Howard University Versus Gallaudet University

People are still reacting to the recent Gallaudet protests, as evidenced by today's letter to the editor by Frank Nicolai in today's Washington Post newspaper. Nicolai blasts Kathleen Wood's earlier letter that said the new Gallaudet would not be for everyone. He questions whether the Federal government should be supporting a "noninclusive vision" for Gallaudet to the tune of $100 million a year (actually $108 million in FY 2007).

According to that man's logic, the Federal government should not be supporting Howard University either! Howard's funding is $237 million in Fiscal Year 2007 - twice what Gallaudet gets. Howard University is a BLACK college. It does welcome white students in limited numbers, just as Gallaudet welcomes hearing students in limited numbers. However, Howard has remained a BLACK college just as Gallaudet should remain a DEAF college. Therefore, can Howard be called a "noninclusive" college?

Let's get one thing straight. Gallaudet IS an inclusive place. People who do not sign are welcome to attend Gallaudet. But, they ARE expected to at least try to learn sign language. They can be as oral as they like in private among other oral people, but in public - meaning the classroom at least - they should be at least trying to use sign language. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

In recent articles, people have been quoted as saying that deaf people have plenty of choices on where to attend college if they prefer oral communication. "Can't we have one place where we can sign?" That's a quote from the recent news articles that sticks in the head, because it makes so much sense. There are plenty of community colleges, plenty of four-year colleges, and plenty of deaf programs on the campuses of hearing colleges, that both oral and signing deaf can attend. Even Gallaudet's sister college, NTID, is on the campus of a hearing college. But, as someone put it earlier, "There's only one Gallaudet."