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| Living Together in Sign Language | |
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Welcome to Magner House, home to 14 undergraduates who are spreading sign language and deaf culture throughout CUA’s campus. For the first time ever, CUA students are participating in “thematic housing,” a residence option for student-initiated groups. Since last semester, Magner has housed the students grouped around the theme of “Sign Language and Deaf Culture,” or SLDC. The facility also houses smaller groups of students gathered around the themes of “American History,” “World Affairs” and “Women in the Arts and Literature.” A fundamental objective of SLDC is to raise awareness of deaf culture within the CUA community. During the university’s Disability Awareness Month — co-sponsored by SLDC in October — the group set up tables in the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center, where they distributed earplugs to interested passers-by. SLDC members stationed at the tables challenged people to use the plugs during daily activities (suggestions ranged from riding the Metro to ordering food) to get a better idea of what it feels like to be deaf. “To be asked to try living like a deaf person makes the impairment very real,” says Allegra Guarino, a CUA sophomore and member of SLDC. “A lot of people very honestly said they were afraid to try using the earplugs because it made them uncomfortable, and that was the exact point — to bring people out of their comfort zone so they can understand how other people have to live.” The group organizes the showing of movies with deaf themes, runs a deaf-themed book club and hosts “silent lunches” in the dining hall. They also arrange field trips to nearby Gallaudet University, the nation’s leading institution of higher education for the deaf and hard of hearing. There, CUA students have been exposed to silent theatrical performances, a voiceless haunted house and a unique student body. Two of the SLDC residents are deaf and already fluent in sign language, and most others entered the residence hall with a basic signing proficiency gained through a CUA sign language club, now being run by SLDC members. To help SLDC members reach their goal of signing proficiency, the university is offering the courses American Sign Language 1 and American Sign Language 2 for the first time this academic year. When the spring semester draws to a close, don’t expect the signing to stop. “Thematic housing is not an experiment,” asserts Clay Patty, the university’s associate director of residence life. “It is part of an overall goal to expand the living and learning choices for CUA students. We are delighted that the SLDC group chose to be involved in the first year. They have exceeded our expectations.” – J.H.T. |
Return to the CUA Magazine Contents Page Return to the CUA Public Affairs Home Page Revised: March 2005 All contents copyright © 2005. |
Entering the residence hall, one feels the typical college dorm vibes. Students brush past in haste to get to class, and an aroma of microwaved popcorn lingers. Pausing to take in the scene, however, the observer notices each door adorned with close-up images of human hands in various positions. A large banner showing the sign language alphabet covers much of a central wall, just above a timeline outlining “Deaf Culture Through the Ages.” At the other end of the hallway, two students carry on a conversation in sign language. 