Wa-hooooo!!!

Dr. Jane Fernandes is NO LONGER President-designate of Gallaudet University! The Board of Trustees came through at long last and terminated her!!

Hard work DOES pay off (as Tent City Mayor Chris Corrigan stated last night)!!!

Thank you so much, NM-FSSA supporters! Our support of the FSSA was but a small part of the vast support going their way.

Do your part! Become a GUAA member! Donate to GUAA! Make sure we have more say in future decisions that have a huge impact on Gallaudet and its future!

More soon about a wrap-up rally in Albuquerque. Details are still being worked out.

UNITY for GALLAUDET!

Photos from last weekend at Gallaudet!

Sunday Update from Carla Garcia

Sunday: Weather was cold today.



I walked around the campus to see different perspectives of students. I met students who watched gates 24 hours at the Kendall and MSSD area.



I spoke with a sophomore guy who is from South Carolina school for the deaf. I asked him if he is okay and that i just want to check with all students. He said he has been arrested.. He wanted to stay until all the protest is over. He slept in a nearby tent while the others watch overnight. He said he has no idea what will happen next- just that Jane needs to resign.



My visit to MSSD gate: i met a guy who graduated from CSD Fremont. He was angry and I could feel his pain. He brought tears to my eyes and my heart turned heavy. I listened to him as he shared his frustration. He mentioned that he is a graduate student and aim to become a teacher of the deaf. He said he tried very hard to focus on his studies but could not. He said that the groundskeepers drove by and said they need to trim trees nearby. Students allowed them drive through but to their dismay, the grounds men cut three trees so the video camera can have better view of the students who guard the gate. It upset them because they were ordered to kill big trees just for that. The Department of Public Safety (campus police) also called the fire truck to come in but sirens to be off. Upon their arrival, the fireman watered off the grill filled with coals that keep the students warm. DPS and the firefighter left laughing. The guy said, he wants to withdraw GU but I told him to have patience and faith. After a lengthy conversation, I gave him a hug because I could see he needs it.



Knowing that I will leave back for Santa Fe tomorrow morning, I went back to the tent city and fixed NM banner to make sure it stands tall and sturdy. The NM flag is waving and showing our support toward Gallaudet protest. I picked up trash in the front of the campus and help serve food to the protesters.



In the afternoon, I went to rest and told myself that I am ready to go home because it is so hard after seeing three ambulances in the front of the tent city checking students under the tent: Hunger for strike.



The protest will remain until Jane leaves.



Unity for Gallaudet!

Update from Donna Valverde

Wow, its 3pm and soon rally will start. I'm sorry I haven't been in
touch. My pgr died n there's no way 2 charge it except inside Fowler
Hall so I'm here now.

Am gonna look for a place I can hide the pgr while it recharges.

I got here 2am after a 2 hr shuttle ride to a quiet tent city. There
were 3 house parties and many ppl went to enjoy themselves. They had
small groups and alumni guarding the gates. I finally got to Gally at 4
after meeting friends. Its such a surreal exp with flads, tents and etc.
Not the Gally were used to but I am definitely inspired.

This am 730 ppl started 2 meet. We had short chants "JKF out" and
organized the march. Students 1st, then parents then alumni n supporters
with a truck carrying ppl on hunger strike. We marched 2 the capitol and
it felt so short but ppl were definitely watching. A TIME reporter was
there among other media. DC police helped pave the way safely. When we
arrived we all stood and watched the 5 student leaders speak, 1 parent
and the NDBA rep, as well as Tim Rarus and Greg Hilbok and NaD prez
Beth..
Talked about BoT need 2 come, not giving up, unity, growth and
evolving..

Some BOT are at alda conf in st louis..we need 2 get them there..

Did chants ..leaders say BoT we say wake up, then jkf, resign; galllyi
unity

Then hunger strike talked about why they r doing it.

Then done..we split to eat at union station..now at gally again..for
rally..tonite alumni will guard gates from 2am to 6 ..have diffy shifts
really..hc is still on at espn zone so we are letting the students go n
enjoy themselves

More later when pager recharges

More updates from Carla Garcia

Wow, very march was powerful. Approx 800 I think or 1,000 don't want
to
overexaggerate. :)

People who spoke out:
Fssa leaders
Stundents on stike
Nad prex
Guaa prex
Hearing parent of arrested daughter
Deaf parent of arreested son
Greg hlibok
Tim rarus
Chants...gally unites, gally unites, gally unites

More rally at 3pm..

Guaa mtg- not sure if still on. See see

Beautiful day!! :)

Update from Carla Garcia

Wow! it feels so good serving many cold hungry protesters. Many thanks
to raychelle, abenicio, gabe, delia who helped me serve frito pie and
many people who never have tasted it said it was delicious. :) we served
abt 150- 200 people.
~Carla

Saturday's Event Postponed

Hello all.

The fundraiser potluck scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) from 11-1:00 has been postponed until further notice. Thanks and see you soon!

Update from Carla Garcia

Updated info!

**********************************************************************
Rally starts now.

Tawnya: BOT have accountability therefore they need to resolve this sit.
Asap.

Sat march to capitol hill at 8am.

Jane recently send an article to w post saying hat fac doesn't run the univ. Fssa said whoa, we all fac, students, alumni do have something with this univ.

Delia: we are not gonna give it to jane. We are gonna fight and fight.
Wow she did great!!

They recommened that if students talk with media to say same stories.

Rally again tonite at 8pm.

Don't give up.

Then Andy mentioned that he ordered a huge tent from a company for this weekend - but Jordan said NOO!!

And there will be an alumni rally at 3pm today.

Delia anounced my presence, geez, and I was unprepared but told the crowd that nm donated chili and beans. Students waved their hands excitingly that dinner will be served. Raychelle bought items for the frito pie. 188.00 I have 80.00 cash for her but not sure what leftover money will come for her.

