Page 46 - TheGoldBug1971-72

PAGE'SIXI'-.'l THE GOLp, B,-!G December 13.1~71 Eighteen hours at Gallaudet; by one who hears The following is a paper done to fulfill the requirements of Dr.Vernon's edu~ational psychology course. By Frances Hiltner I never thought that a paper requirement for college could really cause me to become totally SUggfS~to me that if there were lots of hearing ~t~dent "Sa!~that she never thought of herself as invo~ved in a subject that I know and usually see pe~p e pre~e~t the students would not be as free different and that she hated hearing people nothing of, but here I am starting this journal at an easy. e beauty of sign language became who treated her like a "nice puppy dog." 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning, October 25, 1971. I apparent to me as Ken signed the songs from the have been at Gallaudet College for six hours jukebox to Kathy and me. Although everyone Afte.r being awakened at 9:00 'a.m. by girls now, and I am firmly convinced that first-hand assured me that sign language takes time and pou~ding on doors to wake their friends up, I experience is the best and most lasting way to practice,.1 ,.1· ~eel that T am missing something realized the problem the deaf face is not being Jearn. When Steve Williams, a former student of in not being able to use it well. able to hear alarms. I set out by myself to the Western Maryland College as of 1970arid now the I had the good and unexpected fortune to meet l!brar~ and found a most helpful hearing only hearing undergraduate student at Dr. Merrill, President of Oallaudet, and his wife librarian. When I had to sign the visitors' book Gallaudet, drove me onto the campus grounds, I as they came to their campus mailbox. Dr. my frustrations started again because the desk had worked myself into a definite state of fright. Merrill was extremely warm and friend. worker was deaf and could not understand what I J wanted to go back to my known, safe world at Although busy, he invited me to a lovely sitting wanted. She kept referring me to the card WMC, yet--even more--J had to face this room where, by talking to me and signing to catalogue and to countless other reference challenge, this new part of reality. Steve took me Kathy and Ken, he presented his ideas of in- books, and all I wanted was the book for visitors. to Peet Hall, one of the two women's dorms on tegrating hearing and deaf children in a She was so patient, and she smiled continuously; the campus where underclass and prep girls live. classroom. Although pessimistic about the idea but my own embarrassment and frustration I It's modern and very beautiful! I was struck of integration because he has never really seen it am disappointed to admit, led me to give up a~d when Ifirst walked into the lobby by the students work, he did like my idea of finding out what the wait for the librarian to return. standing and sitting in groups and signing to deaf students feel about this subject. Also, he When I left the library and returned to Peet each other. Although things were pretty quiet- encouraged me to try my Ideas-I can lose Hall to catch my ride home, many of the students except for the loud TV-there was much activity nothing. 1had met the night before wished me luck on my in the hands and faces of the students. My room- Ken took me to Crug Hall, the boys' dorm that research. Ken even stopped in the dorm to say m.~~ehw~m I m~t in the lobby where she sat looks more like an elite hotel. Although most r~i~ki~e ~n~h}~g!el~e m~aJh~~v~~ ~~~si~~~~3 :~ak e:er/~!~t +~~u~~:::s:~~ 1%:~~~c~o~~ ~~~:~JI~~~a~~ !eos:~~d~ f~e7uer~~~nr:p~he~~~IAs before. I wish J could flatter myself to believe manual communication is comparable to a first and Kathy helped me find gu-ts-both deaf and that my questions had really started his new grader reading a new book. hard-