THIS was the message I was trying to convey: Dan McClintock's Thanksgiving Cartoon

BINGO! Some of the posters who wrote comments to me in regards to my "Is FSSA Hypocritical?" post read my message as an anti-FSSA and/or misunderstood that I was not aware that COSC is not a formal organization thus not an issue...

I KNOW COSC is not an official, formal or recognized by Gallaudet as an organization but more of a coalition. That is fine. Nonetheless...They are AN organization - they consist of a group of people sharing common views and goals. Coalition is a type of an organization.

To quickly review with these who responded "COSC did not give birth to FSSA," when ikj first announced his retirement, the group which later formed as a group known as COSC, aired their concerns about who would be selected to be interviewed as a candidate as they were hoping for Dr Glenn Anderson, a black deaf man who is a prominent figure on the campus. This group was the FIRST group with their radar and feelers up in regards to the presidential search process. At the time there was no FSSA - just a bunch of students debating upon the search process and soon there became groups against each other, including COSC, disagreeing with each other in regards to their perspectives about WHO should lead Gallaudet, but they all had one SINGLE same view - the search process was FLAWED.

THAT gave birth to FSSA....These said groups of students mentioned above came together in their goal to protest the flawed search process and for Fernandes' termination, including COSC whose prominent leaders included LaToya Plummer and Delia Hernandez. Thus my comment that COSC gave birth to FSSA because if not for COSC coalition (better?), there 'd probably never be any FSSA - they were the ones who rose the AWARENESS of the flawed search process. The risen awareness of the flawed search process led to other groups to get together and become united in their protest, thanks to COSC's group. Hope this is presented to you clearly as to why I coined the "give birth" phrase/metaphor.

Now, the message I tried to convey was that FSSA refused to accept reps from COSC simply because they are not a recognized organization at Gallaudet. Thus why I am providing the link to Dan McClintock's cartoon - it says everything what I tried to convey in my post regarding "Is FSSA Hyprocritical?" Make Nice, Everyone!!

http://dmccartoon.blogspot.com/2006/11/thanksgiving-cartoon.html

Thanks, Dan McClintock! Great drawing.

Is FSSA Hypocritical??

In light of a recent debate about COSC's role in FSSA and BoT, I've come to wonder about FSSA's claims to "come united for Gallaudet to all fight together." The key word being "together." But it seems it has rang untrue in recent weeks after Fernandes' termination - seemingly now that FSSA is not need of COSC's "services."

Seems to me FSSA and COSC are bickering and vying for spots in the search committee for the interim president. FSSA is refusing to acknowledge COSC and accepting representatives from that organization because "it is not an official organization."

COSC, if I am not mistaken, made FSSA. If not for COSC, there wouldn't be any FSSA, wouldn't there? The reason why COSC remains a separate entity is because the members are interested in continuing to address their issues which are in many parts separate from these of FSSA which to me is perfectly logical.

However, I don't see any reason why both organizations couldn't work together and come united towards the same goal - the best for Gallaudet. I could not see why FSSA is not in position to accept representatives from COSC, the group that gave birth to their organization.

So I've come to conclusion that FSSA is hypocritical. As far as they are concerned, COSC had served their purposes during the protest, and now they've run out of their usefulness for FSSA and they no longer have any use for them. Isn't that like David Eberwein's "Colonialism"? A larger and stronger group invading and reaping the resources of another, rendering the weaker group powerless and dependent, and then abandoning them to their own devices? Did FSSA just do that? Made COSC dependent on FSSA in order to collect manpower and strengthen the protest against Fernandes?

Is this what we want for Gallaudet? A group poaching upon another to exploit their resources and moving on? This does not define "coming united to work TOGETHER." This seem more like politicizing.

FSSA, your organization and COSC are antonymous, whether you like it or now. You both are joined at the hips. COSC gave birth to your organization and you owe it to them to accept representatives from them and put aside your differences and issues. Thankfully, BoT saw past your organizations' differences and accepted representatives from COSC for the search committee. Clearly, BoT learned from the protest to listen. FSSA, it is your turn to listen.

McCain's Words

On CNN news, there is an article citing that Senator Mc Cain resigned over BoT's decision to terminate Fernandes, nothing less or more. Quote:

"McCain described the board's decision as unfair in a letter to outgoing President I. King Jordan this week, she said."

He said as much in a letter to a local constituent;

"I voted for Fernandes because I considered her the appropriate candidate out of the 3 finalist. Now this protest is asking the board to terminate Fernandes. I disagree. I don't deem it necessary for the board to interfere because we made the right choice."

Hey, he is REPUBLICIAN. What would anyone expect from a republican? He is conservative. He is paternalistic. He is pissed off that a bunch of "kids" won over the board, and hurt his good friend ikj's feelings.

BUT, good riddance, nonetheless. He never did much but being a nameplate on the board. He had been too busy with the Senate issues and the war. He is a former POW and is much involved with the war issues. We don't need someone like McCain - all talk and no action as a member. We need a more active member.

