Gallaudet Students Block Campus Building

By LUBNA TAKRURI
Associated Press Writer

Protests over Gallaudet University's choice for president of the school for the deaf escalated Friday as about 200 students blocked access to a campus building.

Students at Gallaudet began blockading the campus building Thursday night in protest of the selection of Provost Jane Fernandes as president. Many stood on the stairs in the rain, holding signs with slogans such as "Stop the Oppression."

Fernandes was selected last spring to take over beginning in January, sparking student protests and a no-confidence vote from the faculty. Students renewed their protests this week.

Her critics say that the selection process was unfair and that Fernandes lacks the leadership skills needed for the job. She has contended that some people do not consider her "deaf enough" to be president - she was born deaf but grew up speaking and did not learn American Sign Language until she was 23 ...

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