Letter to Organization Presidents

by Alison Aubrecht

Good Afternoon, All! A question: How does a hearing person preserve his or her language, be it English, Spanish, or Italian? The answer is rather obvious. Through literature. How, then, does a Deaf person preserve his or her language, be it ASL or BSL? Again, the answer is obvious: Through visual media, meaning Television and Cinema. A few days ago, Associate Dean Karen Kimmel sent out a campuswide email explaining that there would be changes made in the Department of Television, Photography, and Digital Media (TPDM). While Photography and Digital Media were to merge with the Art deparment, Television (or TV/CINEMA) would no longer have a place at Gallaudet for two primary reasons. First, Lack of funding. Second, small number of majors in the TV/CINEMA field. In the meantime, Facundo Montenegro, MFA and MA, was given notice that as of May 2002, he would no longer have a position at Gallaudet University. Facundo is a highly qualified teacher who has brought light to the department since his arrival in 1999. He has developed courses such as Elements of Media Production (which, by the way, seems to be a class that the Deaf Studies Department is interested in adding as one of the requirements for their MA program), Spanish Cinema, Queer Cinema, Beginning Film Production, and Documentary Productions. Classes that both promote diversity and give students in the TV/CINEMA major a broader knowledge that will allow them to compete with mainstream moviemakers. When asked why Facundo was asked to leave, Karen Kimmel basically explained that there just wasn't a place at Gallaudet for him after the major is shut down. This issue is long and complicated, and while we don't want to bore you with details, we do want to present several contradictions and/or issues. LACK OF STUDENTS MAJORING: Upon investigating the number of TV/CINEMA majors in the department, it was discovered that the registrar's office only has 2 TV/CINEMA majors listed. After asking around, it was discovered that there are at least 7 majors in TV/CINEMA. Moreover, at least 3 more students are known to want to sign on as a major, but the department will not sign on any more majors in TV/CINEMA. (Photography has 4 majors and DM 8, by the way...) The numbers may seem small, but the big picture is missing here. Facundo Montenegro revamped the TFP 110 course to make it more focused on moviemaking, and since then there are 34 students this fall taking TFP 110 courses plus 10 taking Elements of Media Production. Hopefully the faculty will not squash the dreams of those interested in majoring in TV/CINEMA by giving them the idea that, "Deaf people can't make movies." BUDGET PROBLEMS: Bill Moses (Chair of the Art Dept, also acting Chair of the TPDM dept) has, in the past week, purchased an abudnance of equipment (very expensive.) Budget problems?? Hmm. Now, Bill Moses claims that TV/CINEMA will be changed to VIDEOGRAPHY, therefore the major will still be there. FACT: Videography is not TV/CINEMA, although he is telling people that it is the same. Videography is the video response to cinematography and it does not capture the ART of making movies. Karen Kimmel told a student in the TPDM department that they have two spots reserved to hire two new faculty to teach Videography courses. (Hello, what happened to Facundo?) SAD FACT: Bill Moses showed Julia Dameron, a student in the TPDM department, an outline of Videography classes. The classes being offered are the same and more. Most of the classes, Jane Norman is not qualified to teach, (due to the fact that many of the classes are modern and updated, and Dr. Norman has neither the knowledge nor the qualifications for teaching those classes). AND most of the courses were developed and brought in by Facundo Montenegro. Kind of stealing ideas, isn't it? There is so much more. If you want to help or you want more information, please see one of the following: Ryan Commerson ([email protected]), Alison Aubrecht ([email protected]), or Julia Dameron ([email protected]). Our GOAL is twofold. First, we want the administration to keep TV/CINEMA (in it's rightful name). Second, we want the administration to keep FACUNDO MONTENEGRO. Our purpose is to inform students about our concerns for now. We are not going to stop here. Please share this letter with your organizations. We would very much be grateful if your organization could submit a letter of support. Make the letter out to Jane Fernandes, Provost, or submit it to Ryan Commerson and he will put together letters and bring those letters to the Provost. Thank you for taking the time to read this rather long letter. We appreciate it. In the spirit of ASL and educating the WORLD in a matter of MINUTES about issues in the Deaf community from the eyes of the Deaf community, please support TV/CINEMA majors.

Thank you,

Alison Aubrecht

Advocate for TV/CINEMA majors,

For Facundo Montenegro, and one who believes in preserving Deaf Culture and Heritage in the best possible way.