Day 1

The Board’s Decision Day (March 6th, 1988): The Board decided to make the seventh president of Gallaudet University, Dr. Elizabeth Zinser (hearing) and the board chairman would be Jane Spilman. The supposed reason for this was because “Deaf people aren’t able to function in a hearing world.”

The Protest begings (March 7th, 1988): After the new of another hearing president, the students responded by locking down the campus. The blocked the gates with buses that they had hotwired and their own cars, then deflated all of the tires so they could not be moved.

Tuesday March 8th, 1988: The gates of Gallaudet reopened, but the students all boycotted classes. The protest was named “Deaf President Now!” and that became their rally cry. The Deaf President Now council included students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other advocacy groups.

Wednesday March 9th, 1988: On this day, Zinser arrived in Washington D.C. and the board urged her to step down, but she refused.

The Protesters demands are as follows, Zinser must resign and a Deaf President must be selected, Spilman must resign from the board, and the percentage of Deaf members ont the board must increase to at least 51%.