Greetings Fellow Gallaudetians,
With another historic protest currently underway at Kendall Green, we wanted to share with you progress we have made thus far:
NEW WEBSITE
GUAA-MN now has a new website you can check for updates on chapter activities:
http://www.freewebs.com/mnguaa
Thanks to Secretary Amy Mercer for building the web site.
GUAA MEETING
What was originally planned as a meeting for GUAA-MN officers last Sunday turned out to be a stimulating meeting for GUAA members on Friday at Thompson Hall, after Lisa Ewan, ’97, encouraged Sean Virnig to set up the meeting. Thanks, Lisa!
The meeting was announced on Friday noon, and approximately 30 showed up a couple hours later. Dr. Richard Lytle, Education Department professor and chair was in town on business and made time to join us. During the meeting, Dr. Lytle shared with us information on the protest upon we acted. That resulted in a successful rally less than 48 hours later.
FSSA MINNESOTA REPRESENTATIVE
During the Friday meeting, we agreed to select Barb Hussey, ’98, as our new FSSA representative. For the time being, she is the contact person for all activities pertinent to the protest.
GALLY RALLY AT THOMPSON HALL
www.joeybaer.com
http://www.xanga.com/lylak
Heartfelt appreciation and thanks to Barb, Jack Busenbark, Amy Mercer, Albert Walla and many others for making the rally a success. Thanks to Sonny and Lisa Wasilowski for submitting pictures of the meeting and rally. This also goes to Doug Bahl and Thompson Hall house committee.
$1,000 TO NATIONAL GUAA OFFICE
Anna Virnig, ’97, President
Sean Virnig, ’96, Vice-President
Amy Mercer, ’02, Secretary
Albert Walla, ’75, Treasurer
Media Contact: Barbara Hussey, FSSA Representative
Minnesota Alumni Chapter Holds Rally in Support
of Gallaudet University Protests
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Paul, MN – In response to the protest held at Gallaudet University in
Washington, D.C., the Minnesota chapter of the Gallaudet University Alumni
Association (GUAA) is holding a rally at St. Paul’s historical landmark Charles
Thompson Hall on Sunday, Oct. 8.
Gallaudet faculty, staff, students and alumni have been leading protests since
May, in response to the university board of trustees’ selection of Dr. Jane K.
Fernandes as the ninth president of the university. The protestors formed the
Faculty-Staff-Students-Alumni (FSSA) coalition last May, and continue to insist
that the selection process was biased and flawed.
In response to FSSA’s continued efforts for social justice, MN GUAA held a
meeting on Friday night. “It was at this meeting that we decided to have a rally so
that the protestors in Washington, D.C., know that they have supporters everywhere,
including Minnesota,” said Sean Virnig, MN GUAA vice president. “Gallaudet
has a strong historical link to Minnesota. For instance, the art building on campus
is named after Cadwaller Washburn, who graduated from the Minnesota School for
the Deaf. There is also a plaza named after Olof Hanson, another graduate of
Minnesota. This is why we are so concerned about the refusal of the university board
to concede to FSSA’s wishes.”
The rally, which starts at 1:00 p.m., will feature guest speakers, including Virnig,
House of Representatives candidate Emory K. Dively, MN GUAA past president John
Egbert, Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens vice president Trudy Suggs, and several
other speakers.
More information is available at www.freewebs.com/mnguaa, or at the FSSA website
at www.gufssa.com.
GUAA Minnesota Chapter group picture. We support FSSA!
Alumni discussing about concerns with Gallaudet protests.
Dr. Richard Lytle, in blue shirt with orange tie, joined us in the meeting as a special guest.
Alumni discussed about taking actions by giving support to FSSA at Gallaudet.
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