Washington, D.C.
The trustees of Gallaudet University, the nation’s leading college for the deaf, last week bowed to intense pressure from students and rescinded their appointment of Jane Fernandes as president. For weeks, students have been staging vigorous anti-Fernandes protests, claiming that she does not recognize the centrality of American Sign Language to deaf culture. Fernandes, who is deaf and has been serving for years as the school’s provost, didn’t learn to sign until she was in her late 20s. She argues that hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other technologies can help deaf people in a hearing world, and she says her critics are pushing an extreme “separatist” agenda. The trustees said the decision to cancel its offer to Fernandes was made with “regret and pain.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: a solid summer blockbusterThe Week Recommends The big-money movie might be 'a bit silly' but the effects are excellent
-
Tall Tales: church dedicates service to Taylor SwiftTall Tales The Week's round-up of the latest odd news
-
Crossword: May 18, 2024The Week's daily crossword
