To: Gallaudet University Board of Trustees
Withdraw offer of honorary degree to I. King Jordan and his public apology
Whereas former Gallaudet President I. King Jordan suffered disgrace in 2006 due to his active opposition to the demands of the Unity for Gallaudet protest, including ordering the unnecessary arrest of more than 130 protesters, and
Whereas I. King Jordan acted to subvert the proper judgment of the Gallaudet Board of Trustees in the matter of the selection of the 9th Gallaudet President in 2006, and
Whereas I. King Jordan's own actions have caused any previous prospects of a honorable presidential legacy to be reversed, and
Whereas I. King Jordan has not offered a public apology to the Gallaudet Community, the Deaf Community at large or the American citizenry,
We hereby demand that the Gallaudet Board of Trustees formally rescind all honors previously bestowed upon I. King Jordan, as well as refrain from bestowing any further such honors, and withdraw any pending and planned honors, especially including the planned granting of an honorary degree to Jordan during the 145th Commencement at Gallaudet.
We further demand that I. King Jordan offer a public apology for the specific misdeeds he committed during his term as Gallaudet president.
Whereas I. King Jordan acted to subvert the proper judgment of the Gallaudet Board of Trustees in the matter of the selection of the 9th Gallaudet President in 2006, and
Whereas I. King Jordan's own actions have caused any previous prospects of a honorable presidential legacy to be reversed, and
Whereas I. King Jordan has not offered a public apology to the Gallaudet Community, the Deaf Community at large or the American citizenry,
We hereby demand that the Gallaudet Board of Trustees formally rescind all honors previously bestowed upon I. King Jordan, as well as refrain from bestowing any further such honors, and withdraw any pending and planned honors, especially including the planned granting of an honorary degree to Jordan during the 145th Commencement at Gallaudet.
We further demand that I. King Jordan offer a public apology for the specific misdeeds he committed during his term as Gallaudet president.
Why is this important?
The actions of former Gallaudet University president I. King Jordan, during his tenure, have cast a pall over the entire Gallaudet Community when he maneuvered to promote his own handpicked choice for his successor. The board's plans to grant an honorary degree to Jordan during commencement next May are unfounded, disrespectful and detrimental to the vitality of its own stakeholders.