FW: Campus Community Update

From: Gallaudet - Oct 14, 2006

From: President [mailto:President@Gallaudet.edu]
Sent: Sat 10/14/2006 4:45 PM
To: president@gallaudet.edu
Subject: Campus Community Update

October 14, 2006
 
Dear Members of the Campus Community,
 
First, let me assure all of you that the campus is reopened and access to campus is available through the Sixth Street entrance.  We are awaiting a report on the status of the Hall Memorial Building.  Unfortunately, damage was done to the building during the protest.  We are assessing the extent of the damage and will report back as soon as possible.
 
Having said that, I also want you to know that last night was one of the saddest of my life. After a week of fruitless negotiations we were forced to reopen the campus with the help of the Metropolitan Police. I want to be clear that we did not choose to arrest the students, they chose to be arrested. But the result was the same.
 
I want to ask everyone on this campus and those of you who feel you are and always will be a part of Gallaudet University to look into your hearts and to think about what is best for our University. We need to work together to heal the rift that separates us. We need to work together to address the issues that confront us. We need to accept our next President Jane Fernandes and help her as she leads this University we love to new heights. Encourage your sense of fair play to surface and give Jane Fernandes the respect that is due her and the opportunity to bring us all together in pursuit of academic excellence.
 
Sincerely,
 
I. King Jordan
President