The City Council did not have a sign interpreter??? Don't they know federal laws about access??? Totally unacceptable. The Gallaudet officials are being extremely kind.
Yawn, GU has a monopoly in the area regarding certifying interpreters, they should supply their own.
The real question is why does a public university hiding out as a private one have so much land in the first place. Sure public schools have the right to own and leverage land, but GU as victim here is insane, not they are as land grubby as GWU, but they really don't add much if anything to the surrounding neighborhood. In fact many GU students I've known over the years simply look at the "ghetto around them" as something to avoid. Some have been so candid as to use the n word ville when describing the neighbor hood to the north and the east of GU. It opened my eyes to the racial tension at GU, it's no different than anywhere else.
Having owned here for a few years now it's as if the university was on mars. In my new place I can see their gate from the end of the street. The only time I see GU students having any impact in the neighborhood is when they shed their insular ways to associate with the drug dealers in their universal quest to get high.
I am glad they are finally thinking about joining the community. But pardon me if I don't throw them a parade.
In regards to your blather about Gallaudet University and its financial status, a "public university hiding out as a private one" wouldn't charge $23962 per academic year for tuition (and make no distinction between in/out of state students).
In regards to your assertions about land ownership, "so much land in the first place" is 3.8 acres. You make it sound like Gallaudet University owns all 40 of the acres in question. As a point of comparison, the entire White House complex is comprised of 18 acres.
You stated in an earlier post that you were black. As such I have a hard time believing Gallaudet students "have been so candid as to use the n-word ville when describing the neighborhood to the north and the east of GU" in your presence. Do you sign? If so, how does one sign "n-word ville"?
The deaf and hard-of-hearing have a unique set of challenges that extend beyond simple comprehension of verbal conversations. One of the biggest: street crime. I cannot blame them for being somewhat physical and socially insular in light of the hostile environment that surrounded their institution for many years. But the transition of the area is giving the University hope, clearly enough hope to engage in an aggressive yet calculated development project.
Come up with some facts you can substantiate rather than resorting to ad hominem attacks against the University.
Well, lets see, GU was started as IDD by the Federal Government, It still receives direct earmarks and is heavily funded by the Federal Government. The President of the USA actually signs their Degrees. Sounds quasi public to me, but you don't have to trust me ask them, or read the Dept of Ed budget request. It's rather interesting. GU is probably more like West Point and other Federal Universities. It's run by the a BOT set up by the Congress. It's a rather interesting Hybrid, on par with the USPS, which by the way is a "private corporation" But who's kidding who. Here's another PBS, same deal, as the Bush Admin proved where there are government strings, the private nature of those organizations gets pulled.
Now on to the land size argument. The White house too is federal land. Good comparison. USPS Owns a former Monastery in Maryland. but they are private too. Hmm.
Now on to the meat of of your BS sandwich:
"The deaf and hard-of-hearing have a unique set of challenges that extend beyond simple comprehension of verbal conversations. One of the biggest: street crime. I cannot blame them for being somewhat physical and socially insular in light of the hostile environment that surrounded their institution for many years."
I'll think about that when the deaf guy around the corner from where I used to live goes and buys his weed. Or the Deaf kids in GU shirts go get theirs on Orren or Montello. See white deaf kids stick out when they buy drugs. It's funny because there even a young white drug boy around staples. But they don't go to him. Not sure why.
And now on to the "As such I have a hard time believing Gallaudet students "have been so candid as to use the n-word ville when describing the neighborhood to the north and the east of GU" in your presence. Do you sign? If so, how does one sign "n-word ville"?"
Despite dating a GU Student I don't sign. Good news not all that go there can't hear or speak. Also, there is IM and e-mail, texting on the side kick. etc.
But perhaps you think they are not able to communicate beyond signing. Some even Drive. Deaf people are quite capable. :)
And now on to being candid, people actually, when they feel comfortable do say off color things. As boondocks say's I know I should be telling the white people the truth, but I can't help it. Ask any black person, or woman or other minority of sorts. When men consider women just one of the guys they will let the damnest things slip out their mouths. The same goes for black and whites etc. It's interesting. I have family that can pass for white and did so at times, it's sobering what people say when they think you're either one of them, or in their clique.
