Deaf President Now: How Students Sparked a Revolution in Deaf Rights Movement

In March 1988, an unusual protest broke out at a university in Washington, D.C. This movement wasn't known for loud shouting, but for the powerful, united silence and sign language of a community demanding to be heard. This was Deaf President Now (DPN), a historic civil rights protest at Gallaudet University that completely changed Deaf history. The protest happened because the university's Board of Trustees chose a hearing person as its seventh president, continuing a 124-year tradition of hearing people leading the world's most important school for Deaf education. The week-long, student-led protest was a huge success, resulting in the appointment of Gallaudet's first Deaf president. More importantly, it was a declaration of independence for the Deaf community, a crucial moment that showed Deaf culture as a vibrant identity and started a global movement for self-determination and disability rights.

Gallaudet Before the Uprising

The Deaf President Now protest didn't just happen out of nowhere. It was the explosive result of over a century of built-up frustration. To understand what happened, you need to first understand the unique position of Gallaudet University. Created in 1864 by President Abraham Lincoln, it stands as the world's only university specifically designed for educating Deaf and hard of hearing students. It is a global symbol for Deaf culture, language, and learning.

However, a serious contradiction existed at the heart of this school. The administration and Board of Trustees were historically controlled by hearing people who operated with a sense of paternalism. This is the belief, however well-meaning, that hearing people knew what was best for Deaf people. It treated deafness as a problem to be managed rather than a cultural identity to be celebrated. This mindset spread throughout the university's leadership structure, creating an invisible barrier that Deaf professionals could see but never break through.

No Deaf Leadership

The most obvious symbol of this paternalism was the presidency itself. In its 124-year history leading up to 1988, Gallaudet University had never had a Deaf president. Six hearing men had led the institution, a fact that became increasingly unacceptable to a community that believed in its own ability and independence. For generations, students and alumni had pushed for a leader who shared their lived experience, who understood their language and culture not as a school subject, but as a fundamental part of their being. The demand was simple and powerful: representation at the highest level.

The Final Straw

In 1988, the opportunity for change seemed close. The presidential search had been narrowed to three finalists: Dr. Harvey Corson and Dr. I. King Jordan, both of whom were Deaf, and Dr. Elisabeth Zinser, a hearing university administrator with no fluency in American Sign Language (ASL). The campus community was excited with anticipation, overwhelmingly supporting the two Deaf candidates. The belief was that the time had finally come.

On March 6, 1988, the Board of Trustees announced its decision. They had selected Dr. Elisabeth Zinser. The reaction was immediate and emotional. The decision was seen not just as a missed opportunity but as a deep insult—a declaration that, even at their own university, a Deaf person was not considered fit to lead. The board's chair, Jane Spilman, reportedly stated that "Deaf people are not ready to function in a hearing world," a comment that, whether quoted accurately or not, perfectly captured the paternalistic attitude the community was fighting against. The situation was about to explode.

A Week of Protest

The board's decision sparked one of the most effective and widely publicized civil rights protests of the late 20th century. For eight days, students, alumni, faculty, and staff shut down the university, taking control of their campus and their destiny.

The Four Demands

The clarity and focus of the DPN movement were crystallized in four specific, non-negotiable demands that became the protest's rallying cry:

1. The resignation of Elisabeth Zinser and the appointment of a Deaf president.
2. The immediate resignation of Jane Spilman, the chair of the Board of Trustees who was seen as the embodiment of the board's paternalism.
3. The restructuring of the Board of Trustees with a 51% Deaf majority to ensure future decisions would be made by, not for, the Deaf community.
4. No punishment against any of the students, faculty, or staff who participated in the protest.

National Attention Grows

The protest was a masterclass in public relations. The students' message was clear, their behavior was peaceful, and their cause was undeniably just. The imagery of thousands of students marching silently, their hands communicating with passion and precision, was incredibly powerful. Major news outlets provided daily coverage. Support came from politicians, unions, and civil rights icon Jesse Jackson, who declared, "The problem is not that the students do not hear. The problem is that the hearing world does not listen." This national spotlight transformed a campus issue into a national conversation about rights, access, and discrimination.

Victory and a New President

The final victory came on the evening of Sunday, March 13. The Board of Trustees, having agreed to all four demands, appointed Dr. I. King Jordan as president. Addressing the celebrating crowd, Dr. Jordan delivered a line that would become iconic, a powerful statement of the movement's core belief: "Deaf people can do anything a hearing person can, except hear." The week-long struggle was over, but its impact was just beginning.

Voices of the Movement

While DPN was a collective effort, the movement was guided by the remarkable composure and strategic thinking of four student leaders. Their courage and eloquence turned the world's attention to Gallaudet's campus.

