Deaf President's Historic Battle: How Students Revolutionized Gallaudet

The Deaf President Now movement, called DPN, was a major turning point in civil rights history. In March 1988, students, graduates, and teachers at Gallaudet University started a week-long protest that got the world's attention. The problem was simple but important: in its 124-year history, Gallaudet University, the world's main center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing education, had never had a Deaf leader. When the Board of Trustees decided to continue choosing hearing leaders over qualified Deaf candidates, it caused huge anger. This protest was more than just a campus argument; it became a powerful statement of independence for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. The DPN movement completely changed how the public saw Deaf people, won important legal victories, and became a key moment for Deaf rights and cultural identity around the world.

The Breaking Point: Gallaudet's Presidency

To understand the explosive power of the Deaf President Now movement, you need to understand the special cultural and historical situation at Gallaudet University in 1988. The protest wasn't a sudden outburst but the result of over a century of growing frustration with being treated like children and a growing sense of cultural pride. The presidential selection process that year wasn't just an administrative decision; it was a test of whether Deaf people would be allowed to lead their own top institution. The tension had been building for decades, and the campus was ready to explode.

Gallaudet: A Community Center

Started in 1864 through a federal charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln, Gallaudet University holds a unique place in the world. It is the only university specifically designed for the education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. For generations, it has been more than just a school; it is a cultural and intellectual safe place, where American Sign Language (ASL) grows and Deaf culture is celebrated. To the global Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, Gallaudet represents the highest goals of academic success and cultural identity. Its presidency is, therefore, a position with huge symbolic power.

A History of Hearing Leadership

Despite its mission, a clear contradiction existed at the heart of Gallaudet's leadership. In the 124 years leading up to 1988, every single president had been a hearing person. This reality reflected a widespread social attitude of treating Deaf people like children—a deeply rooted belief among many hearing administrators and educators that they knew what was best for Deaf people. This "plantation mentality," as protesters would later call it, treated Deaf individuals as people to be managed rather than as a community capable of governing itself. This history of hearing control stood in sharp contrast to the growing movement for self-advocacy and empowerment within the Deaf community itself.

The Breaking Point: 1988

The 1988 presidential search brought this long-standing conflict to a head. After a lengthy process, the Board of Trustees narrowed the field to three finalists:

• Dr. I. King Jordan, a Gallaudet dean who had been Deaf since young adulthood.
• Dr. Harvey Corson, a Deaf superintendent of a Deaf school.
• Dr. Elisabeth Zinser, a hearing university administrator with no experience with Deaf culture and no knowledge of American Sign Language.

The campus community was excited with hope. The agreement was overwhelming: the time had finally come for a deaf president. Rallies and letters of support for the Deaf candidates created a powerful sense of anticipation. The community believed that the Board would finally acknowledge their right to be led by one of their own.

A Week That Changed History

The events that happened between Sunday, March 6, and Sunday, March 13, 1988, were a perfect example of effective, non-violent protest. What began as a campus-wide cry of anger transformed into a carefully organized and politically smart civil rights movement that brought a powerful university administration to its knees and inspired a nation.

The Announcement and The Anger

On the evening of Sunday, March 6, the Board of Trustees announced its decision. They had selected the hearing candidate, Dr. Elisabeth Zinser, as Gallaudet's seventh president. The reaction was immediate and emotional. Students, who had gathered to wait for the news, felt a deep sense of shock and betrayal. This was not just a disappointing outcome; it was a declaration that, even at their own university, they were not seen as fit to lead. Student leader Greg Hlibok later captured the feeling, stating, "The time has come for the plantation mentality which has for so long controlled this institution and this community to end." The anger was clear, and it quickly turned into action.

The Campus Shutdown

The next morning, the protest began seriously. Students used cars and their own bodies to block the campus gates, effectively shutting down the university. The protest was not chaotic; it was organized. Four students emerged as the leaders of the movement: Greg Hlibok, Bridgetta Bourne, Jerry Covell, and Tim Rarus. They expressed the students' anger and created a clear set of demands.

• Monday, March 7: Students take control of the campus. A massive rally is held, and the four non-negotiable demands are presented to the Board.
• Tuesday, March 8: The protest continues, gaining strength and organization. Importantly, Gallaudet faculty and staff vote to support the student-led protest, creating a unified front against the Board's decision.
• Wednesday, March 9: Thousands of students, faculty, and supporters march from Gallaudet's campus to the Mayflower Hotel, where the Board of Trustees was meeting, to confront them directly and demand to be heard.

National Attention and Failed Compromise

By Thursday, the protest was no longer a local story. It had exploded onto the national stage. News crews from around the world came to the Gallaudet campus. For the first time, many hearing Americans were seeing Deaf people on television not as objects of pity, but as passionate, articulate, and powerful advocates for their own rights, their message made clear through skilled ASL interpreters.

That day, Elisabeth Zinser arrived in Washington, D.C., attempting to assert her authority. She and the Chair of the Board, Jane Spilman, appeared on national television. The interview was a disaster for their cause. Spilman made the now-infamous and widely condemned statement that "Deaf people are not ready to function in a hearing world." This comment was a public relations disaster, building support for the protesters and proving their point about the Board's treating-them-like-children and out-of-touch attitude. Faced with a completely unified and unyielding campus, Zinser announced her resignation that night, admitting she could not effectively govern.

