Hearing Undergraduates at Gallaudet
Thursday October 11, 2007
Hearing undergraduate students (HUGs) with the right qualifications can attend Gallaudet University. Were you ever a HUG? How did being a HUG affect your job prospects and/or your career after graduation?
Comments
I was a HUG student. It helped me have jobs in the Deaf community, but later I realized that I was taking Deaf people’s jobs. I moved to jobs meant for hearing people. Gallaudet University should get rid of the HUG program and keep the college for Deaf people only. My 2 cents.
I was a HUG for only a semester a few years ago. Even though I am a CODA and learned ASL before orally speaking, I still felt inadequate in my abilities to fully communicate with friends/professors at Gallaudet. And, the some other hearing students I encountered (mostly graduate students) didn’t have experience with the Deaf/HOH before attending, but thought it was “cool” or it seemed that they pitied the DEAF and wanted to “help”. I was offended by this because it is opposite of what Gallaudet instils in its students, which is empowerment (among other things). That being said, it just wasn’t for me.
But, I have a good friend who is a HUG, in her second year and she absolutely loves it!
I’m not sure where I stand on this issue, I can see both sides. I could see how it could take Deaf people’s job opportunities, like Matt said. But, at the same time could Gally really eliminate the HUG program completely? Could it possibly be considered discrimination? I’m interested to see other people’s thoughts on this issue!
Thanks!
I’ve always heard the best way to learn a language thoroughly is to immerse yourself in it. What a great way to understand the language and the culture than to live, eat, and breathe it. I can see how this would benefit a hearing person in real life application.
I will never know exactly what is like for my daughter. While she is not “deaf” and she benefits greatly from hearing aids, I know she struggles. Hearing people at Gallaudet must encounter some of the same struggles in reverse.
If you plan on working with Deaf/HOH people in some capacity, I would think this would be a valuable experience.
Why do the Deaf hate Hearing people so much. I love to communicate with people but in learning ASL I’ve found in many cases that Deaf are insulted by those who are not Deaf. The Deaf have such a HUGH chip on their shoulders against hearing peole that they don’t even know. They don’t want hearing people on their campus or learning their language. Reminds me of the 50s & 60s. If Deaf Culure can be compared to a race of people, lookout KKK you’ve got competition
To say that Hearing students should not be permitted to attend Gallaudet University would be the same as saying that a Deaf student was not welcome at a university where spoken English was used by Hearing students. It is reverse discrimination. As a Hearing individual who learned ASL at a comunity college that is predominately Hearing, we welcome a diversity of students. The HUG program allows Hearing students to totally emerse themselves in the Deaf culture, and rather than spending a few hours a week in a classroom learning ASL like most of us did, by making it a part of their daily lives, they become not only more able to communicate, but more empathetic to the challenges of the Deaf community. As for “taking jobs” from Deaf people, exactly what is meant by this? What jobs are being “taken” from them? Are there special jobs that only they can do that Hearing people, whether educated at Galaudet or not, cannot, (or should not) do?
I am curious to know more about the HUG program at Gallaudet. I have been learning sign language mostly on my own for the past four years or so. I want to teach Sign Language, teach at a deaf school, or interpret. I am interested in Gallaudet because it offers something that no other school can, a chance to completely immerse myself in sign language and Deaf culture. I’m a rising senior in high school. My signing skills right now would make it very difficult to attend Gallaudet I’m sure. Can anybody tell me more about the HUG program? I want to know if it is something I should consider.