New Mexico for FSSA

Wa-hooooo!!!

2006-10-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

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!

2006-10-26T16:39:00.000-06:00

Sunday Update from Carla Garcia

2006-10-26T16:37:00.000-06:00

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

2006-10-21T21:03:00.000-06:00

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

2006-10-21T21:02:00.000-06:00

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

2006-10-21T20:59:00.000-06:00

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

2006-10-20T19:24:00.000-06:00

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

2006-10-20T14:11:00.000-06:00

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

2006-10-20T11:23:00.000-06:00

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!

2006-10-18T08:44:00.000-06:00

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!

2006-10-17T12:10:00.000-06:00

**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

2006-10-16T15:18:00.000-06:00

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!

2006-10-16T11:11:00.000-06:00

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

2006-10-16T08:56:00.000-06:00

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!!

2006-10-16T08:52:00.000-06:00

NM FSSA SATURDAY BBQ PICTURES!

2006-10-15T20:41:00.000-06:00

Dedicated to FSSA and the protestors!

IN ACTION AGAIN! UPDATE

2006-10-15T20:31:00.001-06:00

Hello Everyone,

NM FSSA would like for all FSSA supporters to meet Tues Oct 17 at around 7 pm, after the volleyball game. Location of meeting to be determined- check this blog for updates or find someone at the gym who would know.

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.

GO GALLAUDET FSSA!!!!!!

Video!

2006-10-15T16:19:00.000-06:00

Things We, the Alumni, Can Do for FSSA

2006-10-14T20:23:00.000-06:00

(Special thanks to Delia Lozano-Mtz and Rebecca Goldenbaum for sharing this)

1. Donate $$$ to FSSA
2. Raise money for FSSA through bake sales, a-thons, car washes – be creative!
3. Donate needed supplies to FSSA (refer to list on www.gufssa.com
4. Walk, drive, or fly to Gallaudet as soon as you can to join in on the protest!
5. Come and prepare nuturious meals for the protesters
6. Collect donations to order catering food service to feed the protestors
7. Offer your expertise (making posters and/or banners, etc)
8. Offer emotional support- joke, laugh or cry with them
9. Offer to take up protestors’ shifts so that they can eat, sleep & recuperate!
10. Offer transportation for out-of-town alumni
11. MD/VA/DC Alumni: offer lodging for out-of-town alumni
12. Give a shout-out to your alumni friends to come to the Homecoming
13. Reply to I. King Jordan's open letter to the alumni and CC the BOT, FSSA, GUAA 14. Write to the Board of Trustees
15. Take advantage of any connections you may have with individuals on BOTs- get them to understand the real issues
16. Call your local Senator (contact info found here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
17. Contact your local Representative (contact info found here: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml:
18. Establish an Open Forum in your local community and encourage discussion to raise awareness
19. Empower parents of Gallaudet students to express their voice (they truly are our “sleeping giants”)
20. Host local rallies to boost spirit and determination to keep on fighting!
21. Invite your local media and newspapers to cover the rally
22. Join your local GUAA chapter
23. Set up a local GUAA chapter if your area does not have one
24. Create vlogs to post online to offer support and encouragement for the protesters
25. Make time to videophone our fellow protesters to let them know you care
26. Write editorials for your local newspaper in support of the protest
27. Be In The Know! Read www.gufssa.org for updates
28. Keep updated through Gallaudet student Elisa’s blog: www.elisawrites.com
29. Find inside information and ammunition for the battle at www.RidorLive.com
30. Get in touch with other alumni that may not have access to blogs, vlogs, etc and help them understand the gravity of the crisis at Gallaudet
31. Withhold monetary donations to Gallaudet
32. Cancel your monthly electronic contributions
33. Send a VOIDED check to Gallaudet University Alumni Relations in any amount and write "Not Until JKF Resigns!" in the signature line.
34. Cancel any subscriptions from Gallaudet
35. Seek out alumni interested in serving on the Board
36. Purchase "Unity for Gallaudet" T-shirts
37. Purchase a MoeArt T-shirt or item at www.cafepress.com/moeart
38. Boycott from shopping at Gallaudet University Bookstore
39. Boycott from ordering materials from Gallaudet University Press
40. REACH OUT TO YOUR FELLOW ALUMNI & COME TOGETHER TO TAKE BACK GALLAUDET!

We are with you!

2006-10-14T12:50:00.001-06:00

To those who are fighting for what is right! NM is with you! We will be there physically this week! Hang in there! Do not give up!
Why? Of course, our colors are BUFF AND BLUE!

From NM for FSSA!

2006-10-14T12:50:00.000-06:00

Tent City BBQ Today!