The Four Demands for Change

The Deaf President Now movement was successful because its goals were not vague expressions of anger. They were a clear, strategic, and non-negotiable plan for systematic change. The student leaders understood that replacing one person was not enough; the entire power structure at Gallaudet had to be reformed to ensure true self-determination for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

More Than Just a President

The students' goals went far beyond the appointment of a deaf president. They sought to tear down the treating-them-like-children governance that had allowed the discriminatory decision to be made in the first place. This foresight ensured that the movement's victory would be lasting and meaningful. The four demands were:

1. The immediate resignation of Elisabeth Zinser and the appointment of a deaf president.
2. Explanation: This was the core, non-negotiable goal that sparked the movement, representing the demand for self-representation at the highest level.
3. The immediate resignation of Jane Bassett Spilman, the Chair of the Board of Trustees.
4. Explanation: This was a demand for accountability. Spilman symbolized the Board's dismissive attitude and her resignation was necessary to signal a true change in leadership.
5. A 51% majority of Deaf or Hard of Hearing individuals on the Board of Trustees.
6. Explanation: This was the most important demand for long-term change, ensuring that the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community would have permanent, majority control over its most important institution.
7. No punishment against any of the students, faculty, or staff involved in the protest.

• Explanation: This was a standard and necessary demand in acts of civil disobedience, designed to protect all participants from punishment for their activism.

Victory and a New Beginning

With Zinser's resignation, one of the four demands had been met, but the protesters refused to give up. They held the campus, their unity unbroken, insisting that all four demands be met. The weekend was filled with tense negotiations and mounting public pressure on the Board of Trustees to give in completely. The world watched, waiting to see if a group of students could truly change history.

All Demands Met

On the evening of Sunday, March 13—exactly one week after the protest began—the Board of Trustees held a press conference. They announced they had agreed to all four of the protesters' demands. The campus erupted in a celebration of pure joy and vindication. The Board announced the following key appointments:

• Dr. I. King Jordan was named Gallaudet's 8th president, becoming the first deaf president in the university's 124-year history.
• Philip Bravin, a Deaf member of the Board, was named the new Chair of the Board of Trustees, replacing Jane Spilman.

The Board also agreed to form a task force to implement the 51% Deaf majority on the Board and guaranteed that there would be no punishment against anyone involved in the protest.

"Deaf People Can Do Anything"

At his first press conference, Dr. I. King Jordan delivered a line that would become the defining quote of the movement and a rallying cry for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people everywhere. In response to a question, he powerfully stated, "Deaf people can do anything... except hear." This simple, eloquent phrase captured the entire spirit of the DPN movement. It was a rejection of the limitations imposed by others and a profound statement of capability, pride, and unlimited potential. The message resonated far beyond Gallaudet's gates, inspiring a new era of empowerment.

The Lasting Legacy of DPN

The impact of the Deaf President Now movement extends far beyond the Gallaudet campus and the events of March 1988. DPN was a catalyst that triggered a fundamental transformation in public policy, cultural awareness, and the global Deaf and Hard of Hearing community's sense of identity. Its legacy is not just a historical victory but a living force that continues to shape the world today.

A Revolution in Thinking

Perhaps the most profound impact of DPN was the psychological and cultural shift it created. For the first time on a global stage, the world saw Deaf people demanding their rights, not asking for charity. The movement powerfully rejected the medical or problem view of deafness as a deficiency to be fixed. Instead, it championed the view of Deafness as a cultural identity, with a rich history and a unique language in ASL. DPN caused a massive surge in Deaf pride. The narrative shifted decisively from a focus on what Deaf people cannot do to a celebration of what they can do.

Paving the Way for Laws

The timing of DPN was critical. The public awareness and political empowerment generated by the protest created significant momentum for a landmark piece of civil rights legislation. Many of the activists and leaders involved in DPN, energized by their success, went on to lobby for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law in 1990. The ADA was a sweeping bill that prohibited discrimination based on disability, and the powerful, positive image of the DPN protesters was instrumental in its passage. Following the ADA, there was a dramatic increase in demand for and provision of ASL interpreters, televised closed captioning, and other essential accessibility services that are now commonplace.

A Global Ripple Effect

The victory at Gallaudet sent shockwaves around the world. DPN became a model for activism and self-determination for Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities globally. Inspired by the events in Washington, D.C., Deaf individuals in other countries began to challenge hearing-dominated leadership in their own schools, organizations, and governments. The movement provided a powerful and successful template for how to organize, protest, and win, sparking a global movement toward greater Deaf autonomy and rights.

DPN's Lessons for Today's Activism

Over three decades later, as we reflect in 2025, the Deaf President Now movement remains a vital case study for social justice and disability rights movements. Its success offers timeless lessons in strategy, messaging, and community organizing, while also providing a fascinating lens through which to view the evolution of activism in the digital age.

Timeless Strategies for Change

The core elements of DPN's success are as relevant today as they were in 1988. Any successful movement can learn from their playbook:

• Clear, Non-Negotiable Demands: The four demands provided a focused and clear goal, preventing the movement's energy from becoming scattered.
• Unified Community Support: The solidarity between students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the national Deaf community created an unbreakable front.
• Strategic Media Engagement: The protesters masterfully used the media to frame their narrative as a civil rights struggle, winning the battle for public opinion.
• Symbolic, Powerful Messaging: Slogans like "Deaf President Now" and images of a unified campus conveyed a simple, powerful, and unforgettable message.

DPN in the Digital Age

While the principles remain the same, the tools of activism have transformed. It is compelling to analyze how DPN's strategies would translate to the modern digital landscape. The movement's core tactics have direct parallels in today's online world, demonstrating both the enduring nature of their strategy and the new opportunities available to activists.

Conclusion

The Deaf President Now protest was started by a single discriminatory decision, but it grew into one of the most significant civil rights movements of the late 20th century. In one remarkable week, the students of Gallaudet University achieved what had been impossible for 124 years: they secured a deaf president, fundamentally restructured the university's governance, and thrust Deaf culture into the national spotlight. The enduring legacy of DPN is a testament to the power of collective action. It proved that the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community would no longer ask for its rights, but demand them, forever changing the narrative of empowerment and self-determination for generations to come.