Kansas4FSSA

Help Andy Lange & GUAA!

2006-10-29T07:53:00.001-08:00

Please subscribe www.guaanews.com.

Scroll down to Subscribe and sign up! By subscribing, you will help Andy Lange and the real GUAA develop THEIR OWN database of members all over the world. As most of you know, the GUAA office on the campus refused to give Andy Lange a database of 15,000 members. Let's help Andy and GUAA!

Thank you for your support!
Peggy

WHY??????

2006-10-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

October 25, 2006

Dr. Irving King Jordan
Dr. Brenda Brueggemann
Dr. Jane K. Fernandes

WHY????

WHY did you order the Department of Public Service (DPS) officers to bulldoze the blocked MSSD gate? Here, in Kansas City, I am sitting at my desk, shocked and appalled. I find it so hard to believe you would sic the DPS on the innocent, peaceful protestors. What on earth did they do to deserve this brutal treatment from you all? Are you that cold, ruthless, and blackhearted??? WOW! WHAT got into you all??

If one of the protestors involved in the peaceful blockage of the MSSD gate is my child, I would have already been on a plane to Washington, D.C. My first thing after checking on my child would be to storm into your office and yell "WHY?" in your faces! How dare you!? I pray and hope parents of those protestors across the country will be back on the campus to decry your unnecessary, uncalled for, unethical behavior toward the protestors.

As Noah Beckman, SBG President, said, "...something is bound to happen the first blood has been shed. it was them who caused it, not us..." You, you, and you, started this all. Now what are you going to do about the ugly incident that has sent such ripple effects all over the world? You have a HUGE job to remedy this sickening situation!

As an now-angered alumna, I absolutely have NO RESPECT for you three, and the Board of Trustees. The above was the last straw. Enough is enough! STOP BEING SELFISH and let go of Dr. Fernandes NOW!!! Tell her to get the h*** out of Gallaudet and PNG her forever! Oh yes, be sure you both follow her as well! Now scat!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Peggy Virnig Mnich
Gallaudet Alumna '84

Our Open Letter sent May 2006

2006-10-25T05:56:00.000-07:00

OPEN LETTER TO THE GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SUBJECT: Gallaudet University Protest May 1, 2006 to present

FROM: Concerned Gallaudetians
Olathe/Overland Park, Kansas

TO: Brenda Brueggerman, Interim Chair
Gallaudet University Board of Trustees (BoT)

On May 1, 2006, the announcement of Dr. Jane K. Fernandes as the 9th President of Gallaudet University rocked not only the deaf community in Olathe/Overland Park, Kansas, but the whole nation and world, as well. Some of us, the Kaw Valley (Kansas) GUAA members, have been watching the protest closely through the media and communication technology. With no results between the BoT and the faculty, staff, students, and alumni (FSSA), and the FSSA’s determination to continue the protest throughout the summer into the fall, we are deeply concerned that this matter has not been resolved to each group’s satisfaction.

It appears to us that Gallaudet University is about to experience the possible fracturing of the whole under the scrutiny of the media in general, the persistence of each party involved, divisiveness, and lack of trust. In addition, a strong vote of “no confidence” against Dr. Fernandes by the faculty indicates, to us, the severity of the situation between the parties at Gallaudet. There is also a concern among some of us, the Kaw Valley GUAA members, that our future generations, whether they be from the residential schools for the deaf, mainstream programs, or public schools across the country and the world, may choose to attend the universities other than Gallaudet to pursue their dreams should the BoT disregard the FSSA’s requests. If that is the case, then Gallaudet will not be what it used to be. It is very imperative that Gallaudet remains as the beacon of hope for the deaf community locally, nationally, and internationally.

As some Gallaudetians who care for the future of the University itself, we strongly urge, or should we say…plead, that you and the BoT reconsider FSSA’s requests which are:

1. The Board re-opens the presidential search process, ensuring equitable processes that support diversity and social justice for all.