The Student Leaders

• Greg Hlibok: As the newly elected Student Body Government president, Hlibok became the primary face and voice of the protest. A natural leader, his calm manner and articulate communication in ASL during high-stakes media appearances, including a pivotal debate on Nightline, won over the American public. He masterfully conveyed the students' determination and the righteousness of their cause.

• Tim Rarus: A fellow student leader and former student government president, Rarus brought crucial experience to the movement. He had taken a semester off to work with the presidential search committee and had inside knowledge of the flawed process. His strategic insights were vital in planning the protest's day-to-day activities and negotiations.

• Bridgetta Bourne: A powerful speaker and organizer, Bourne was instrumental in energizing the student body and explaining the emotional and historical weight of the moment. Her passionate speeches at campus rallies helped maintain morale and focus, reminding everyone of the generations of Deaf people who had dreamed of this moment.

• Jerry Covell: Known for his fiery passion, Covell was a key motivator who helped start the protest. His emotional response to the board's decision captured the collective feeling of betrayal and sparked the initial surge of student action that led to the campus shutdown.

The Feeling on Campus

For those on campus during that week in March 1988, the atmosphere was electric. It was a shared experience of empowerment and unity. Decades of frustration were channeled into constructive, focused action. The campus transformed into a hub of activism. Students created handmade banners that hung from every building, expressing their demands and their pride. The field house became a command center, packed day and night with students, faculty, and alumni planning their next move. Marches were not filled with noise, but with a profound and powerful visual unity. There was a clear sense that they were not just fighting for a university president; they were making history. It was a moment of collective self-realization, a week where the Gallaudet community showed the world what it meant to be Deaf and proud.

The Enduring DPN Legacy

The appointment of Dr. I. King Jordan was the immediate victory, but the true legacy of Deaf President Now is the massive shift it created in civil rights, culture, and perception that continues to impact society today, more than 37 years later.

Catalyst for Legislation

The DPN movement was a powerful, televised demonstration of the systematic barriers and discrimination faced by people with disabilities. It put a human face on the fight for equal access. The widespread public support and the clear justice of the students' cause provided significant momentum for disability rights advocates who were lobbying for comprehensive federal legislation. Many historians and activists draw a direct line from the events of March 1988 to the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. DPN proved that the demand for inclusion was a mainstream civil rights issue, helping to pave the way for the ADA's sweeping protections against discrimination in employment, public services, and accommodations.

A Shift in Identity

Perhaps the most profound impact of DPN was psychological and cultural. It forcefully rejected the long-standing, paternalistic view of deafness as a medical condition or a deficiency to be pitied or fixed. Instead, DPN championed the concept of Deaf culture. It was a powerful public statement that Deaf people are a linguistic and cultural minority with a rich language (ASL) and a proud heritage. The movement shifted the paradigm from "people who cannot hear" to a community united by shared experience, language, and identity. This newfound pride and self-determination empowered Deaf individuals across the nation and the world.

The Global "DPN Effect"

The events at Gallaudet did not go unnoticed by the international Deaf community. News of the successful protest spread globally, inspiring what became known as the "DPN Effect." Deaf communities in other countries, seeing what was possible, began to organize and advocate for their own rights. They demanded Deaf leadership in their own schools for the Deaf, pushed for official recognition of their national sign languages, and fought for greater access and inclusion in society. DPN served as a blueprint and an inspiration for Deaf activism worldwide.

Changes at Gallaudet

The victory brought immediate and lasting structural changes to Gallaudet University. The most significant was the fulfillment of the demand for a 51% Deaf majority on the Board of Trustees, a policy that remains in place today. This ensures that the institution's governance is permanently in the hands of people who understand its mission from the inside out. Following DPN, there was a marked increase in the number of Deaf individuals appointed to high-level administrative and academic positions at Gallaudet and at other educational institutions, breaking the glass ceiling the protest had shattered.

More Than a Protest

Deaf President Now was far more than a campus protest over a presidential appointment. It was a defining moment in the American civil rights movement and a declaration of independence for the Deaf community. It was the culmination of 124 years of quiet frustration and the beginning of a new era of pride and self-determination. The students and their supporters did not just win the right to a Deaf president; they won a fundamental shift in how the world, and more importantly, how they themselves, perceived what it means to be Deaf.

The legacy of DPN is not simply a historical event to be studied; it is an enduring message that a community, when united and determined, can tear down paternalistic structures and claim its rightful place at the table. It is a testament to the power of a people demanding to be leaders of their own destiny, proving that the only thing they couldn't do was hear the word "no." The silent protest of 1988 continues to echo loudly, a timeless lesson in empowerment, identity, and the unyielding pursuit of justice.