Tawny Holmes–Hlibok, Associate Professor, Deaf Studies Department
To Gallaudet students — and to those of us responsible for stewarding this university.
I wanted to share that many of us who love Gallaudet — alumni including many who work here as faculty and staff— have been reflecting on recognizing how Gallaudet University is unique in how it’s not just a place to learn and prepare for careers. We all know how there is a hidden curriculum, e.g. the student experience which is unparallel and unrivaled.
Yes, student experience- how is that built? Students help shape the university through tackling new initiatives and continuing campus traditions, both current and many many generations before. That is the magic of Gallaudet University. That cannot be ignored nor erased because that is the Gallaudet Way.
Yes, the university is yours, students. Students should be trusted to govern themselves, to take initiative, and yes, sometimes to learn through mistakes. That is part of the journey. That means we should make sure we ensure to encourage and support them. The narrative that “students today are different” should never become an excuse to lower expectations of their capability. We don’t agree.
Instead, we need to ensure students receive clear, timely and solid information that allows them to make decisions, discuss among themselves, organize, and lead. And they deserve opportunities to learn through real responsibility. One example is when Student Academic Center was built over 20 years ago, there was a vision with intent to promote real student-led responsibility. When you enter the Bison Shop aka bookstore, you see clothes and books on the left, and snacks, drinks and essentials on the right. That was designed intentionally. If you look up between the two areas, you will see a metal runner on the ceiling for a separator metal curtain. The vision was for while the full store would be open during the day and close in the late afternoon, a metal store separator curtain would be pulled between the two areas with a lock, then students would then take full responsibility of running the store with essentials for what hours would be best for students instead of having to go off campus.
Also, looking back to earlier decades like the 80s, students helped run what you now know as the office of Student Experience and Leadership (SEL) taking full ownership of approving events, reviewing flyers, supporting organizations and taking care of logistics. These weren’t symbolic roles — they were real leadership laboratories- which still can happen. That means what? We all need to think mindfully about how we can ensure that we don’t overlook golden opportunities. We, alumni, see you, students, and the fire in each of you to make changes, do something different, make progress- that energy matters- that is truly part of the culture here, the Gallaudet way.
And that also means what? To those of us who work here — faculty, staff and university leadership- we can take the time to think how we can promote, grow and empower that energy.
Not to reduce everything to compliance and minimum requirements.
Not to hover over it, constantly check, including Facetiming.
Not to dim it.
THAT is not the Gallaudet way.
Instead, what we can do instead is to when we see students and their enthusiasm, we quickly provide them with kindling and wood of information and support from a respectable distance to ensure students feel empowered to lead positive change and improvements at the University with the aim for them to thrive and grow into leaders for our global community which fits the Gallaudet Promise. That has always been the Gallaudet way. Let’s make a concerted effort to return to it.