May 8, 2006
To: Campus Community
 
Fr: Celia May Baldwin
      Interim Chair
      Gallaudet University Board of Trustees
 
Re: Resolution of No Confidence by the Faculty Senate
 
The members of the Board of Trustees were profoundly disappointed to learn of the vote of no confidence in the Board that was passed by the University Faculty today. As I have stated numerous times both publicly and privately, the presidential search process was conducted fairly in every regard from the selection of the Presidential Search Committee through to the selection of Dr. Jane Fernandes as the University's ninth president.
 
It is important for the campus community to know that the resolution passed today was not the only one proposed. There were several others that pledged faculty endorsement of the Board of Trustees. In other words, there are many members of the faculty who clearly support the Board's handling of the presidential search. From these alternative resolutions, as well as from what we have learned in meetings with people since we arrived on campus last week, it is clear that there are many in our community who, more than anything, want the protest to conclude peaceably and quickly so that Gallaudet University can move onward.  To make this happen, every member of the community needs to focus on what is best for Gallaudet now and in the future.