freeSpeech: LaToya Plummer

Deaf Student Speaks About Being Heard

(CBS)  My mother, who can hear, inspired me to challenge the world. When I was young she told me that I had three strikes against me: I am black, deaf, and female. I could either count myself out of the game of life, or I could change the rules.

So I changed the rules. I'm very competitive. I love sports. I used played basketball at Gallaudet University.

Maybe you heard about my university and that we are protesting, but maybe you don't understand why this is happening. Some people think we are saying that the new President isn't deaf enough. That's not true at all. It's that our deaf leadership is being deaf to our concerns.

There are diverse groups within the campus community are not being heard. This is important and worth fighting for.

You would think that the obstacles of being a black, deaf person would
make my life full of frustration and misery. It's really like this: My life is richer. I know it might be hard for people who can hear to understand that.

I have many goals I want to achieve, and one is to become an attorney. Another is to have children and pass my values onto them. One day those things will happen. But first of all, I must lay the groundwork for the future.

---

LaToya Plummer is a student at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.

[borntwice-2009]

There is absolutely no scientific proof for the theory of evolution. It is just that, a theoty. We were created.

[deafmickey]

LaToya!

Thank you so much! I am deaf but not a Gallaudet student. I was nervous how the world perceive of Gallaudet because of the Deaf Culture which I value it with all my life. I tried to tell several hearing people that the "hearing loss" was the main issue. It was all about LEADERSHIP. I think you have shook the world. Your professional appearance, statement, and determination had change their percieve of Gallaudet! Thank you for your beautiful free of speech!

(I spread the word a day before the clip of you being aired.) :-)

Mel

[kaewansj]

KristiBM:

Dialogue was tried. The administration kept on ignoring the protesters. They went to the media and called them terrorists, dissenters, and anarchists. Distortion, disinformation, and lies are the primary components of the Propaganda Machine set forth by the administration.

Here's how I see it: you're the administration here and I'm the protesters here. I'm trying to have dialogue with you and you're simply brushing me away using the same lies, distortion, and disinformation by the Propaganda Machine. I guess it's just your way or the highway. Me, I'll take the highway because you do not GET it.

[captjpk]

To: Kristibm
Bravo!!!!!

[kristibm]

djb625,

#1- I have already been on campus, seen enough.
#2- Oh, so it *was* indeed about her, thank you for clarifying it for us. You've made my point that this was all about her, not about the protest itself.
#3-It hurts you to see personal attacks on her? Calling the kettle black here, aren't we? Who has been personally attacked since May? Jordan and Ferenades. So spare me the moral indiginity, and take the beam out of your own eye.
#4 - The protestors are not interested in dialogue. They are not interested in mediation. They are not interested in flexibility. They are not interested in anything else but to see Ferenades resign. To me, dialogue will always fail in that kind of all-or-nothing mentality.

Have a good day!

[captjpk]

A previous blog from DJB625 expresses his disheartenment because of some personal attacks addresssed at Ms. Plummer relating to some comments directed toward her.
Let me figure this out. The protesters have been personally attacking JKF, her family, IKJ, the BoT, and anyone else who opposes the protest with BLATANT disregard and somehow you think these comments made by some people are offensive. Please, gag me with a pitchfork!
The administration is trying to run a university and the only thing the protesters are doing is being part of an unruly mob.

[bethcav1]

I absolutely loved hearing the feedback from people who are supporting JKF. I do not want to see these "bullies" have any sort of power on campus. It was heartening to see some positive support for JKF. The board should stand by their decision. Thank you for letting me finally see some positive hope for the future of Gallaudet with JKF at the helm.

[djb625]

It pains me to see personal attacks on a future graduate of Gallaudet.The personal attacks is unnecessary and uncalled for. We need to TRY to remember that diversity doesn't just mean black/white issues. It means the following at Gallaudet and elsewhere : white, hard of hearing, oral, Cochlear Implant Users, Black, Haitians, Puerto Ricans, Latinos, Deaf, deaf, individuals with additional disabilities, Children of Deaf Adults, and need I say more.That is what this protest is all about.The protest is about changing that thinking. It is about accepting one with differences and still can respect one another. We have to remember that people who are in the majority mainstream, for instance the white community. People who are in the white community and raised from that perspective will never understand a person who is different from them such as a person who is latino and hard of hearing. Both experiences will be different and how do we explain that? Dialogue with a fail safe environment and to be honest in that dialogue.You will be surprised how much people learn from an 1 hour to 5 hour dialogue about this. It is important that we listen to both sides.It is important that we end the dialogue with respect and new understanding.I have heard from individuals involved in the dialogue that they have learned more from this than they have about "life".

