SatireV

Breaking

and entering

American Sign Language Supporters Demand to be Heard

http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/images-signs/i_love_you.jpg

Under an upcoming Undergraduate Council referendum, the Harvard student body will be voting whether to support the reintroduction of American Sign Language (ASL) courses that may be taken for credit. Advocate groups claim they are finally raising their fingers, and know that they will be seen by the student body.

The vote comes after over 700 students signed a petition sponsored by the Committee of Deaf Awareness. CODA president Stephanie Thompson recently addressed several issues plaguing the American Sign Language community. “For years we’ve been overshadowed,” claimed a disgruntled Thompson “do you know how hard it is to communicate with each other when our hands are covered by shadows?!”

Harvard administrators removed all ASL classes from the college in the fall of 1994, after it was discovered that Harvard’s basketball team had used the language to communicate answers during a Gov1310 midterm. 

Currently, the only available American Sign Language class is a not-for-credit program run by the Phillip Brooks House Association on Sunday mornings. The course is paid out of pocket by students hoping to learn the valuable life skill. 

Jasmine Greer has been taking ASL classes at PBHA for two years and is one of the strongest advocates for reinstating an official curriculum. In a statement last week, a visibly upset Greer expressed her displeasure with the current system.       “                         ,                            ….            !” she went on to take a stab directly at university President, Drew Faust, when she stated  “                              !                     .” 


To try and raise support for the cause, students gathered in the Science Center plaza this past Wednesday in silent protest. When SatireV asked a demonstrator what was being said, the flick of one of his fingers quickly clarified.  

© 2014
Category: