Douglas Olsen
In 1988, students at Gallaudet University, a private university for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, protested the appointment of a new president, Elizabeth Zinser. Zinser wasn't deaf and didn't know sign language, and her appointment represented the paternalism that deaf people were tired of enduring. The students' protest, known as Deaf President Now (DPN), demanded an end to this paternalism and sought to appoint a deaf person to run the world's only deaf university. The protest was successful, and I. King Jordan became the first deaf president of Gallaudet University.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of protest | 1988 |
| Name of protest | Deaf President Now (DPN) |
| University | Gallaudet University |
| Protesters | Students, alumni, faculty, staff, national deaf community |
| Leadership | Tim Rarus, Greg Hlibok, Jerry Covell, Bridgetta Bourne |
| Reason | Appointment of a hearing president, Elizabeth Zinser |
| Demands | Resignation of Zinser, deaf president, 51% deaf board, no punishment for protesters |
| Outcome | All demands met, I. King Jordan appointed as first deaf president |
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What You'll Learn
Students wanted a deaf president
The protests at Gallaudet University, known as the Deaf President Now (DPN) movement, took place in March 1988. The students, staff, and alumni of the university demanded that the next president of their institution be deaf as well. This was because, for most of the university's history, deaf people were excluded from consideration for the position of president.
Gallaudet University, established in 1864, is the world's first university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. However, until 1988, all its presidents were hearing individuals. The appointment of a hearing president by a mostly hearing board of trustees was representative of the paternalism that deaf people were tired of enduring. The students wanted to end this and demanded the right to self-determination.
The protests were sparked by the announcement on March 6, 1988, that the Board of Trustees had selected a hearing person, Elizabeth A. Zinser, as the university's seventh president. Zinser was chosen over two qualified deaf finalists, Irving King Jordan and Harvey Corson. The students, staff, and alumni of Gallaudet were ready for a deaf president, especially since the university is a school for the deaf. They immediately demanded that a deaf president replace Zinser, and a protest broke out.
The protestors shut down the entire campus during this movement. They barricaded gates, burned effigies, and gave interviews to the press demanding four specific concessions from the Board. The four demands were:
- The resignation of Zinser and the selection of a deaf person as president
- The immediate resignation of Jane Bassett Spilman, chair of the Board of Trustees
- The reconstitution of the Board of Trustees with a 51% majority of deaf members
- No reprisals against any student or staff members involved in the protest
The protest ended on March 13, 1988, after all four demands were met, including the appointment of I. King Jordan, a deaf person, as the university's president.
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The Board of Trustees selected a hearing candidate
In 1988, students at Gallaudet University, a private university for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, protested the appointment of a new president, Elizabeth Zinser. Zinser, who was not deaf, was appointed by the Board of Trustees as the university's seventh president. This decision sparked outrage among the students, who felt that it was time for a deaf president to lead this university for the deaf.
The Board of Trustees' selection of Zinser as the next president is a pivotal moment in the protests. The board, composed of mostly hearing individuals, chose Zinser, a hearing candidate, over two qualified deaf finalists, Irving King Jordan and Harvey Corson. This decision went against the strong expectations for a deaf candidate, especially given that every president in the country's only university for deaf people had been hearing for over a hundred years. The students, alumni, faculty, and staff of Gallaudet were united in their desire for a deaf president and felt that the board's decision was a continuation of the paternalism they had endured for so long.
The selection of Zinser as president was announced on March 6, 1988, sparking the protests. The students shut down the entire campus, barricading gates and blocking entrances with vehicles. They presented the Board of Trustees with four demands: the resignation of Zinser, the appointment of a deaf person as president, the resignation of Jane Bassett Spilman (the chair of the Board), a majority of deaf members on the Board, and no reprisals against those involved in the protest. The protests gained national attention and widespread support, including from political leaders and labour unions.
The Board of Trustees eventually conceded to the demands, and on March 11, 1988, Zinser resigned. The protests continued as the students pushed for the remaining demands to be met. On March 13, 1988, the Board appointed I. King Jordan, a deaf individual, as the eighth president of Gallaudet University, marking a significant victory for the deaf community and a step towards reshaping public perceptions about deaf individuals and their capabilities.
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Protests shut down the campus
Protests shut down the Gallaudet University campus for a week in March 1988. Students, alumni, faculty, and staff united to demand that a deaf person be appointed president of the world's only deaf university. The Board of Trustees had selected a hearing candidate, Elizabeth A. Zinser, as the university's seventh president, despite two qualified deaf finalists.
Protesters blocked entrances with vehicles, used their bodies to disrupt and take over the campus, and barricaded the gates. They also used sign language to organize, make and implement plans, and frustrate hearing authorities. This gave them an advantage, with speaking and hearing becoming a disadvantage. The key protest tactic was to rely on sign language. The use of sign language was also an important symbolic act, asserting that deafness and sign language should be regarded with pride rather than as disabilities.
The protests, known as the Deaf President Now (DPN) movement, were a significant moment in the history of deaf rights in the US. They brought new visibility to deaf activists and brought deaf leadership to an institution founded for deaf individuals. The DPN movement played a crucial role in reshaping public perceptions about deaf individuals and their capabilities.
The protests ended on March 13, 1988, after all four of the protesters' demands were met, including the appointment of I. King Jordan, a deaf person, as university president.
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Students demanded an end to paternalism
In 1988, students at Gallaudet University, a private university for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, protested the appointment of a new president, Elizabeth Zinser. Zinser wasn't deaf and did not know sign language. Up until 1988, all the presidents at the university, which was established in 1864, had been hearing. The appointment of Zinser was made by a majority-hearing board of trustees, which comprised 17 hearing members and only 4 deaf members. This decision was representative of the paternalism that deaf people were tired of enduring.
The protest, known as the Deaf President Now (DPN) movement, highlighted significant issues concerning leadership representation within the deaf community. The students, backed by alumni, staff, and faculty, shut down the campus and barricaded the gates. They demanded an end to paternalism and the right to self-determination. They wanted a deaf person to run the world's only deaf university. Protesters used sign language to organize and make plans, frustrating hearing authorities. This environment turned deafness and sign language into advantages, while speaking and hearing became disabilities.
The students presented four demands to the board:
- The resignation of Zinser and the selection of a deaf person as president.
- The resignation of Jane Bassett Spilman, the chair of the board of trustees.
- The reconstitution of the board with a 51% majority of deaf members.
- No reprisals against any student or staff members involved in the protest.
All four demands were met, and I. King Jordan was appointed as the first deaf president of Gallaudet University. The DPN movement played a crucial role in reshaping public perceptions about deaf individuals and their capabilities, asserting that deafness is not a disability, but a quality that brings the deaf community together. It was a watershed moment in the history of deaf rights in the US.
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The protest had four specific demands
The protest, known as the Deaf President Now (DPN) movement, had four specific demands, which were:
- The resignation of the newly appointed hearing university president, Elizabeth Zinser, and the appointment of a deaf person as president. Zinser was the sole hearing candidate and was chosen over two deaf applicants, Harvey Corson and Irving King Jordan.
- The immediate resignation of Jane Bassett Spilman, the chair of the Board of Trustees.
- The reconstitution of the Board of Trustees with a 51% majority of deaf members. At the time, the board was made up of 17 hearing individuals and only four deaf individuals.
- No reprisals or punitive action against any student or staff members involved in the protest.
The protest began on March 6, 1988, and ended on March 13, 1988, after all four demands were met, including the appointment of I. King Jordan, a deaf person, as university president.
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Frequently asked questions
The students at Gallaudet University protested because they wanted the next president of their university to be deaf.
The protest was called Deaf President Now (DPN).
The protest happened in March 1988.
The leaders of the protest were Bridgetta Bourne, Jerry Covell, Greg Hlibok, and Tim Rarus.
The protesters demanded the resignation of the hearing president, Elizabeth Zinser, and the appointment of a deaf person as president. They also wanted a 51% majority of deaf members on the Board of Trustees and no punishment for those involved in the protest.
