An Open Letter to T. Alan Hurwitz, President, Gallaudet University

Dear Dr. Hurwitz:

Welcome (back) to Gallaudet! You have just barely arrived, and you are already facing your first major test as President of our beloved alma mater. I speak, of course, of the tragic death of Cheang Kok. There are a number of stories floating around regarding the sequence of events, and it is understandable that the University needs to conduct an investigation into what truly happened. Prior to your hire, supporters of your candidacy claimed you would bring "fresh blood" to the position of the Presidency of Gallaudet University. I need to admit that I was not one of your supporters for the position, but now that you are President, I will support you in your work to improve Gallaudet in all the domains under your purview. This incident is an opportunity for you to show me, as well as those of us who had not supported your candidacy, that you will indeed bring "fresh blood" to the University. Thus, I sincerely hope that the investigation Gallaudet is undoubtedly undertaking will not be a mere "whitewash" to protect the reputation of the university, but will be used to initiate reforms for the betterment of the campus's students and faculty. If the events surrounding Kok's death are found to be as the students have said, then I must ask:

1. If the DPS officer is found to have been negligent in his duty to respond and assist in the safety
and health of the University's faculty, students and guests, what steps will be taken to hold this officer professionally responsible for his actions (or lack thereof)?

2. Since this incident is one in a long chain of events involving the DPS dating back to Carl Dupree's death in 1990, what steps will be taken to reform the DPS in its administrative/command, personnel and procedural structures to ensure that no such needless tragedies occur again on the grounds of the University?

3. The Gallaudet infirmary has, since I was a student at Gallaudet, been historically limited in its scope of services. What steps will be taken to improve the ability of campus personnel to respond to medical emergencies on campus?

I hope that we will be hearing answers to these questions within the next few weeks, if not earlier.

Sincerely,

Donald A. Grushkin, Ph.D.

(This is an open letter to you and the Deaf community).

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People & Blogs

Tags:

• Hurwitz
• DPS

[kivfd15]

@John04mans

I understand what you mean by that. The Gallaudet rule is you have to notification to DPS first before you can call 911. I don't understand why. I am doing some kind of research of the DPS time response, They did lack of time response.

[John04mans]

My question is.. Why, Gally students have to depend on DPS for responding the emergency. Do not they know how do call 911 without DPN? Gallaudet University could bring this serious issues to the Federal government about emergency respond like as call 911 by pager. One of this best example is to show the world that Gally students could not able to call 911 by their pager and find the tty is to far from crime scene.

[InsaneMisha]

That is where we need to watch and see what DPS' report shows. But from what I've heard about the past history/record what DPS had done in the past was so horrible, I believe it's high time to overhaul everything and start over with the new system. However if anything happens, the students and staff should call 911 without going to DPS if there is a life threatening.

All we can do is wait to hear each story....more specifically DPS' since we already heard a few stories from students.