2. Some of us are not satisfied with the reprisals suggested in the May 19, 2006, memorandum from the BoT which stated, “Neither the Board nor the president nor the president-select will tolerate any reprisals for anyone who has voiced their opinions in protest or support, on campus or in the community, in writing (electronic or paper) or through direct conversations during the presidential search process and the weeks between the announcement of Dr. Fernandes’ appointment and Commencement.” We are asking on behalf of FSSA that no reprisals are made against any of the faculty, staff, students, and alumni involved in this ongoing protest with no time limit.

We beseechingly ask that you and the BoT rectify the situation in the best interests of the University as soon as possible without any delay before its reputation as THE University for the deaf and hard of hearing students may be irreparably damaged. Additionally, we need to return to normalcy, move on with our lives, and begin our process in healing.

Thank you.

Please help FSSA!

2006-10-24T13:33:00.001-07:00

Please view the videotape. It is very touching.

http://www.signcasts.com/node/81

If you can go to Gallaudet to help with the protest, don't hesitate to go! You won't regret it.

GU FSSA's Talking Points

2006-10-24T13:33:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be wondering what the heck the protest is all about. Here is an excellent summary of Gallaudet University FSSA's talking points in regard to the protest.

http://news.gufssa.com/2006/10/24/talking-points-updated-102306/

October 20-23, 2006

2006-10-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

I flew to Washington, D.C., early Friday morning 10/20/06, to participate in the protest. The experience was very enriching and inspiring. I learned so much from those who gave their speeches during the rallies. The highlights of my trip were the march to the Capitol among 4000 people and the rally in which we burned the effigy of Fear and Oppression last Sunday night 10/22/06. I am truly very concerned about the protestors, especially after a large number of people leaving on Sunday. The campus was so quiet I was afraid the protestors might despair and give up, but I was reassured last Sunday night at the rally that the protestors will not give up. I am also worried about those protestors who have been on hunger strike for 10 days. I flew back here early this morning 10/23/06, and naturally, I am not happy. I wish I could stay at Gallaudet longer, but I have commitments. My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with the protestors, including faculty, staff, and alumni.

I am putting together my trip report with lots of pictures I took over the weekend. I will post it here upon completion.

Peggy Virnig Mnich
Gallaudet Alumna 1984

We love you, Tara, our former Miss Deaf Kansas!

2006-10-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

Tara's story is appalling and disgusting! Read on.

http://bucknakedbison.wordpress.com/2006/10/19/one-womans-story/

KSD Staff Interviewed

2006-10-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

Julie Theel and David Wilcox were interviewed by the Olathe Daily News about the Gallaudet protest. [link removed -- sorry for the inconvenience]

I had to remove the above link because it was only good for that day at the Olathe Daily News web site :-( I will see if there is a way I can post the article here for you all to read.

Our KS Gallaudet Heroes: Chester & Kyle Kuschmider, Heather Meyers

2006-10-16T17:11:00.001-07:00

Kyle (blond hair in center) waits to be arrested.
We were told he was eating potato chips while being arrested
and carried by the DPS! LOL!!

(Picture credit: Michelle McAuliffe)

Chester being carried away by DPS

Chester and Kyle, you are our heroes. We are very proud

of you!!

Tent City/Rally October 15, 2006

2006-10-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

Kansas4FSSA

2006-10-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Some of us in the deaf community want to show our heartfelt support for the FSSA and SBG involved with the protest at Gallaudet University.

To show you our support, we had our a tent city and rally yesterday afternoon (10/15/06) at the Stagecoach Park across from the Mahaffie Farmstead on Old Kansas City Road and Ridgeview Road in Olathe. The weather was SO cold, wet, and windy! Not many showed up due to the weather or other commitments they had. We set up tents, made some posters, talked about the rally, and took pictures.

Above is our group picture with our beloved Gallaudet freshman, Michele Muszynski, who is here in town for the weekend.

Michele collected donations from us last Saturday night at the Olathe Club for the Deaf and will bring it to FSSA when she returns to Gallaudet tomorrow (10/17/06). She will bring some posters we made for the protest.

FSSA and SBG, hang in there and be strong! Be like a tornado and BLOW IKJ, JANE, and BOTs AWAY!!!

WE LOVE YOU ALL!