Deaf President Now!: The 1988 Revolution at Gallaudet University

I am donating this copy to the People's Library of OccupyDC. Since I am in a hurry to do so I was not able to engross myself in it as fully as possible right now but it is going on my wish list so I can have my own copy to read. Much of it parallels why it would be ideal for a movement to change things:- The relevant history and why this action was taken.- An occupation with tents. Sound familiar?- Accomplishing something people did not think was possible (students changing who would be the university president).- Plenty of documentation - pictures of events, buttons, and such.- Day-by-day account of what went on.- Unique actions that grew the movement.- That violence to quell protesters is completely the wrong move.- Interactions with police.- The progress towards it eventually succeededing.- An analysis of why/how a protest can succeed using DPN as an example.- What happened later after the direct request was met.Overall, an excellent analysis of how a movement can work.I am kicking myself now for not buying an extra copy when I bought this one to donate as now I need to wait for a copy of my own.

This had a different perspective than the Jack Gannon book. I appreciated the in-depth reasons behind the president's selection. Would have like to see also why Dr. Corson was not selected as the Board's reluctance to select King at first was outlined. But Corson's rejection was not spelled out. Why?

Very informative.

came fast and i started to read it and it is very interesting

Very informative read! Well worth your time.

This book chronicles the events leading up to and the deaf president now revolution at Gallaudet University. As the world's only university for deaf and hard-of-hearing studentsm Gallaudet had revolutionary potential from inception.When Dr. Jerry C. Lee announced that he was leaving the university, many students and faculty felt that this would be their year. Because the Gallaudet administration had consisted mainly of hearing people, these dissenters felt that they were being condescended to.Not only was the sole hearing candidate Elizabeth Zinser picked, but critical snafus undercut her very brief administration. Then-board chair Jane Spilman allegedly said that 'deaf people are not able to function in a hearing world' ironically reinforcing the protestor cause. Zinser's academic training in rehabilitative sciences hinted at the 'medical model' of disability which many of the students found outmoded and problematic.The students recieved national media attention, alumni (including the use of the alumni house as an organizing space) and Congressional support. He had initially given his own support to Zinser in an attempt to forge campus unity, but the other presidential candidate, I. King Jordan (then Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences) withdrew his support. Zinser subsequently announced her resignation. Jordan became Gallaudet's first deaf president.The DPN is an inspiring saga for anybody (particularly college students attempting to create their own campus chage). The actions of Gallaudet students later inspired me to challenge patronizing assumptions being made about my own community.