Here's the deal, as with Howard Univ, in Petworth, GU hasn't done anything for Trinidad, Ivy City, or SOFO. So I am not going to applaud them when they finally get off their collective butts to venture into a money making development idea.
They have chosen not to be a part of the community. It's shameful, if you value the University as a community Center of Learning. If it's just another Non-Profit out for itself. Then they are doing exactly what they should do, but I don't believe in celebrating selfishness.
Now to your last words. I guess when ever the FY09 budget is passed you can read it for yourself. But, GU isn't a victim, anymore than GWU, AU, GTWN, HU, UDC, SU, SEU, et. al.
This is great news that GU is changing its approach to its environment so fundamentally--about time GU opens up to the neighborhood. I hope it also plans to work with the city to improve the streetscaping outside the Florida avenue entrances.
Robby,
Whether or not GU is subsidized by the Feds seems to me irrelevant to this story. However, if the university has an opportunity to make a good investment, then bully for taxpayers!
Clearly there is a history of mutual animosity between the university and the surrounding neighborhood. With historical (and empirical) reason--it was a high crime neighborhood.
Of course some GU students do drugs, just like college students everywhere. Georgetown students use drugs, but houses near that university are worth millions--to blame GU students for the primary drug or poverty problems in this neighborhood is laughable. Oh, by the way, not all GU students are white. Why this became a tired racial thing again, I just don't understand.
I get exhausted by people who always greet progress with their own vitriol about the past.
I don't blame the university for walling itself off. The neighborhood was extremely high crime for decades.
It's a shame they had to do that, but it's understandable.
In fact, I'd suggest that they are being fairly proactive in contemplating the more accessible development at hand. The neighborhood has improved a great deal, but it's still got a lot of crime.
Blaming the university students for drug use and crime in the area is laughable.
9 comments:
The City Council did not have a sign interpreter??? Don't they know federal laws about access??? Totally unacceptable. The Gallaudet officials are being extremely kind.
Yawn, GU has a monopoly in the area regarding certifying interpreters, they should supply their own.
The real question is why does a public university hiding out as a private one have so much land in the first place. Sure public schools have the right to own and leverage land, but GU as victim here is insane, not they are as land grubby as GWU, but they really don't add much if anything to the surrounding neighborhood. In fact many GU students I've known over the years simply look at the "ghetto around them" as something to avoid. Some have been so candid as to use the n word ville when describing the neighbor hood to the north and the east of GU. It opened my eyes to the racial tension at GU, it's no different than anywhere else.
Having owned here for a few years now it's as if the university was on mars. In my new place I can see their gate from the end of the street. The only time I see GU students having any impact in the neighborhood is when they shed their insular ways to associate with the drug dealers in their universal quest to get high.
I am glad they are finally thinking about joining the community. But pardon me if I don't throw them a parade.
i echo robby. seen and heard the same things....
In regards to your blather about Gallaudet University and its financial status, a "public university hiding out as a private one" wouldn't charge $23962 per academic year for tuition (and make no distinction between in/out of state students).
In regards to your assertions about land ownership, "so much land in the first place" is 3.8 acres. You make it sound like Gallaudet University owns all 40 of the acres in question. As a point of comparison, the entire White House complex is comprised of 18 acres.
You stated in an earlier post that you were black. As such I have a hard time believing Gallaudet students "have been so candid as to use the n-word ville when describing the neighborhood to the north and the east of GU" in your presence. Do you sign? If so, how does one sign "n-word ville"?
The deaf and hard-of-hearing have a unique set of challenges that extend beyond simple comprehension of verbal conversations. One of the biggest: street crime. I cannot blame them for being somewhat physical and socially insular in light of the hostile environment that surrounded their institution for many years. But the transition of the area is giving the University hope, clearly enough hope to engage in an aggressive yet calculated development project.
Come up with some facts you can substantiate rather than resorting to ad hominem attacks against the University.
