In April of 1997 I had the opportunity to visit Gallaudet University for 5 days with 12 other ASL/Interpreting and Deaf Ed. students. It was a very exciting time for us as we had learned so much about this school and of course we wanted to tour DC.
The following year I went back to Gallaudet with 17 other University of South Florida students as well as 12 students from a local community college in Tampa, Florida. We stayed for a week in the dorms, which gave us the opportunity to interact more with Gallaudet University students who were living in the dorms. Staying in the dorms on campus also gave us more of a student based experience and what student life is like at Gallaudet University.
It just so happend that while we were there, Gallaudet was celebrating the 10th aniversary of the "Deaf President Now" movement. We were there during the actual week it took placing ten years ago, March 7th-13th. Banners were hung up on campus buildings, DPN 10 flags blew in the air with vibrant colors of red, blue, green, yellow proclaiming a victory won, people from all around came to celebrate.
I can't speak for the others on the trip but it was a very inspiring time for me. Although I am hearing I appreciate the vitality of the students, the spirit and pride and the desire to be heard and accepted. The University is like any other University, students filling the grounds with laughter and spirit, friendships that last a lifetime being created as well as relationships in all forms growing and changing. Due to the heightened excitement of DPN 10, the campus didn't seem to sleep much as activities were set to commemorate DPN 10; the campus was full of life and energy.
March 7th there was a DPN 10 Gala at the Hyatt Regency. Students, staff, faculty and supporters attended the event dressed in their finest and in high spirits. Workshops were also setup during the week along with a conference that gave students an opportunity to meet Dr. Elizabeth Zinser, the hearing president who was hired 10 years ago that set fire to the beginning of DPN. Zinser stated that it was a very special time in her life, and that she felt proud to be part of something so significant. She also stated that her name sign was the most important part of her credentials and she thanked the students for that.