Once upon a time he DID introduce bills and implement services for the deaf which got him nominated to the board, but once he got his name on the board, he pretty much did a disappearing act. Mostly, he remained on the board so long because he is a friend of ikj. But now that the deaf community insulted, maimed, bombarded, spat, clawed, (you may add more...) his dear friend ikj, ever the staunch supporter and best fan of Fernandes, he did not want to do anything with Gallaudet anymore. Why not? After all, ikj is retiring in a few weeks. Why bother stay on the board if his good friend is gone from Gallaudet? Why bother stay on board if ikj's good friend Fernandes is gone as well?

Hey, this is to be expected. Wondering why everyone is so surprised?? We should jump with joy. One less...No, two (Brueggemann) less bad-seed members from the board....Now there is the OPPORTUNITY to replace them with the best qualified members! THANKS, McCain for resigning. Sorry we made you feel bad for ikj but that is politics - you ought know. You are one.

WHERE is Elisa Abenchuchan??

Elisa has vanished into thin air! Is she no longer blogging now that the campus protest is over? I keep checking her blog and I keep seeing the same old entry dated October 30th, 9 days ago. Have she gone back to McDaniel College and redirected her attention and energy into her studies?

Elisa, we miss you! You were an awesome blogger and your interview on Deafread was inspiring. We need a leader like you! Keep up with your passions and beliefs. Hope you will re-emerge from the pile of schoolwork and drop us a line.

Silence is NOT Golden!!

Silence from BoT is making me nervous. I understand that BoT will not meet again until December at which time they will discuss transition plans and interim post for president. I ask, why didn't they put that on the table on the same day they terminated jkf's designate as president and get that over with. AND put on table to discuss what to do about jkf. Why are they waiting until December?? What will jkf do in the meantime??

I understand FSSA wants to terminate ikj for his role in the arrests and careless decisions to bulldoze the students at Mount Bison as well as for paying PR's Mercy Coogan $2,000 a day to spin tales in interviews with media and to feed lines for jkf and his interviews with the media. That amount is obscene. FSSA wants him terminated NOW without pension. I agree that it would be fair, but knowing BoT, they won't. They will let ikj retire quietly with full pension. The upside of his retirement is that he will go in disgrace and without a legacy. Once he is gone, he will be forgotten. Good riddance. So, that takes care of ikj even if it's not to FSSA's liking.

FSSA also wants to remove Brenda Jo Bruggerman as chair. I was atonished to learn that she is actually DEAF but doesn't sign. And she chairs the ASL department at Ohio State?? Does the college know she doesn't sign?? That is truly nauseating. What an oxymoron that is...A chair of ASL department that does not sign. No wonder BoT is f-ed up.

That brings to the next point...FSSA also wants to put in place guidelines or criteria from which the nomintees have to meet in order to serve on board. Again, I was atonished to learn there is currently NONE! Basically, ikj was able to handpick trustees without challenges or objections because there were no guidelines or criteria to fall back upon...There is only ONE requirement...51% deaf. There is NO definition of "deaf." Currently, "deaf" means hearing loss - the person does not necessarily have to know ASL or sign. Does not have to have background in deafness or any connection to Gallaudet. Thus how Brenda Jo Bruggerman got to serve on board and become the chair. She is deaf but doesn't sign, and there are many others like herself on board. There are only 3-5 on board that are Deaf, serve in deaf community, and use ASL. Rest of the 51% of the deaf members do not have these qualifications. Amazes me nobody noticed.

What about the silence that is making me nervous is what BoT will do about jkf? Are they emailing each other and making deals? Are they communicating with jkf and hoodwinking with each other to make delicious offers to her? Making amends with her for "being forced to terminate her due to circumstances at Gallaudet"? Oh, please, BoT, make her go away! Never to return. Surely they realize there would be many other universities who would welcome her and embrace her "New Order" ideas?? Please, universities, make lurcative offers to jkf that she will drop Gallaudet so fast that would bewilder ikj to no end!! All jkf wants to do is to LEAD. Let her do so elsewhere.

"Leave jkf Alone."

There are posts on Ridor and Deafread where people ask others to stop talking about jkf and to leave her alone. Folks, how could we if we don't know what will become of her??

We still wonder if she will remain at Gallaudet? What is BoT's intentions with her? Surely those at Gallaudet much rather she does NOT come back to Gallaudet at all. We all don't wish any ill upon her except for her to be gone from Gallaudet. We all know she is a not good fit at Gallaudet which is the case in point why the folks at Gallaudet does not want her back.

In ASL department, MJ Bienvenu is there, and we all can quite predict what will happen if jkf is to return to her tenured position. That would be ill-advised.

Provost - Faculty Senate already voted against her and were she to resume that job, she would have to directly work with Faculty. Again, that would be ill-advised.

So, where can BoT put jkf? Seems nowhereville. There is no place left for her at Gallaudet. Unless jkf is willing to swallow her pride and face MJ after what transpired between them during the protest. Knowing jkf's personality type, that would not be too farfetched.

So we all are still wagging our tongues...ahem...hands....because we still don't know what will become of jkf. Only if BoT comes forward and announces what they've decided to do with her...only then will we stop talking about her and move on to HEAL. We are still talking because all of us are concerned whether she will remain at Gallaudet - and again will attempt to move her way up. Bulldoze her way up is more accurate.

We cannot heal until we know where jkf will go. We cannot heal until we know Provost person is permanent. We cannot heal until the new choice of President is the right one and permanent.

So, we have a long road ahead of us, folks.