the Deaf President Now protest (DPN)
In March 1988, students at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. protested for a deaf university president. This protest became known as the Deaf President Now (DPN) protest.
Gallaudet University, established in 1864, was the world's first and only university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Despite this, in the 124 years since its founding, the university had never had a deaf president. In 1987, when the sixth president of the university, Dr. Jerry Lee, announced his plans to step down, students and staff felt that the time had come for a significant change. They wanted a deaf president to run the university for the deaf.
On February 28, 1988, the Board of Trustees had narrowed the pool of candidates down to three: two deaf candidates, Irving King Jordan and Harvey Corson, and one hearing candidate, Elisabeth Zinser. On March 6, 1988, the board selected Zinser, sparking outrage among the student body. Students shut down the campus, barricading gates and burning effigies. They presented the Board of Trustees with four demands: that Zinser resign, that a deaf president be selected, that Jane Bassett Spilman (the chair of the Board of Trustees) resign, that the Board of Trustees be reconstituted with a 51% majority of deaf members, and that there be no reprisals against any of the protesters.
The protest gained widespread support and media attention, with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the national deaf community uniting under the common goal of having a deaf president at Gallaudet University. The protest ended on March 13, 1988, after all four demands were met, including the appointment of I. King Jordan as the university's first deaf president.
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