Photo credit: Hui Zhang
Gallaudet University has a special place in deaf culture. Both polarizing and unifying, the storied University is a favorite topic among groups of signers or deaf people. Invariably a complaint will float to the surface, like a dead fish on the top of a scummy lake.
Double edged swords, is there anything more mesmerizing to a deaf person? Such is complaining about Gallaudet. A complaint about Gallaudet (safe or not safe) will ignite the conversation faster than Chipotle bashing, snarky comments about SSI, or a jibe that ASL is not a language. Heck, it started a nationwide protest.
A complaint about Gallaudet taps into an enormous reservoir of culture, politics, and identity. This triumvirate of topics is often found on the deaf blog/vlog aggregator DeafRead among others.
Here are some rules of thumb if you want to fit in quickly with a deaf crowd and complain about Gallaudet:
Safe to Complain About
- The System! Gallaudet’s system, administrivia, how horrible the service is in department X. Sample: “Just the other day the Student Health Service screwed me and left me without insurance because I didn’t click some link on some online form.”
- Boorish Behavior by Gallaudet Students. Gallaudet students are legendary for their antics, having been banned from D.C. hotels in the past due to inhospitable behavior. Sample: “I saw some Gally students in Chipotle (see post #2) and they kept shouting and hooting and making everyone around them uncomfortable.” Complaining about this one allows the deaf people in your conversation loudly avow that they are not like them, that they are civilized and don’t behave like that! Even though they do.
- The Protest. It’s been long enough, and people have gotten over it (mostly) and you’ll see occasional talk about The Protest in and around DC and other deaf friendly cities. Complaints range from the behavior of the students to the administration, the coverage in the news media, and the lack of progress since then. Sample: “I just grimace at all the crazy student behavior during the protest. But the administration was crazier. That’s why I didn’t get involved.”
Not Safe to Complain About
- Intelligence Level of Gallaudet Students. Deaf people take comments about intelligence very seriously. They have been raised to believe that they are smart in their own way and do not like being told that they look stupid. So if you make a snarky comment about how stupid a deaf person is or was being; you are insulting them too. Sample: “I saw a Gallaudet student at Union Station the other day. He couldn’t figure out how to get past the Metro turnstiles!”
- President Davila. Davila is the Second Coming for many deaf people and Gallaudet students. Even though his shine has worn off a little since coming into office, he represents the hopes and fears of the deaf community. Tread with caution; Davila can have you disappeared. Or at least make you appear on Bob’s Vlog and explain yourself. Sample: “I saw President Davila speak at Gallaudet Townhall the other day. I think he’s full of it and does not have a plan to address diversity on campus in any meaningful way.”
- The Protest. Even though it’s been years since the Protest, it’s still a touchy topic for many people. We must remember that there were two (or more) camps and factions during the protest, and some got what they wanted while others did not. So some sensitivity towards that is warranted. Sample: ”The people supporting Jane Fernandes were so awful! I hope they were fired. Oh, you supported Jane? Well, except you, you’re a great person! I’m sure you were just misguided. Or had to go on Bob’s Vlog.”
[*Editor's Note: This article was originally written on 08/19/08.]
