Jenna Little
Staff Reporter
Walking into Decker Auditorium, you see the room full of about 40 students and wonder what could have drawn people out. ASL’s Movie Night was March 23; they showed the movie titled Audism Unveiled with an open group discussion afterwards. This movie and discussion was the first event to kick off a series of events for the nation wide American Deaf Culture and Heritage Month which is from March 22 through April 16.
Senior Ginny Odierno, an ASL and Deaf Studies minor, says “I believe that the concept of audism was fairly new to many of the students that attended the movie night, and I think that most people learned a lot from the movie and group discussion.”
The movie shared Deaf individuals’ personal experiences with audism, which is the discrimination against Deaf or hard of hearing individuals.
A discussion took place following the movie to give students the opportunity to discuss their thoughts about audism and to try to gain a better understanding about it. Deaf individuals were also at the event and shared their personal experiences.
In the second event for the month, on March 30, lecturer Debra McQuaid shared her experiences with teaching signs to a gorilla named Koko. Other events included a panel on cochlear implants Tuesday, April 6. ASL Literacy Night will wrap up the series of events the week of April 12 with a specific day to be announced. Students do not need to be enrolled in any ASL classes or have any knowledge of ASL to attend.
Literacy Night will feature an open mic where anyone can get up and tell stories in ASL. Samantha Reigel, a senior and a Deaf Studies minor, says this is a fun event because “Storytelling is extremely valued in deaf studies in ASL. They have someone perform a couple of stories and it’s amazing. The stories create a picture in your head.”
The month is meant to make McDaniel students more aware of Deaf Culture. According to Odierno, “Deaf Culture and Heritage Month allows students an opportunity to attend events with Deaf individuals and learn more about American Deaf Culture.”
When Deaf Culture and Heritage Month ends there are still a lot of activities and involvement on campus with ASL and Deaf Studies. The department stays busy throughout the year. McDaniel’s close location to Gallaudet University in D.C. and the Maryland School for the Deaf in Columbia and Frederick allows ASL to have tons of off-campus events around the area. The Deaf Awareness Club, Eye to Eye, also is on campus.
“There are always several Deaf events each semester and many are sponsored by the ASL House” explains Odierno.
“These events help students interact in a deaf community and the activities are more for getting students involved in the deaf community after they take the ASL classes and help them get to know the culture,” says Reigel..
Additionally, each year there is a Deaf Night in the ASL House where grad students, instructors, and alumni all come together. In the past there have also been events in the game room. There are fun activities that still incorporate the language.
Going to events is a great way to practice using ASL as a communication skill. The language is not always exactly like it is taught in the classroom. Reigel says, “The department does do a really good job at making opportunities for students to get involved. Students can learn sign language in classes, but not other factors and so that involvement is important. The activities do a really good job to help students learn and experience the culture more.”
“Since the deaf community is so small there are definitely barriers between people. Deaf people want you to know the deaf community and respect them and our department is good at that,” explains Reigel.
How much students want to get involved in ASL events on campus is really up to the student and their interest level in learning to communicate with the deaf community but Reigel explains “The month also helps students who don’t necessarily want to learn ASL by spreading awareness of the deaf community.”
