Florida: Calling All Deaf Advocates!

[Theresa B. Smith]

Is the issue one of advocacy or legitimacy?  You have sent this to
SLLING - great.  This implies a question of legitimacy (i.e. the faculty
senate questions the legitimacy of the language - a scientific question,
not a political one).  The fact that the legislature passed a bill
recognizing ASL is probably more a question of political "fact" than
scientific one.

Is the faculty senate concerned with

    * a scientific question ("Is ASL truly a language?"),
    * a curricular question ("Does ASL satisfy the curricular goals for
      requiring a foreign language?")
    * an internal political one ("What are the implications for the
      French department if ASL is recognized and accepted?")

I suggest you have a few qualified and articulate people address each
question.
Beyond this, pressure from students has its place.  The faculty cares
about what students massively want.  On the other hand, advocacy from
members of the Deaf Community doesn't really fit does it?

Theresa B. Smith, ASLIS

Alysse Rasmussen wrote:

> Calling All Deaf Advocates!
> UCF ASL Professors Need Help
>
> Thursday, February 26th, 2004
> 4:00 PM
> University of Central Florida
> Student Union
> Key West Room
> Orlando, Florida
>
> UCF offers 84 BA programs, 64 MA programs, 23 PhD programs and yet
> still refuses to recognize ASL for exit credit in spite of recent
> legislation.  You can help change this.  Just come to UCF for ONE hour
> on Thursday, February 26th, and tell the Faculty Senate how you feel.
>
> On February 26th at 4:00 PM the UCF Faculty Senate will vote, once
> again, on whether or not ASL (American Sign Language) will be allowed
> to satisfy the foreign language graduate requirement.
>
> This is very important for members of the Deaf community.  If ASL is
> not accepted, the quality of signers and services will remain poor.
> Students who might elect to take ASL to fulfill a foreign language
> requirement will be forced to take other languages.  They will never
> learn about the beauty and artistry of ASL.  They will never learn
> about Deaf people.  They will continue to believe "Deaf people can't".
>
> If ASL is accepted, the program will grow.  Qualified signers,
> interpreters, and professionals, who are aware of what ASL means to
> the Deaf community, will be able to get the kind of professional
> scholarship they need to help ALL Deaf people succeed.  They will know
> "Deaf people can do anything!"
>
> In spite of the passage of state legislation mandating ASL as a FULL
> and TRUE foreign language, there is a great deal of Faculty Senate
> opposition to this issue.
>
> If you are a Deaf person or someone who wishes to support Deaf people,
> please attend this meeting and support this vote.  This is VERY
> important for everyone who is a member of the Deaf community.  Please
> tell all your friends.  Please come help.  Your presence will make all
> the difference.  If the Faculty Senate sees that Deaf people really
> exist -- and care about the quality of interpreters and signers --
> they will do the right thing.
>
> WHERE?
>
> UCF is set up like a wagon wheel.  The Student Union is the center
> "hub" of the campus.  It is in the middle of the campus.  Here is a
> map:  http://www.ucf.edu/campusmap/
>
> The adddress is 4000 Central Florida Blvd.  It is right off 434.  Here
> is a map:
> http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map..adp?country=US&countryid=250&addtohistory=&address=4000+Central+Florida+Blvd.&city=orlando+&state=fl&zipcode=&submit=Get+Map
> <http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&countryid=250&addtohistory=&address=4000+Central+Florida+Blvd.&city=orlando+&state=fl&zipcode=&submit=Get+Map>
>
> Thursday, February 26th, 2004
> 4:00 PM
> University of Central Florida
> Student Union
> Key West Room
> Orlando, Florida


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