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FROM: Bruce Gross, WRAD, Inc. CEO/ President
Palmdale, California

TO: Brenda Brueggerman, Interim Chair
Gallaudet University Board of Trustees

SUBJECT: Selection of President of Gallaudet University

Many of us have been following the events that were unfolding for several weeks at Gallaudet University regarding the selection of the next President of Gallaudet University. We feel that the Presidential Search Process has been badly flawed therefore we strongly urge that the Board of Trustees reopen the presidential search process to help select the right candidate to be the next President of Gallaudet.

We are concerned that the matter has not been resolved to each group's satisfaction including the majority of the students, faculty, and staff, and alumni members , as well as the deaf and hard of hearing community in the United States and aboard so we are urging that the Board of Trustees take this matter seriously and open the presidential search process again without any further delay.

It is important to have diversity in selecting the candidates and to accept candidates for interviews that have the highest degrees like PhD's. I have known some strong candidates who have PhD degrees from well-known and respected universities with strong leadership skills that applied for President at Gallaudet but they were rejected even without being interviewed to the next level of screening potential candidates. Something is not right about the presidential search process in the first place.

It is a fact that more deaf and hard of hearing students decide to enter college elsewhere instead of Gallaudet because they know that Gallaudet does not offer the best educational opportunities for the deaf . This has been the ongoing trend for years since the ADA was passed in Congress. It is time for Gallaudet to change and to become more competitive with other colleges and universities. We also need to bring back students to Gallaudet if we want it to be one of the top colleges and universities in the United States. Dr. Jane Fernandes was the Provost at Gallaudet for years and there were many concerns about her and her leadership skills. It is a fact that Gallaudet failed to meet its goals or showed declining performance in key areas, including the number of students who stay in school, graduate, and either pursue graduate degrees or find jobs upon graduation during Dr. Jane's Fernandes's leadership at Gallaudet. (Go to www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/summary.10003306.2005.html if you want to see the facts from the Federal Government)

We care about the future of Gallaudet so we hope that you will listen to many of us who are asking to re-open the presidential search process that support diversity and social justice for everyone as well as not reprisaling people who were involved in the Gallaudet protests including the selection of the Gallaudet President.

Thank you for your time to read this message.

WRADly yours,
Bruce Gross
WRAD, Inc. President/CEO