Gallaudet Board Chief Steps Down

Trustee Cites Stress, 'Aggressive Threats'

Celia May Baldwin, the interim head of the Gallaudet University board of trustees, has resigned from the board because of the stress of an emotional presidential search process that has sparked angry protests and "numerous aggressive threats" to her in recent weeks, according to a memo sent to the board secretary.

Yesterday afternoon, Jane K. Fernandes, whose selection as incoming president set off a continuing demonstration at the school for the deaf, said again that she has no plans to resign. And the longtime outgoing president, I. King Jordan, asked people to come together in support of Fernandes.

The search process has been an emotional one from the start because for many the president of Gallaudet symbolizes the leader of the deaf community. On blogs and Web sites across the country, alumni, students and others have exhaustively debated the candidates, analyzed news and traded rumors -- some funny, some venomous.

Baldwin did not respond to messages left on her pager last night and did not provide specifics about threats.

After Baldwin announced to a tense and waiting crowd on the campus last Monday that the board had chosen Fernandes, the provost, to become president in 2007, students began a protest that has continued around the clock by the front gates of the Northeast Washington campus.

Protesters have camped out in tents to send a message to a board that they say has ignored the campus for too long. They complained that the search process unfairly eliminated strong candidates and didn't put enough emphasis on racial and ethnic diversity, and they asked for a stronger leader for the deaf community.

A coalition of faculty, students, staff and alumni has demanded a reopening of the search process and assurances that there will be no reprisals for the vocal opposition.

On Monday night, the faculty voted no confidence in Fernandes and in the board's decision, asked her to resign and urged the board to restart the search without punishments for protesters.

"After many sleepless nights and much reflection these past several days, I regret to tell you that on Sunday night I came to the decision to resign from the Gallaudet Board of Trustees," Baldwin wrote in the memo dated yesterday. "The presidential search and the controversy that has ensued have put enormous strain and stress on me. I simply could not ignore the numerous aggressive threats I have received over the past weeks. I cannot express how disappointed I am that it has to come to this point." She wrote that she has tremendous respect for her colleagues on the board and that she hopes the community feels she served it well.

She was filling the chairmanship left open when longtime board member Glenn Anderson resigned last year. Some of the protesters were angry when Anderson, a black man, did not make it to the final round in the presidential search. All three of the finalists named are white.

Baldwin's role will be filled by trustee Brenda Brueggemann.

"I am deeply saddened by the resignation of acting board chair CM Baldwin," Brueggemann wrote in a statement sent to the campus community last night. "No one should face threats and personal attacks and we respect her personal decision to step down. I am grateful for her tenure on our Board and her commitment to Gallaudet. We remain united in our support and decision of Dr. Fernandes and are committed to moving the University forward."