Deaf President Now: Civil Rights Movement

Deaf President Now is the protest movement that happened in 1988. This protest was labeled as the “ Civil Rights Movement of the Deaf.” The DPN movement was and still is a huge monumental mark at Gaulladet. Leaders and supporters of the Deaf community urged the Board Of Trustees to elect the first deaf president.What really enraged the students is the message behind the board’s selection “ no deaf person was qualified enough to head their own school.” Spilman also stated “Deaf people aren’t able to function in a hearing world.” On March 6,1988 is when it all began.

The organized rally started to persuade deaf students to join the movement. Most of the students didn’t realize that this rally was against a hearing president. Many

leaders gave speeches at the football field, elementary school, largest classroom in the building, president’s house, and at the statue of the first president of Gaulladet University. They were all so outraged that out of the nominees there were 1 hearing and 2 deaf, they went with Zinser who was hearing and elected her the President of Gaulladet.
The DPN movement went nationwide. President George Bush stated his opinion, “the right of disabled people to control their own lives and right to integration and involvement in society.” He then concluded “Gaulladet has a responsibility to set an example and thus to appoint a president who is not only highly qualified, but who is also deaf.” Many people have gotten into this situation, it went nationwide. Senators and congressmen got into it and protested with the many students and people from everywhere. The farthest that came to the protest were people from Canada.
Board of Trustees had an interview with Zinser and Jordan on March 5, the night before everyone started rallying up for the protest. The campus expected the Board to come to the school and give them the information there, but instead the had the University’s Public Relations office to hand out Press releases. After they were given the news many of them march to the Mayflower hotel where the Board had the meeting and demanded an explanation. They thought that if the Board didn’t come to the campus and give them what they wanted they were gonna go to the hotel and get what they wanted and not wait for answers. They wanted to hear what they had to say for themselves and wanted to know why they chose who they chose.
The morning of March 7th many of the students and faculty had attended and set-up rallies due to the students blocking the entrances to Gaulladet University with their cars, and locked the University with chains. The people who were in the rally formed a “ human shield” to prevent other students and faculty members from entering the school. It was highly interesting to know that not only adults were involved but many children, parents, students, teachers, and even dogs.
March 8, 1988 the protest continued. Four students had headed to the hotel with I King Jordan where Elizabeth Ziner was having a meeting with the Board of Trustees. The school reopened and allowed people to enter. Many of the Deaf students insisted to boycott their classes and attended the protest instead. The protest continued throughout the day, National news got into the situation. The four students were Bridgetta Bourne, Jerry Covell, Greg Hilbok, and Tim Rarus.
On March 9, 1988 there was a meeting that involved 2 congressman. Dr. Zinser started her job as president early. She hoped it would end the protest, but it didn’t. The congressman tried to convince Zinser to resign as President. Zinser and Jordan went to a National Press Conference this day. King Jordan fully supports Zinser in her position as president. People of the protest were on the national news that day.
March 10, 1988. One of the four leaders was aired on Good Morning America. Many students from different schools for the Deaf were there to support and rally against the election. Everyone didn’t care that it was there spring break, they wanted to join the fight and get what they deserved/ wanted. Ziner and the Board of Trustees were having yet another meeting.
On March 11, 2017 was the day that Ziner and the hearing chair of the Board of Trustees resigned, everyone rejoiced. They celebrated the day at the capitol where many people gave speeches. Students of the protest start wearing these buttons that said “ 3 ½.” “ 3 ½ meaning there is only 3 ½ demands to go” Their protest was successful. Many days went on afterwards, those days are just the protest calming down and slowly fading away, and Gaulladet became its happy campus again.
Those demands included the resignation of the hearing president Elizabeth Ziner, resignation of Jane Basset Spilman, reconstitution of the Board of trustees with 51% of deaf members, and no reprisals against the students and staff members apart of the protest. This is literally what the whole protest was about. Deaf students wanted to be able to start what never had been started. They wanted a deaf president, they wanted to be able to sign to someone without trying so hard to gesture to a hearing person what they are talking about.
Sunday March 13 was the day King Jordan was elected the eighth president of Gaulladet University; Along with new members of the Board Of Trustees who were Deaf as well. King Jordan stated “ When I named President, people were actually very blunt to me.” During a press conference the day after King Jordan was asked “ That’s well and good for the students, but when you get to the bottom line, what kind of jobs can deaf people do?” He responded “ Deaf people can do anything but hear.”
DPN had there ups and downs during the protest, but in the end it all ended up all well in the end.

They got what they wanted and needed. King Jordan is someone they can look up to. And see all the great things he could do. He is not only deaf but he is a person of his own words and will do whatever it takes to show what he can do. King Jordan may have had some doubts about himself but he started something wonderful for Gaulladet University, he set an all time example by not only just being deaf, but showing us what he is capable of.

King Jordan quoted in the book Dancing without music “ I am not a real member of the deaf community.” He was in a motorcyle accident at the age of 21 that made him lose his hearing. “ I am a deafened hearing person.” Although he may have had doubts about himself being the President he still did an awesome job at it. People were just bringing them down with their negative comments because the people got what they wanted and caused Ziner to lose,but that is

okay.
Deaf people are more than capable of doing things hearing people do. Just because they can’t hear doesn’t mean anything. All those people started this protest themselves out of spite and anger. This is what they needed to do in order to succeed. These people from who knows where came out to support and build such a strong rally group to get their deaf president and committee. What difference would it make if they were all deaf, they are still able to do their job just as well as hearing people can.
Gaulladet University is a school for the deaf.

It was created so that way students who are deaf can learn in a way they can with people who are the same as they are. DPN was fighting for what they need not what they want. They want to be taught in a way they can be taught. Having a deaf president would be a great example. Deaf people have been fighting for their rights for many many years. This protest was just one of many that just happened to happen because of the rude stuff the Board of trustees were saying, and because out of the 3 fully coordinated people they chose the person who wasn’t deaf and that was Elizabeth

Ziner.
Deaf people have not found a place in society they deserve. They are always having to protest or fight what they want, but the week of DPN will be greatly remembered and has made its mark in history. It was one of the biggest and craziest. Crazy to think that they actually locked up the gates of the school with thicks chains, and block every entry way as possible. This definitely showed what a large group of angry people are capable of.
This protest will always be a big part of Gaulladet University’s history. Making it great by protesting for what they thought was right meant a whole lot to those people who stood out there for a whole week protesting their butt’s off. Gaulladet University has been keeping up with the tradition and keeping their Board 51% of deaf people and making the campus a happy and great one. They can live their school lives without any problems and not have to worry about anything happening like that again. It was one very long weekend with anxious people awaiting their answers.
DPN was a successful protest. After the Board of Trustees realized it should be up to the people they finally elected Irving King Jordan as the next president of Gaulladet University. They only elected him because Elizabeth Ziner resigned the day after she was elected as president because she felt like she had too much pressure on her and wasn’t able to meet the needs of the community.Their biggest accomplishment was just being able to get what they wanted and the people wanted a deaf president and it was only fair because it is a college for the deaf. Anything is possible. As King Jordan said “ Deaf can do anything but hear.”