2006-10-14T12:12:00.000-06:00

We will have NM for FSSA BBQ on the front lawn of NMSD.
Come one, come all! We need to rally together and show our profound support for the FSSA and the protest at Gallaudet...it is no longer FSSA alone---people around the world are watching and joining!
So join us and we hope to see you all there!

Where: NMSD Time: 4:30 What: Support FSSA
Bring your own picnic and drinks (non-alcoholic, of course)
If you can, bring your grillThanks!

If you need to contact anyone, please feel free to contact me at nmforfssa@blogspot.comAngie Geffen Representative of NM for FSSA

The 2nd Day of NM Tent City

2006-10-14T00:16:00.001-06:00

Santa Fe has this particular cleansing smell in the wind. It washes over you like the rain. From the tents, you can see the stars clearly and we're not even out of the city. It's a beautiful engima, camping near downtown in the cold..but more beautiful is the reason for doing so.

UNITY FOR GALLAUDET!

Tonight Tent City will have started its weekend of support. Many of us people in NM are constantly reading blogs, websites and pager messages to stay updated on the situation in D.C

Tonight, a 100+ students were arrested by order of King Jordan. They are all safe and will be bailed out but they need our support! Tomorrow, Faculty, staff and alumni will meet the students to continue the protest.

From here in the tent, I call to you NEW MEXICANS! Share your pride, share your love.

You can donate money to NM For FSSA to send our rep, Angie Geffen to DC. You can also donate money and other supplies directly to Gallaudet University FSSA to support their fight.
Tent City here at NM will be open "24/7" so come to visit, stay a while or even spend the night!

Remember.. THIS IS OUR FUTURE!!!

D. Valverde, DE, Class '01

Pictures of Today

2006-10-12T16:26:00.000-06:00

FSSA Representative Angie Geffen explaining the purpose of the Town Hall meeting, which is to bring students up to speed as to what's happening at Gallaudet and to educate them about the First Amendment.

The audience looking on

Cliff Geffen presenting the pro-Fernandes perspective to students in order to give them both sides of the story.

Karlin Hummel and Scott Vollmar summing up the views of many student and alumni-- 1) That JKF resign & the presidential search be reopened and 2) No reprisals for students & faculty.

Rally for Gallaudet

2006-10-12T13:17:00.000-06:00

There will be a rally starting at 12:30 pm Friday, October 13th on the NMSD campus. Come one, come all!

Introducing Tent City, NM!

2006-10-12T13:10:00.000-06:00

Good Afternoon to all!

Five people, Karlin Hummel, Carla Garcia, Laura Willey-Saunders, Scott Vollmar, and myself presented information & updates on the protest at Gallaudet to NMSD students during lunchtime. It was a short and sweet town hall meeting to explain what the protest is all about and why it is happening. We also wanted to explain why it is important for us to show our support to FSSA and the protest. There are thousands of people all over the world who are showing it by establishing a Tent City and submitting their letters of support. It is becoming world wide now--- We also want to let them know that it is important to us because it doesn’t impact those who attended or graduated from Gallaudet…it impacts the deaf community.

We explained about the establishment of NM's Tent City to show our support for FSSA and its cause. This will continue into next week because we hope to teach our students the purpose of a protest and the Freedom of Speech and also cover the issues of oppression. We realize that there may be some individuals who are either neutral about the protest or disagree with the protest…those individuals are welcome to present their point of view if they so desire.

Here's to a more educated student population!

Unity for Gallaudet!

Angie Geffen: FSSA Representative

Laura Willey-Saunders: Mayor of Tent City

Tent City in New Mexico

2006-10-11T17:26:00.000-06:00

NM is excited to inform everyone that we will establish tent city to show support for its purposes! More information and pictures to come!
Angie Geffen, FSSA rep.

New Mexico for FSSA

Wa-hooooo!!!

Photos from last weekend at Gallaudet!

Sunday Update from Carla Garcia

Update from Donna Valverde

More updates from Carla Garcia

Update from Carla Garcia

Saturday's Event Postponed

Update from Carla Garcia

Update from Angie Geffen

Donate! Donate! Donate!

Information on Tonight's Meeting!

NM's GUAA Chapter

More Donations Needed!

Posting on this Blog

We Are Behind You, Gallaudet Students!!

NM FSSA SATURDAY BBQ PICTURES!

IN ACTION AGAIN! **UPDATE**

Video!

Things We, the Alumni, Can Do for FSSA

We are with you!

Tent City BBQ Today!

The 2nd Day of NM Tent City

Pictures of Today

Rally for Gallaudet

Introducing Tent City, NM!

Tent City in New Mexico

IN ACTION AGAIN! UPDATE