Deaf President Now Protest

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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1988-03-06 - Spilman and Bravin Comments 4 (March 6, 1988)

Gallaudet University

Board of Trustees Chair Jane Spilman and Phil Bravin, deaf Board of Trustees member, talk to the protesters outside of the Mayflower Hotel about the appointment of Dr. Zinser.
1988-03-06 - Spilman Speaking Outside Hotel 3 (March 6, 1988)

Gallaudet University

Board of Trustees Chair Jane Spilman and Phil Bravin, deaf Board of Trustees member, talk to the protesters outside of the Mayflower Hotel about the appointment of Dr. Zinser.
1988-03-04 - Rally on Florida Avenue (March 4, 1988)

Gallaudet University

Rally on front of Florida Avenue supporting the appointment of a deaf president.
1988-03-01 - Rally for Deaf President Now 1 (March 1, 1988)

Gallaudet University

Rally prior to the announcement of Dr. Zinser during which several leaders give speeches to rally the crowd in supporting a deaf president for Gallaudet. Speakers in this video include Jack Levesque, Greg Hlibok, Roz Rosen and Paul Singleton.
1988-03-01 - Rally for Deaf President Now 2 (March 1, 1988)

Gallaudet University

Rally prior to the announcement of Dr. Zinser during which several leaders give speeches to rally the crowd in supporting a deaf president for Gallaudet. Speakers include Harvey Goodstein, Alan Sussman, Asuma Smits, and Jeff Rosen.
1988-03-01 - Rally for Deaf President Now 3 (March 1, 1988)

Gallaudet University

Rally prior to the announcement of Dr. Zinser during which several leaders give speeches to rally the crowd in supporting a deaf president for Gallaudet. Speakers/performers include Fred Weiner, Gary Olsen, Paul Singleton, and Clayton Valli.
Bridgetta Bourne Interview 1 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Bridgetta Bourne recounts her Deaf President Now experience, part 1
Bridgetta Bourne Interview 2 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Bridgetta Bourne recounts her Deaf President Now experience, part 2
Carol Padden Cutaway (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

A short video of Carol Padden talking with assorted people.
Carol Padden Interview (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Carol Padden recounts the effects of Deaf President Now approximately five years later and her hopes for change in the future.
David Birmbaum Interview (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

David Birmbaum explains his role in Deaf President Now and how the media helped the movement.
DPN at MSSD 1

Gallaudet University

Assorted clips, mostly undated, featuring locations such as MSSD, Chapel Hall, and Hotchkiss field.
DPN at MSSD 2

Gallaudet University

MSSD students voicing support for the Deaf President Now protests
Fred Weiner Interview (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Fred Weiner describes the build up to the Deaf President Now and the sentiment among the students prior to the appointment of Dr. Zinser
Greg Hlibok Interview 1 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Greg Hlibok recounts his Deaf President Now experience, part 1
Greg Hlibok Interview 2 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Greg Hlibok recounts his Deaf President Now experience, part 2
Jamie Tucker Interview 1 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Jamie Tucker provides some context into his life, the build up to the Deaf President Now protests, and advice for activists, part 1
Jamie Tucker Interview 2 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Jamie Tucker provides some context into his life, the build up to the Deaf President Now protests, and advice for activists, part 2
Jamie Tucker Interview 3 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Jamie Tucker provides some context into his life, the build up to the Deaf President Now protests, and advice for activists, part 3
Jeff Rosen Interview 1 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Jeff Rosen discusses his Deaf President Now experience. He gives a lot of context for deaf people's anger, a detailed look into the protests, and how the protests relate to other political movements happening. Part 1.
Jeff Rosen Interview 2 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Jeff Rosen discusses his Deaf President Now experience. He gives a lot of context for deaf people's anger, a detailed look into the protests, and how the protests relate to other political movements happening. Part 2.
Jeff Rosen Interview 3 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Jeff Rosen discusses his Deaf President Now experience. He gives a lot of context for deaf people's anger, a detailed look into the protests, and how the protests relate to other political movements happening. Part 3.
Jerry Covell Interview 1 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Jerry Covell recounts his Deaf President Now experience, part 1
Jerry Covell Interview 2 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Jerry Covell recounts his Deaf President Now experience, part 2
Mike O'Donnell Interview 1 (Post DPN)

Gallaudet University

Mike O'Donnell discusses his role and experience in the Deaf President Now protests. As someone who works on Capitol Hill, he gives a bit of context to how things can and will be different in the future. He touches on civil rights and systems of power. Part 1.