Gallaudet University suspends Kappa Gamma fraternity

The Daily Moth June 10, 2020 in ASL 94 Subscribers Subscribe

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Gallaudet University suspends Kappa Gamma fraternity

**No CC, transcript below

Gallaudet University President Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano announced in an email to the Gallaudet community at 8:30 this evening that Gallaudet would be suspending the Kappa Gamma fraternity as a part of the university’s commitment to dismantle systemic racism as a part of the Black Lives Matter movement.

I want to disclose that I am a member of Kappa Gamma. I entered in 2006 when I was a Gallaudet student. I also want to disclose that Gallaudet University is one of the sponsors for “The Daily Moth.” However, I am doing this report as a member of the deaf community. It can get sticky since our community is so small, but my first commitment is to you, the deaf community.

Now, back to the story.

In the email, Cordano said that “over the past few days, with the Student Body Government and the Black Student Union Town Hall last Friday, we became aware of new information that led to renewed demands for change with Kappa Gamma, a fraternity with a long history at Gallaudet. They have become the face of systemic racism in our community, with photographs of the salute and use of robes being shared on social media. This behavior is unacceptable. Gallaudet has now taken action to suspend Kappa Gamma on campus. We are in the process of reviewing other organizations…”

This may have to do with a post related to Joel Barish and the DeafNation controversy. An anonymous person on a “Deaf Victims” website had a link to a Twitter account named @LickProfanity that posted multiple images of Kappa Gamma members from the Gallaudet University archives. One of the photos showed Joel Barish with an extended, outstretched arm when he was a pledge. It looked just like a Nazi salute. Barish defended himself by saying he was blocking photographers. But there was another image of Kappa Gamma members in a group photo and all of them had extended arms in a 90 degrees position. It looked exactly like the Nazi salute. But their faces were covered with a white circle. So it was not known who they were .

Last night, a long-time Deaf blogger/vlogger, Ricky Taylor shared the same image of the group of Kappa Gamma members doing a salute but it was uncensored and showed faces. He did not disclose where he got it from. I will include a link to Taylor’s blog post below. He is still providing updates on the controversy on his Facebook page. In the image there are some well-known members of the deaf community who hold important positions. Some of them have already posted apology videos.

[Sponsored Video from Convo]

The Kappa Gamma Fraternity posted on their Facebook page on Friday that said they are aware there is an image circulated (the censored version). At that time the uncensored image was not yet posted. The fraternity said they know there is an image of members doing the salute out there. On Friday, Kappa Gamma (the college students) said “we have long since denounced these such gestures and the practices associated with what we were shown in the circulation. They are no longer accepted in any form by the present-day administration.”

Cordano’s letter acknowledged that members of her family have been involved in Gallaudet fraternities and sororities. She said her father was a member of Kappa Gamma. She said that the university’s work in dismantling systemic racism must “be taken up by all parts of Gallaudet -- not just our Greek organizations -- because, as an institution, we have a history of racism and bias that must be addressed.” She said she would issue a communication on steps ahead.

I have reached out to Kappa Gamma International, and was told that they would issue a letter in the near future.

It is not the first time Kappa Gamma has been suspended. As far as I know, it is the fourth time.

I will provide more updates as they come regarding this issue.

Clearly, there are personal conflicts and the community may take my reports with a grain of salt. I am seriously considering bringing in an independent journalist to do a deep dive in this entire topic, and that would mean the person would ask me for a comment and be able to post the story without any review or approval process from me. Feel free to provide comments on what you want to see from “The Daily Moth” regarding this topic.

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