Protesters took over the entire campus of Gallaudet University on Wednesday, forcing the administration to cancel classes and intensifying the conflict over the school’s next president.
It was the seventh day of demonstrations at the nation’s premier school for the deaf.
The protesters who had barricaded themselves inside the main classroom building Friday advanced to the rest of the campus early Wednesday morning. The demonstrators formed a “human barricade” at the main entrance and used their vehicles to block off alternative entries.
The protesters demand that school begin a new search for president. They say incoming president Jane Fernandes is a poor manager and poor leader and insensitive to their complaints that there are not enough deaf teachers and administrators.
“We want the oppression to stop,” graduatestudent Ryan Commerson said. “We want people to understand our pain. With the pain, we can not continue our education. It’s not constructive.”
The protests shut down classes for the 1,900 university students, plus about 200 students from two grade schools that are housed on campus.
A counter-group of students and faculty are trying to get the protesters to open the school for classes.
Student David King said he respects the students’ right to protest, but he opposes actions that disrupt teaching and learning.
“They are interfering with our rights to learn,” King said. “We want them to open gates to education.”
He has asked the protesters to let the students back into the classes, but he said they refused. King’s group has about 60 students, but many are afraid to come forward, he said. King said he’s been called traitor and worse.
Meanwhile, more than 100 students crowded at the school’s main drive Wednesday afternoon. Students, including members of the football team, locked themselves arm-in-arm behind a yellow rope. Leaders hopped on the brick gateway and gave highly animated speeches in sign-language while one student banged on a large drum.
