Deaf President Now was a protest at Gallaudet University in 1988 from March 6th to 13th to object to the appointment of Dr. Elisabeth Zinser as president of Gallaudet University, a university that serves the deaf. The Board of Trustees of the University selected Dr. Zinser over two other qualified deaf candidates after the students and other members of the deaf community made clear their wish for a deaf president of Gallaudet.
The protest had four student leaders: Greg Hlibok, Bridgetta Bourne, Tim Rarus, and Jerry Covell. The students, along with other members of the deaf community, made four demands to stop their protest.
The first demand was that Dr. Zinser resign as president of the University.
The second was that Jane Spilman resign as the chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The third was that the Board of Trustees must reach a 51% deaf majority.
The fourth was that there should be no reprisals against the protesters.
Due to the protest and recognition of the greater civil rights issue at hand, Dr. Zinser announced her resignation on March 11th. The Board of Trustees met on March 13th and announced that Jane Spilman resigned entirely from the Board and that Phil Bravin, a deaf Board of Trustees member, was appointed as Board Chair. During that meeting, they also appointed Dr. I. King Jordan (one of the deaf candidates) as the new president of the University and established a task force to explore increasing deaf representation on the Board. They also confirmed no reprisals for anyone who participated in the protest.
This video collection consists mainly of videos filmed by Deaf Mosaic. Snippets of these films made it into episode 402, which can be seen here.
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1988-03-10 - Mary Lou Speech President's House (March 10, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Mary Lou Novitsky films a segment for Deaf Mosaic outside of the President's House. She raises concerns about Dr. Zinser and encourages student protesters to remain on campus rather than leaving for spring break.
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1988-03-10 - Press Conference on Campus 1 (March 10, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Assorted people are interviewed showing support for Deaf President Now. The president of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) supports the protests.
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1988-03-10 - Press Conference on Campus 2 (March 10, 1988)
Gallaudet University
The press conference begins and Greg Hlibok, the president of the APWU, and Dr. I. King Jordan as well as others make statements. Jordan in particular retracts his statement of support for the appointment of Dr. Zinser he made the day before.
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1988-03-10 - Press Conference Reaction on Campus (March 10, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Protests continue on campus with assorted methods of blocking entry to campus, words of support, and the press conference.
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1988-03-10 - Thursday Night and Friday Night Rally (March 10, 1988)
Gallaudet University
A social event is held. Different speakers come to the stage to rally the crowd discussing new arrivals from places like NTID, fundraising status, and what's happening later.
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1988-03-09 - Evening Activity at Hughes Gym (March 9, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Several people are interviewed for their thoughts and support regarding the protests, including Evan Kemp, Jr., Chairman of the EEOC. End of video shows Mary Lou Novitsky filming a segment for Deaf Mosaic outside of the President's House.
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1988-03-09 - National Press Conference with Spilman and Zinser 1 (March 9, 1988)
Gallaudet University
A press conference takes place with Jane Spilman, Dr. Zinser, and Dr. I. King Jordan. In this video only Jane Spilman is there as the others are late. She fields questions from reporters about the appointment of Dr. Zinser and the protests.
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1988-03-09 - National Press Conference with Spilman and Zinser 2 (March 9, 1988)
Gallaudet University
The press conference from previous videos continues with Jane Spilman, Dr. Zinser, and Dr. I. King Jordan. In this video Dr. Zinser arrives and gives a statement then joins Spilman in answering questions from the audience.
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1988-03-09 - National Press Conference with Spilman and Zinser 3 (March 9, 1988)
Gallaudet University
The press conference from previous videos continues with Jane Spilman, Dr. Zinser, and Dr. I. King Jordan. The question and answering section continues and eventually Dr. I. King Jordan is called up. He endorses the appointment of Dr. Zinser and questions continue to be asked.
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1988-03-09 - National Press Conference with Spilman and Zinser 4 (March 9, 1988)
Gallaudet University
The press conference from previous videos continues with Jane Spilman, Dr. Zinser, and Dr. I. King Jordan. Spilman and Dr. Zinser continue to answer questions and Spilman reiterates that the Board will not rescind Dr. Zinser's appointment.
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1988-03-09 - National Press Conference with Spilman and Zinser 5 (March 9, 1988)
Gallaudet University
The press conference from previous videos continues with Jane Spilman, Dr. Zinser, and Dr. I. King Jordan. The conference concludes and the video jumps to student leaders providing some clarification on statements made by Dr. Zinser.
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1988-03-09 - Rally 1 (March 9, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Graduate students block entry to campus with their cars, but do move when asked to do to avoid arrests. Audiology students block entry to the Mary Thornberry Building to stop classes from taking place. An officer is interviewed regarding a claim a student was hit.
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1988-03-09 - Rally 2 (March 9, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Roger Kraft states the four demands of the Deaf President Now protests as negotiations occur to reopen campus.
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1988-03-08 - Tuesday Event 1 (March 8, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Faculty are filmed for their opinions on the protests, a more organized response is established with a heirarchy of power, and discussions occur around fundraising and other issues.
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1988-03-08 - Tuesday Event 2 (March 8, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Burning of the effigies of Dr. Zinser and Jane Spilman happens on Hotchkiss field and a press conference with speeches given by assorted leaders takes place near the Florida Avenue entrance.
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1988-03-08 - Tuesday Event 3 (March 8, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Protests at Hotchkiss field during which the four student leaders speak and the burning of the effigies of Dr. Zinser and Jane Spilman occurs.
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1988-03-07 - Field House Protest 1 (March 7, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Board of Trustees Chair Jane Spilman begins to give a statement and Harvey Goodstein interrupts her to tell everyone to march to the Capitol since the Board did not change their minds on the appontment of Dr. Zinser. Other protesters come to the stage to question the Board.
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1988-03-07 - Field House Protest 2 (March 7, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Press conference from previous video continues as protesters keep coming on stage and questioning the Board's decision.
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1988-03-07 - Field House Protest 3 (March 7, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Press conference from previous videos continues as protesters keep coming on stage and questioning the Board's decision. Phil Bravin says the deaf members tried to make their case.
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1988-03-07 - Rally 1 (March 7, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Students begin blocking entry to campus. Negotiations occur to allow emergency vehicles entry. Protests center on Florida Avenue entrance to campus.
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1988-03-07 - Rally 2 (March 7, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Protests from video one continues, Deaf President Now leaders begin giving interviews with the press, there is a meeting of the Deaf President Now council.
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1988-03-07 - Rally 3 (March 7, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Tim Rarus, Jackie Kinner, and Harvey Goodstein speak to the press about the upcoming meeting with the Board of Trustees and state they have their demands. During the meeting protests continue on campus.
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1988-03-07 - Rally 4 (March 7, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Video shows the press conference after the meeting with the Board of Trustees and the resulting march to the Capitol after the Board does not rescind the appointment of Dr. Zinser.
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1988-03-06 - Florida Avenue Protest (March 6, 1988)
Gallaudet University
Video seemingly begins right after the announcement of the appointment of Dr. Zinser. Video shows people's responses and thoughts.
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1988-03-06 - Mayflower Hotel Protest 2 (March 6, 1988)
Gallaudet University
People march to the Mayflower Hotel and wait for the Board of Trustees to talk to them to explain their appointment of Dr. Zinser.