Well, lets see, GU was started as IDD by the Federal Government, It still receives direct earmarks and is heavily funded by the Federal Government. The President of the USA actually signs their Degrees. Sounds quasi public to me, but you don't have to trust me ask them, or read the Dept of Ed budget request. It's rather interesting. GU is probably more like West Point and other Federal Universities. It's run by the a BOT set up by the Congress. It's a rather interesting Hybrid, on par with the USPS, which by the way is a "private corporation" But who's kidding who. Here's another PBS, same deal, as the Bush Admin proved where there are government strings, the private nature of those organizations gets pulled.
Now on to the land size argument. The White house too is federal land. Good comparison. USPS Owns a former Monastery in Maryland. but they are private too. Hmm.
Now on to the meat of of your BS sandwich:
"The deaf and hard-of-hearing have a unique set of challenges that extend beyond simple comprehension of verbal conversations. One of the biggest: street crime. I cannot blame them for being somewhat physical and socially insular in light of the hostile environment that surrounded their institution for many years."
I'll think about that when the deaf guy around the corner from where I used to live goes and buys his weed. Or the Deaf kids in GU shirts go get theirs on Orren or Montello. See white deaf kids stick out when they buy drugs. It's funny because there even a young white drug boy around staples. But they don't go to him. Not sure why.
And now on to the "As such I have a hard time believing Gallaudet students "have been so candid as to use the n-word ville when describing the neighborhood to the north and the east of GU" in your presence. Do you sign? If so, how does one sign "n-word ville"?"
Despite dating a GU Student I don't sign. Good news not all that go there can't hear or speak. Also, there is IM and e-mail, texting on the side kick. etc.
But perhaps you think they are not able to communicate beyond signing. Some even Drive. Deaf people are quite capable. :)
And now on to being candid, people actually, when they feel comfortable do say off color things. As boondocks say's I know I should be telling the white people the truth, but I can't help it. Ask any black person, or woman or other minority of sorts. When men consider women just one of the guys they will let the damnest things slip out their mouths. The same goes for black and whites etc. It's interesting. I have family that can pass for white and did so at times, it's sobering what people say when they think you're either one of them, or in their clique.
Here's the deal, as with Howard Univ, in Petworth, GU hasn't done anything for Trinidad, Ivy City, or SOFO. So I am not going to applaud them when they finally get off their collective butts to venture into a money making development idea.
They have chosen not to be a part of the community. It's shameful, if you value the University as a community Center of Learning. If it's just another Non-Profit out for itself. Then they are doing exactly what they should do, but I don't believe in celebrating selfishness.
Now to your last words. I guess when ever the FY09 budget is passed you can read it for yourself. But, GU isn't a victim, anymore than GWU, AU, GTWN, HU, UDC, SU, SEU, et. al.
As a neighbor of Gallaudet at 5th & M this is welcome news. Bravo Gallaudet.
This is great news that GU is changing its approach to its environment so fundamentally--about time GU opens up to the neighborhood. I hope it also plans to work with the city to improve the streetscaping outside the Florida avenue entrances.
Robby,
Whether or not GU is subsidized by the Feds seems to me irrelevant to this story. However, if the university has an opportunity to make a good investment, then bully for taxpayers!
Clearly there is a history of mutual animosity between the university and the surrounding neighborhood. With historical (and empirical) reason--it was a high crime neighborhood.
Of course some GU students do drugs, just like college students everywhere. Georgetown students use drugs, but houses near that university are worth millions--to blame GU students for the primary drug or poverty problems in this neighborhood is laughable. Oh, by the way, not all GU students are white. Why this became a tired racial thing again, I just don't understand.
I get exhausted by people who always greet progress with their own vitriol about the past.
I don't blame the university for walling itself off. The neighborhood was extremely high crime for decades.
It's a shame they had to do that, but it's understandable.
In fact, I'd suggest that they are being fairly proactive in contemplating the more accessible development at hand. The neighborhood has improved a great deal, but it's still got a lot of crime.
Blaming the university students for drug use and crime in the area is laughable.
No one is blaming them for the drug wars hillman - get a grip, but I don't call them a savior either. They were just another neglectful neighbor.
I can't celebrate them now either. I wish them well, late is better than never. They are not unique.
That's the point.
Post a Comment