Now prepping food for tonight.
~Carla

Update from Angie Geffen

Yeah will email ltr today - now go to gally- sorry no access to computer
yesterday- wash post says jk won't resign- so now we will meet again and rally tonight- fac will take over for stidents as well as alumnis- we will serve frito pies according to raychelle and
carla- so many important ppl here- our banners r up and looks good- its rainy here-supposed to stop soon- then will be in 60s 7 out of 17 board members r wanting jk to resign - need 4 more to call a mtg to discuss
concerns- but no 4 ppl coming forward ugh- fac will march tonight I think not sure- they dfont say much bec want to keep ikj and jk on their
toes- yesterday supposed to hv press conference at 4 but jk and ikj stole the press so we didn't hv one- its dog eat dog now- more to come! I hv pixs of rally yesterday will take more- bear with me!
Smiles forward this to others

Donate! Donate! Donate!

If you wish to make donations, there are two organizations that could really use some help: NM-FSSA and FSSA.

What's the difference? you may ask.

NM-FSSA is not an official organization but it represents New Mexicans who support the protest at Gallaudet. We have two representatives, Angie Geffen and Carla Garcia, who are flying out today/tomorrow to Washington DC. As of now, they have paid for the tickets out of their own pocket and any other expenses are going to be out of their pocket also.

Donations to NM-FSSA will go towards helping our representatives out financially since they are there in order to repesent all of us New Mexicans who cannot be at Gallaudet in person. Any left over money will be donated to FSSA or GUAA.

Now, for FSSA. FSSA is the official organization formed of Gallaudet Faculty, Staff, Students & Alumni and is the voice for everyone who disagrees with how the presidential search process was conducted, the administration's treatment of dissenting students, and all of the events that have transpired since the protest started again this fall. FSSA is in desperate need of donations in order to provide students and others involved with food, drinks, warm clothing & blankets, and hygiene supplies.

Donation process:

To donate to NM-FSSA, please contact Terry Wilding (NM-GUAA treasurer). He will accept donations made out in the name of NMGUAA and keep those separate from regular NMGUAA funds. If you write a check, please write it to NMGUAA (but write "for NMFSSA" on the bottom. Cash is also accepted.

To donate to FSSA, there are two options. Karlin Hummel, NMSD's history teacher, teaches leadership class and the class has decided to fundraise $1,500 for FSSA. You may contact Karlin directly here to express your interest in making a donation.

If you would prefer to donate to FSSA directly, here is the link. Click on 'Donate' from there.

Thank you for being generous!

UNITY for GALLAUDET!

Information on Tonight's Meeting!

**UPDATE**

Tonight's meeting has been moved to 7 pm at RAC. 7 pm is an approximate time, as the meeting will take place after the volleyball game.

We need to discuss some things to determine the goals of NM FSSA. Would like to have all of you there so we can show complete ROADRUNNER support!

Agenda:
1) use of Donations to FSSA or FSSA reps
2) vlog our support with someone signing a message to FSSA (best to do this with MANY bodies in sight)
3) Level and type of support we want to give
4) An all-welcome 1 night camp out on Fri nite to show support to FSSA during Gallaudet's HC weekend

ANYONE AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME! DEAF OR HEARING, GALAUDET ALUMNI OR NOT, CHILD OR ADULT! COME ALL! Send a rep from your family if need to.

SEE YOU THERE!

NM's GUAA Chapter

The NM Chapter of GUAA is small. The numbers of members don't match the numbers of actual Alumni who live in New Mexico.

Being an alumni does not mean you must have already graudated from Gallaudet. You can have been enrolled there for just one semester or more to be considered an alumni. What's more, GUAA is not limited to alumni only. Friends of Gallaudet are also more than welcome to join.

The more members NM-GUAA has, the louder our voice can be.

NM-GUAA also needs more members in order to have more funds-- those funds are currently being used for scholarships but could be used for donations to FSSA, NMforFSSA, and GUAA.

Membership dues are $20 for 2 years (singles) or $40 for 2 years (couples).

Please contact Scott Mohan, NM-GUAA Vice President if you need more information.
(Click on Scott Mohan's name and you will be able to email him)

More Donations Needed!

Before I got my job at NMSD last August, I was a Gallaudet student and I was there when they announced the new 9^th Gallaudet University President. The announcement surely SHOOK the Gallaudet community! Before the announcement, tension built up as the staff and the students became concerned about Gallaudet Univeristy’s future if JKF was selected. During the selection process, we discussed JKF’s future leadership and even published our concerns in the Gallaudet University ’s newspaper, the Buff and Blue, and included the poll by faculty, staff and students. The BOT knew about our concerns but THEY selected JKF! It is a fact that BOT DID not listen to us in thefirst place when they said they would consider our input! Still to this day!

This has a personal impact on my life, even after I have graduated from Gallaudet and moved here to New Mexico . Currently, several of my family members are at Gallaudet University .

FSSA has been asking for more donations such as blankets, hot drinks and etc as the winter is coming really soon. They do not give up!

Please send a payment check to :

“Friends of the Tent City ”

PO Box 560

Middletown , MD 21769

OR give a check to NM FSSA Representive, Carla Garica and Angie Geffen.

Please follow-up this blog for incoming rally in New Mexico !

Please support FSSA!

Unity for Gallaudet!

Jenny Reins, Class of 1994

Posting on this Blog

Hi folks.

This blog is intended for informational purposes, but please feel free to contribute your opinions, news, or feedback. If you wish to post a few words pictures, or share information, please email nmforfssa@yahoo.com and we will post when we can.

*subject to screening if necessary

Thanks!

The Web Folks

We Are Behind You, Gallaudet Students!!