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Middlebury's student government supports us

The following is an excerpt from the platform section of the SGA presidential campaign website of Charles Rainey, senator of Middlebury's SGA.

You support us!

The following are from your responses to the question on our petition that asked you to

"Tell Middlebury's President Laurie Patton why this initiative matters to you!"

American Sign Language is a necessity at Middlebury, and it matters to a lot of people!

 

I support a more inclusive Middlebury!

 

This is the only thing that I regret about coming to Middlebury. Why do we not emphasize the importance of ASL here in the United States? Here in a "language" school?

 

There are so many reasons to bring ASL classes to middlebury. As a school renowned for its language programs, the lack of ASL leaves a huge gap. Additionally, Middlebury is not nearly receptive enough to potential students with any sort of disabilities. Over time, the incorporation and expansion of an ASL/deaf studies department could lead to more deaf people considering studying at middlebury. Even adding ASL to the summer language school program would automatically put Middlebury on the map as one of the top places in the nation to learn ASL--a skill that is incredibly important to people across the country who suddenly find themselves having to communicate by signing. There are so many reasons to implement ASL classes at Middlebury, but ultimately here is the most important one: as a school known for its languages, that has significant student interest in adding ASL and is in dire need of increasing its inclusivity, adding ASL class options would be in the best interest both for current Middlebury students as well as for the future of the college.

 

I believe that ASL should be treated as equally important as spoken languages. It is more commonly used than some of the spoken languages we offer. I realize it is offered for J-term, but that is not enough time to become fluent in it (and learn about Deaf culture), and our lack of year-round offering invites the idea that it can not be as seriously/intensively studied. Middlebury can be progressive in our cultural attitude toward ASL!

 

I think that by not having regular ASL courses and ASL language schools included Middlebury is closing off its students from an entire society of people. Offering these classes would not only create opportunities for Middlebury students but open up the campus to a new group of people. The language schools would no doubt bring people from all over the country in to Middlebury and given them opportunities to become involved in deaf culture. Overall, this initiative will make the campus more inclusive and create fantastic opportunities for not only Middlebury students but for people all over the country.

 

Learning ASL is an incredibly meaningful way to cross the cultural barrier that exists between the hearing and deaf communities. It is important that we decrease the stigma regarding the deaf and hard of hearing community by making ASL more widely accepted and understood. It is also beneficial for a wide variety of careers.

 

Since Middlebury is famous for its languages programs, ASL should definitely be one of the choices offered.

 

Our campus needs to be made more accessible to all people including those who are deaf. ASL (*American* sign language) is a foreign language for many people here, and it is important that students gain exposure to both this language and its vibrant community.

 

We need better accessibility on this campus and this is a brilliant opportunity to work towards it.

 

I think students who study ASL or use it at home should be able to continue it and teach others about the language and deaf culture

I know many people who took the course in jterm and wish there were further ASL classes available.

 

I started learning ASL in 2013 at Middlebury, but have since not had the opportunity to further my skills through formal classes. I strongly believe the Middlebury community would benefit from offering ASL classes beyond an introductory level.

 

It's really important and also very fun

 

Because inclusivity should be more than a buzzword!

 

It's important that the students of Middlebury can go out in to the world and not only be able to speak with people who speak other languages, but people who speak without words. It is also a great alternative to students who aren't great at foreign languages to fill their language requirements while becoming more educated about deaf and hard of hearing culture and issues in the U.S.

 

Middlebury is known for its language department and I would love to see ASL added to that list!

 

Why do we teach languages here? Whatever answer you give, it should then raise the question: why do we not teach this pervasive and exponentially important language?

 

Inclusivity is important!

 

We have the best language program in the country and yet we lack a sign language program. We need to be able to communicate with the entire world because every community and culture has something to offer.

 

More ASL classes would continue to foster a more inclusive Middlebury community and provide students with the opportunity to communicate with many more people. Essentially, it would be a great chance for Midd Kids to learn something new and incredibly important to a community that is part of our greater society.

 

Communication is a critical component to compassion.

 

I think this initiative is a logical extension to the "inclusivity" platform you have been interested in tackling alongside faculty and students.


This is also a very strategic way of preparing interested students to become better acquainted with an undervalued but necessary skill, and would also add yet another dimension to the uniqueness of Middlebury College (not many universities have institutionally supported this idea).

 

We should be as accessible as possible, and encourage students to pursue avenues that encourage interaction with a wider world.

 

I would love to be able to communicate with the ASL community.

 

Middlebury has been making progress in terms of being more inclusive to people of all abilities and bodies, and this would be another key step! If we consider ourselves to be a prestigious language institute, we need to include all forms of communication, and equip our students to connect thoughtfully with various people in the world.

 

Languages at Midd have been difficult to start, especially if students only want to try out a language for a semester without all the commitment. ASL provides the ability for students to learn in a truly "language pledge-y" way and is easily accountable. It is also more inclusive and tolerant of different demographics!

For a college claiming to be so devoted to language-learning, we seem to be leaving out a pretty darn important one!

 

It is just as important as the other languages Midd offers.

 

Middlebury has the reputation of being the premier language school in America. Creating an ASL program would further demonstrate Middlebury's commitment to languages.

 

ASL is the fourth most used language in the United States (including English), as an institution which prides ourselves on our language programs, ASL should be included!

 

As someone who took the J-term ASL class at Middlebury, I think it is important for others to have the same opportunity to experience the joy of learning a language that is unique and expressive. Along with learning how to sign, students will be able to learn about the deaf culture and community.

 

ASL is language, and as such, should be offered to students at an advanced level

ASL should be apart of your language immersion program

 

ASL is a widely used language which needs to be recognized by and included in the society, not just those part of the deaf communities.

 

Because accessibility should be an "everyday ethic" at Middlebury too!

 

ASL is a beautiful and enriching language that is incredibly important in the lives of so many Americans!

 

Because it's a bummer to learn so much over term and not have the chance to continue.

 

Middlebury College is not accessible to those in the deaf community - for the sake of promoting inclusivity, we need to make resources more readily available about the deaf community.

 

ASL is the United States' THIRD most widely used language! As the premier school for language learning in the country, it doesn't fit to not have such an important language available.

 

Come on, it looks good.

 

This class would be awesome

 

Laurie Patton! Being inclusive toward differently-abled peoples is incredibly important and something that this campus doesn't have a fantastic track record with. Steps like this are key to creating a more inclusive campus and fostering diversity of all types.

 

Inclusion & expanded learning opportunities!

 

ASL is a language that changes the lives of people and creates a culture.

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