[djb625]

KristiBM-

You are missing something. This is about Latoya's story and why she is protesting. She only had 90 seconds to get the point across and I believe she did. Please come to one of the events on campus to understand fully what is happening. The attacks on Latoya needs to stop. It is BESIDES the point.

[dijon77]

At last... there is a black, deaf woman who spoke up for the cause on the CBS TV news. She means about JFK for not being a good leadership of the 9th President of Gallaudet University, NOT ENOUGH DEAF, WRRRRRRONNG!!!. Also, Loyota looks for social justice that the most whitey adminstrators do not care about faculty, staff, students, and alumni. That's not right. It's a big, big, big oppression for all of us who don't advocate JFK, IJK,and PK. They are too mean to us. Please read the website, www.news.gufssa.com. We, the protesters, want for the best deaf community. JFK can walk out with a good salary easily, why does she so stubborn continually???

To Black Deaf people and students: Don't be afraid to speak out. Don't complain and don't sit back and don't let Layota working hard for nothing. Unity Gallaudet!!!!!

[dijon77]

At last... there is a black, deaf woman who spoke up for the cause on the CBS TV news. She means about JFK for not being a good leadership of the 9th President of Gallaudet University, NOT ENOUGH DEAF, WRRRRRRONNG!!!. Also, Loyota looks for social justice that the most whitey adminstrators do not care about faculty, staff, students, and alumni. That's not right. It's a big, big, big oppression for all of us who don't advocate JFK, IJK,and PK. They are too mean to us. Please read the website, www.news.gufssa.com. We, the protesters, want for the best deaf community. JFK can walk out with a good salary easily, why does she so stubborn continually???

To Black Deaf people and students: Don't be afraid to speak out. Don't complain and don't sit back and don't let Layota working hard for nothing. Unity Gallaudet!!!!!

[zara7-2009]

A BEAUTIFUL Job, LaToya! You have been honest. I support FSSA and their tow demands. There are many evidences that show how J. Fernandes don%u2019t have and don%u2019t practice the positive administrative approach with people she works. She may be a visionary person but she is definitely a distrustful administrator who does not value people%u2019s opinions if they are not compatible with her goals. She had TEN years of working for Gallaudet in two different positions and there aren%u2019t that many positive evidences that she did perform well in terms of interacting with teachers, staff, students, and alumni in different levels and areas. In that process, she often alienated people who disagreed with her approach of changing the system. Too often the changes are made without shared governance and without due process. Why it has to be different for Gallaudet than other colleges or universities? Gallaudet is the only and the one Liberal Arts University for the Deaf in the Whole world. It is well understood why Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni stakeholders are very concerned. Everybody has a strong tie with Gallaudet in one way or other. For those people who are skeptic or for those people who support J. Fernandes, go to www.gufssa.com, www.deafdc.com/blog/, www.elisawrites.com/. Again, LaToya did well. Thanks to LaToya and CBS for airing her story!

[ballin310]

This is for nikkigally.

I suggest you to hold your tongue because from what I know, La Toya has been very very responsible with assignments. She has communicated wth her teachers. Yes she has missed classes, and it is because of the protest. FYI, she isnt the only one who has missed classes. I suggest you, KristiBM learn to talk to her first before you set judgements. You guys are a disgrace to the black community if you think that a person cannot make msitakes and learn from them. She will be back the second semester! She will, sorry to disappoint you.

[joeybaer1]

Beautifully said, LaToya. You have won many more people's hearts. Keep on fighting on what you really believe in and you will gain even more supporters.

Unity for Gallaudet!

[pug135]

I would also like to say BRAVO to Katie Couric and CBS for allowing this free Speech to be aired.

Thank you and I know I speak for all the parents of students at GAllaudet University

Do you know that the university has yet to send one notice home to parents about this crisis on campus? Yes, I have received a bill from this school, but not one notice about the current crisis. Do you call this leadership?

