1. 4/11/17 Have you ever heard of Deaf President Now?
What do you think it is? What do you think it has to do with Deaf history? Write your answers on your warmup paper.
4/11/17

2. DPN Protest

3. DPN Protest DPN: Deaf President Now Where: Gallaudet University
When: March 6, 1988
DPN Protest

4. On March 6, 1988, by the University's Board of Trustees announced that a hearing person had been selected as Gallaudet's seventh president.
What Sparked DPN?

5. Elisabeth Zinser was the 7th hearing president.

6. Leading up this date, many in the deaf community and on campus had advocated for a deaf person to be named to the presidency.
Two of the three finalists for the position were deaf.
What Sparked DPN?

7. Leading up to the announcement
March 1, 1988 was a crucial date in the history of DPN. It was the day of the first fully organized rally, the event that inspired many students to join the movement.
Leading up to the announcement

8. More than 1,000 University students, elementary and high school students from the University's Pre-College Programs, staff, faculty, alumni, and members from the local deaf community participated in the rally.

10. The reaction on campus ranged from disbelief to anger
The crowd that had gathered to learn the Board's decision began to mill about. Several hundred spilled out onto Florida Avenue in front of the campus and blocked traffic.
Sunday March 6th, 1988

11. Students made their demands.
Monday March 7th, 1988

12. Elisabeth Zinser must resign and a deaf person selected president;
Jane Spilman must step down as chairperson of the Board of Trustees;
deaf people must constitute a 51% majority on the Board; and
there would no reprisals against any student or employee involved in the protest.
Student Demands

13. On this morning, the gates were re-opened and people were allowed to come and go.
The students boycotted classes and attended rallies and speeches instead.
At the same time, the faculty convened a meeting to discuss among themselves what to do.
Tuesday March 8th, 1988

14. The day began with an early morning meeting between a small group from Gallaudet and Congressmen David Bonior of Michigan and Steve Gunderson of Wisconsin, both members of the University's Board of Trustees.
Zinser and I. King Jordan then went to the National Press Club, where Spilman had just begun a press conference. It was at this press conference that Jordan publicly announced his endorsement and support of Zinser.
Wednesday March 9th, 1988

15. Greg Hlibok, one of the four student leaders, appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America." Amid speculation that Zinser and Spilman were going to force their way onto campus, the students drove Gallaudet school buses to the gates of the campus and deflated the tires.
Rallies were held all day.
Thursday March 10th, 1988

16. As the news broke about Zinser's resignation, there was a decidedly festive atmosphere on campus.
Since only a portion of the first demand—that Zinser resign and a deaf president be named in her place—had been achieved, students began wearing buttons with "3 ½" on them, signifying that there were only 3 ½ demands left to go
Friday March 11th, 1988

17. Saturday was a day of rest
Saturday was a day of rest. The weather was balmy for the middle of March and many on campus attended afternoon barbecues and an all-day arts festival.
Saturday March 12th, 1988

18. Sunday March 13th, 1988 Spilman had resigned
Bravin was named the next chair of the Board of Trustees
A taskforce would be set up to determine the best way to achieve a 51% deaf majority on the Board
No reprisals ... and
Dr. I. King Jordan was named eighth president —and first deaf president— of Gallaudet University.
Sunday March 13th, 1988

19. DPN Lasted 8 days.