Triumph of the Spirit: The DPN Chronicle

I wrote this book for two main reasons. First, it is a tribute to all the Deaf and hearing individuals who actively participated in the DPN movement, making it possible for a Deaf person to finally become president of Gallaudet University. I wanted to write a book that honors their efforts, reviving cherished memories and rekindling the joy of that extraordinary time. Secondly, I wrote this book to highlight the invaluable lessons learned during the DPN movement—Community 1st, Attitude, and Partners (CAP)—lessons that remain unknown to many. While the DPN movement led to the appointment of the first Deaf president at Gallaudet University and shattered a significant barrier, many barriers remain. Understanding and implementing the key lessons of the DPN movement will empower the Deaf communities, not just in the United States but worldwide, to successfully address those ongoing challenges. These lessons are not just relevant for Deaf individuals; they are also essential for hearing people. If you are a hearing person learning American Sign Language (ASL), training to become an interpreter or educator for Deaf students, or seeking to connect with the Deaf community, you need to understand the lessons of the DPN movement. If you want to gain acceptance within the Deaf community, you must embrace and practice the DPN principles—Community 1st, Attitude, and Partners. Failing to do so may lead to being an unaccepted member, regardless of your fluency in ASL. The lessons from the DPN movement extend beyond the Deaf community; they also apply to communities worldwide. Let me share a powerful example of this. Two fathers—an Israeli and a Palestinian—each lost a daughter due to the ongoing Hamas-Israeli conflict, which has claimed thousands of innocent lives, including children. Both fathers have suffered immense grief. Instead of focusing on their pain, they prioritized the struggle for peace and the well-being of their communities. They developed a positive attitude toward each other. They formed a beautiful friendship, all to secure peace and help fellow parents, both Israelis and Palestinians, who have endured similar grief and pain. If they can embrace the principles of Community 1st, Attitude, and Partners to uplift their communities, you can too. The importance of applying the lessons of the DPN movement in other communities became more critical as I wrote this third edition in 2025 amid global turmoil and uncertainty. Nowhere is this unrest more evident than in the United States, where the current government is perceived to be undermining American democracy and steering the nation toward fascism. The government threatens universities, law firms, the courts, and the public press. It undermines the rights of individuals, including those in the LGBTQ+ community, women, and anyone who disagrees with the government. The government attacks endanger two foundational pillars of American democracy—free speech and due process—jeopardizing the very essence of our democratic way of life. As Dr. Michael Roth, President of Wesleyan University, stated, "Free speech, diversity, inclusion, and equity [are all] under attack. We need to protect them from people who want to ... control our lives. We need to defend our freedoms because if we don't, they'll be taken away." How can we defend our freedoms? By embracing the teachings of DPN: Community 1st, Attitude, and Partners. Regardless of our political affiliations, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, or nationalities, we must prioritize the welfare of our country above personal interests, respect one another, and unite as partners with a shared goal—to protect our freedoms and uphold our democracy. If we don't, our freedoms and democracy "will be taken away."

We may never know the answer to that question. What I do know is that receiving the news through a press release felt like a slap in the face to all of us waiting outside the gym for updates. We were all expecting one of the two Deaf candidates to be selected, and the announcement, via a press release, was so disrespectful and unexpected that it made everyone furious. When the president of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) urged the students to march to the Mayflower Hotel, where the Board of Trustees was meeting, no one moved. But when Jerry Covell shouted for the students to “MARCH!”, they sprang into action, took over the streets and marched to the Mayflower. A deeper question lingers: if Jerry had said nothing, would the students have marched at all? Would Spilman have made the infamous quote, "Deaf people are not ready to function in a hearing world"?

Some members of the Deaf and hearing community have forgotten, or never learned, why the DPN movement was successful. There are three major lessons from the DPN movement—Community 1st, Attitude, and Partners (CAP)—lessons that remain forgotten or unknown to many. Understanding and implementing the key lessons of the DPN movement will empower the Deaf communities, not just in the United States but worldwide, to successfully address ongoing challenges. The #1 reason the DPN movement succeeded was because everyone worked together - Deaf people and hearing people, Gay/Lesbians and straight people, White/Anglos and people of color. Everyone respected each other despite the differences in beliefs and ethnicities, and hearing. It was beautiful to see and be a part of. Years later, we are back to division, some Deaf people against hearing people. We can't succeed this way. We MUST embrace the lessons of the DPN movement—Community 1st, Attitude, and Partners—to be successful in our struggle for equality.

None—absolutely none. The students, faculty, staff, community members, and hearing partners who participated in the Deaf President Now (DPN) protest were incredibly respectful of Gallaudet's property. While we did take control of the alumni building, known as 'Ol Jim, we caused no damage to it. The Gallaudet administration was also very respectful toward the students during the DPN protest. This stood in stark contrast to the second protest, when President Jordan had students arrested and even allowed horse manure to be dumped near their tents.

Some Deaf people are accepting, some are not. For many Deaf people, the most important criterion is a hearing person's ATTITUDE. Does the hearing person treat Deaf people as equals? I talk extensively about the importance of attitude as a major criterion to be accepted into the Deaf community. The use of a CI by a Deaf person does not change whether they are accepted members of the Deaf Community or not. It is all about their ATTITUDE. If a Deaf person with a CI believes they are superior to Deaf people because they can hear better, and speak better, many people in the Deaf Community will not accept them. For example, I speak excellently and wear a hearing aid. Despite not knowing sign language or Deaf culture and having no prior involvement in the Deaf community, when I first entered the Deaf community, they welcomed me. My instant membership in the Deaf community came solely from participating in a Deaf community activity. More importantly, the Deaf community fully accepted me as a member. The reason for this is rooted in my ATTITUDE. Although I could speak, many of my friends did not, and despite holding a college degree while they did not, I never considered myself superior to them. Instead, I regarded my Deaf friends as my equals. Thanks to my positive ATTITUDE, the members of the Deaf community welcomed me with open arms. They taught me American Sign Language (ASL), educated me about Deaf culture, and accepted me wholeheartedly. Meeting Deaf people and becoming a member of the Deaf community changed my life. I consider myself incredibly blessed for this experience.

The protest began with students using their cars to block the entrances to Gallaudet. However, when the students left to meet with legislators at the Capitol, police towed the cars, ticketed them, and even caused some damage. When the students returned and discovered their cars had been towed, they were understandably upset. As a doctoral student at Gallaudet, I attended the student meeting that evening and suggested they establish a fund to cover the tickets and repairs. I also assured them that the Gallaudet faculty and staff would surely donate money for this cause. Tim Rarus, one of the student leaders, knew me and nominated me for chairperson of the fund. The students appointed me by acclamation. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time—with the right recommendation.

Attitude, attitude, attitude. It all comes down to attitude. To become a member of any community, including the Deaf community, a person needs to do three things: learn the language (American Sign Language or ASL), understand the culture (Deaf culture), and actively engage in the community (the Deaf community). While doing these three things may allow someone to enter the Deaf community, it doesn't guarantee acceptance. Deaf individuals primarily evaluate a hearing person's attitude as the main criterion for acceptance. For instance, some interpreters possess exceptional interpreting skills, but if their attitude is poor, Deaf people often choose not to work with them or associate with them at all. Conversely, some interpreters are new and still learning, yet their positive attitudes earn them a warm welcome and acceptance from the Deaf community.