Gallaudet University is the only place I have ever thought to send my daughter, that was never a question. I sure hope my daughters dreams will come true and she can graduate from Gallaudet too.
Thanks again CBS!

Parent from California!

[pug135]

BRAVO Latoya!
Just being able to get on the Katie Couric news is awesome. What she did was educate the world about Gallaudet. Many don't even know it exists.
These leaders are brave to stand up in front of their peers, teachers, alumni and community to speak out on what is REALLY happening at Gallaudet University.
As a parent of a student at Gallaudet, I am proud of all you students who are speaking out for all.
I know there are some who disagree. I don't understand how you could possibly support an administration that has publicly hurt our children, and called our children terrorists. I have never in my life seen any university accuse their students of terrorism when they stand up for what they believe. How can an administration ignore students on hunger strike for more than 13 days? Open your eyes everyone!

Again, Bravo Latoya! Bravo to all who are fighting for what is RIGHT!

Parent from California!

[dmking03]

Kaewansj:

Many of you at Gallaudet knows who is DMKing03 %u2013 I am simple David King, and you know what I am saying is true. Truth is always bitter, and I am very sorry to say that we cannot sweep it under carpet%u2026no matter how much we try. One thing I realize in recent is that, once a person said lies and not prepares to admit it, will always try to cover the lie with another lie. The issue of %u201Cnot deaf enough%u201D is valid. I appreciate it if the like of you would admit it and state that it was a mistake. Lying over it won%u2019t work. Read deaf blogs and vlogs as well as listserv, you will see their messages refer to %u201Cnot deaf enough%u201D issue. If we ask people what hard evidence that Jane Fernandes cannot lead, they would fail to support it with valid facts. I was one of protester from the beginning before aggressive protesters come to spotlight. I am student of color think the process was flawed but because of vested interested in the whites, they never support us about stopping the process. They did baptized and anointed the process %u2013 yet fun enough they are not ready to accept the product of the process they advocated. I am sorry it is too late to talk of diversity.

[mairin1958-2009]

I think it is time for all of us to come together for the good of Gallaudet's future. Non-negotiable demands from either side get us further along the path to peace and reconciliation. Like Senator Barack Obama, I will have the "audacity of hope." I will hope that we can all come to the table and drop our defensive postures. I hope we can stop playing the blame game. To quote from Senator Obama inspiring book we have to come together "based on the simple idea that we all have a stake in one another, that what binds us together is greater than what drives us apart, and if enough people believe in the truth of that proposition and act on it, then we might not solve every problem, but we can get something meaningful done." I have been working with a group called The Reconcilers since this latest crisis began and I know there are concerned people, people of good will who love Gallaudet and want to see us come out of this a stronger, more vibrant community that embraces diversity. Lets start right here by stopping the personal attacks and start a constructive discourse. I know this can happen, I have seen it happen in my classes where all opinions are aired and all are respected. Sometimes we have to agree to disagree on some things and seek the common ground.

[nikkygally]

If Jane does not listen or show concern, LaToya Plummer would not have been give much needed financial assistance to come back to school after two years of leave of absence, even when her GPA is so low for her to be awarded a scholarship. If she was honest to her Mother, I am sure her mother will take a journey to Gallaudet and thank Jane Fernandes for what she did to her daughter. I think she enjoying affirmative action. It is no new that if the white want to talk about diversity in Gallaudet they would put a black person in frontline. Sad!

[nikkygally]

All comments here apparently show that Gallaudet University community is grievously divided. Whatsoever is your perspective, Jane remains admirable to many. Those who are looking for leader in Deaf community in US should turn their attention on National Association of the Deaf. Those who want leadership for deaf world or deaf sports world should take their attention on the World Federation of the Deaf and CISS respectively. It is interesting to know that LaToya is fighting for a cause she believes. Those who opposed her believed in their causes too, therefore why should be appropriate for the like of LaToya to lockdown the university against people who do not share their goal? LaToya who want to be a lawyer, I wonder how can she achieve that when she keep skipping class and failing for a month, not taking examinations and quizzes. I have two classes with her. That is really sad. She just is having spotlight and nothing more. As a black, she would be a role model, but unfortunate, she was stripped of her crown as Miss Black Deaf America. I am not going to be surprise if LaToya did not make it to school next semester for poor academic performance. Jane Fernandes is a STRONG leader.