Deaf President Now Movement

What was the movement?

The movement was called "Deaf President Now," and it was a student protest after the University's Board of Trustees selected a hearing person over a deaf person as Gallaudet's seventh president after the deaf community advocated for a deaf president and two of the three finalists for the position were deaf.

When was the movement?

The protest started on March 6th, 1988, until March 13th, 1968.

Where was the movement?

The movement was at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC.

Why did this movement happen?

This movement happened the day the Board of Trustees announced its decision to appoint a hearing candidate, Elizabeth Zinser, over the other highly qualified Deaf candidates, Irving King Jordan and Harvey Corson, as it's the seventh president. Many Gallaudet students, backed by several alumni, staff, and faculty, shut down the campus. Protesters barricaded gates, burned effigies, and gave the press interviews demanding four specific concessions from the Board. The protesters were upset because the community needed a deaf president, and they had the nerve to select a hearing man out of two deaf candidates.

Who helped this movement happen?

There is no specific leader for this movement, mostly Gallaudet students, staff, and alumni.

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