Gallaudet University

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Pages: 3

“This was truly a moment in history,” says Host Gil Eastman. When speaking about Gallaudet University, this sentence timelessly applies. Gallaudet University, formerly known as Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, has educated Deaf and Hard of Hearing since the year 1857. The school was changed to Gallaudet University in the year 1957, but the improvements kept coming. The University offers 27 majors for undergraduate students and 20 fields for graduate study. It is the only liberal arts college for the Deaf. Although they had been a well-known Deaf and Hard of Hearing educator for over a century, most of Gallaudet’s fame came from the famous rally and protest most familiarly known as the Deaf President Now movement. On Monday, March …show more content…
I cannot even imagine having the President of my club, school, country, or anywhere else not speak my language. In this case, I completely agree with these Deaf activist’s values. In my opinion, it would be increasingly difficult to follow, obey, or even have a conversation with someone that does not speak the most-locally used language. These Deaf students had gone to Gallaudet to feel accepted, like they could in not many other places. However, they were once again forced to adapt to their leader instead of their leader adapting to them. This is what, in my opinion, began the rally and protest. Deaf people, along with many different kinds of people, races, genders, etc., have been put down for so long and this was another way to put them down. Furthermore, only four presidents since 1864, had actually been Deaf. I, as a hearing person, thought of this as equating to our US President. A President who could not speak English or did not understand our customs and culture would be very difficult to follow and understand. After watching, learning about, and researching the Deaf President movement, I fully agree with the DPN activists and what they stood