WEBVTT

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Galludet University was established in 1864.

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From 1864 to 1987, that is 124 years.

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In 124 years, there has been 6 hearing presidents.

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The 6th president, Dr. Lee, announced that he was leaving.

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The Gallaudet community: students, teachers, faculity, alumni

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discussed how they felt that it was time for a Deaf president to be selected.

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They discussed and pushed for this.

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The candidates were picked and two were Deaf,

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one was hearing.

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March 1st, 1988 - the first formal rally happened.

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1,500 people showed up to show their support and

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how they believed that a Deaf president should be selected.

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During March 2-5, media got involved

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and lots of people sent in their support for a Deaf president.

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On Sunday March 6th, we were excited to find out who would be selected.

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(chanting: Deaf President Now)

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"...he would be good for us."

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(unclear)

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"He as president would be proving to the world that he could take this position."

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We were dismayed when we saw the letter.

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We had come early, thinking that we would get some sort of speech but instead

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we found a pile of letters that were left for us that

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announced how we had a hearing president once again.

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We started to discuss what we should do and started to chant: "Deaf President Now"

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From this moment, the "Deaf President Now" protest began.

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(chanting: Deaf President Now)

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"Why hearing why?!"

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"This woman can't even sign. The students do not want her. We make our intentions very clear."

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"...and be our spokesperson?!?"

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(chanting: Deaf President Now!)

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(chanting: We want Zinser OUT!)

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"I am so mad. This makes me sick!"

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(unclear)

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"This is a slap in our face!"

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"If not now, then never. We want it now."

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(chanting: Deaf President Now!)

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(fingerspelling) "VERY DISAPPOINTING"

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(fingerspelling) "DISGUSTING"

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(fingerspelling) "SICKENING"

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(chanting: Deaf President Now!)

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... for the afternoon classes, many buildings are empty...

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"...we want a Deaf president now!"

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"...I have never felt so defeated in my life."

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"...I am a very serious applicant..."

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"...Deaf president - we don't want one, we NEED one.."

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"... we have been oppressed..."

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"...the directors didn't really hear our needs."

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"...they won't listen to us!"

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"... we are ready for a Deaf person to lead our own lives."

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"..many tents have been set up tonight.."

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(chanting: "Deaf President Now!!")

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"We will not concede..."

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"They think we are unable to function, that we are not ready to function in the hearing world."

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"...this is ridiculous, I'm very angry this is happening." (Marlee Matlin)

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Zinser: "...would like to have that dialogue in person.."

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"....We do not want a hearing person. We do not want a compromise."

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"...we won't give up."

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"...very impressed with how the students are handling this."

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Zinser: "I believe very strongly that a Deaf individual one day not only be the president..."

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Marlee Matlin: "Why not now? Why not now?!"

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Hilbok: "NO, that is a old statement."

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"I am tired of hearing that again, again, again."

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"It becomes a cycle."

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"Our presidents always say that over and over."

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"We have decided that there will be no dialogue with her."

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"We are closing dialogue until the four demands are met."

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"...we cannot change our mind, we must continue until our demands are met."

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"...it's better if we have a Deaf president."

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"...I will continue for as long as it takes."

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"...we won't stop until the board of trustees give up and give us a Deaf president."

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..."the four demands by the Gallaudet community are entirely justified..."

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"We are getting bigger, and we become stronger, stronger, and stronger now!"

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"...we are waiting to see what will happen next."

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"...they have been oppressing us for a long time, it's time to stop and support us..."

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"...a total of 1,500 protestants have gathered..."

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..."Let history judge us from now on..."

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"...there's still 3 1/2 demands left."

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(Zinser signs I love you while speaking)

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"...We are talking to YOU Spilman!"

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"...I'm glad she resigned."

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Gallaudet Universty students are saying that there are still 3.5 demands left to be met..."

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"...I've never been prouder as a Deaf person."

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"...they are really my family, these Deaf people. Family, teachers, friends, everything."

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"...Right now all Deaf people are united."

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"We the board of trustees now elect Dr. Jordan King as our 8th president of Gallaudet University."

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"I am inspired to accept the invite from board of trustees"

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"to become president at Gallaudet University."

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"...we made it!"

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(chanting: "We won! We won!")

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"When it was announced that Zinser was president last week, that was the lowest..."

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"but it got better, everyday, it increased."

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"and now this is the best time ever."

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"I have to say we are very very happy and there will be a big party on campus tonight."

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..."I willingly resigned because I believe very strongly that this is in the best interest for Gallaudet University..."

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"...very surprised that Spilman resigned. I thought she would continue."

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"I'm very happy."

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"...we worked so hard!"

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"This university will never be the same."

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(unclear)

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"...we won it!"

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Since then, we have had 3 Deaf presidents.

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Now we know Gallaudet University will always have a Deaf president.

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That impacted us all across the world.

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Deaf President Now changed into Deaf People Now.