Mark was born hearing and began losing his hearing in the first grade. Unfortunately, both of Mark’s parent were deaf and was unable to communicate with Mark’s …show more content…
Gallaudet is an internationally acclaimed all deaf university and post-secondary institution located in Washington, DC. In 1988 Gallaudet students went on strike in opposition to Dr. Elisabeth Ann Zinser, a hearing woman, becoming the president of the university. According to The Week the World Heard Gallauudet students and Faculty was angered because instead of the formal announcement they were expecting to witness, a news release had been distributed two hours earlier. It was said the Gallaudet’s Board of Trustees Chair, Jane Bassett Spilman stated “Deaf people are not ready to function in the hearing world.” (Gannon, 1989, p. 37) For the first time ever, the Deaf Community’s voice was heard loud and clear, throughout the nation. There were marches, speeches, and protest until Dr. Zinser resigned and was succeed by Dr. I. King Jordan, a deaf long time Gallaudet faculty member. This incident was known as the Deaf President Now Movement.
The Deaf President Now Movement as well as the fact the PSD’s dorm were set to close had a major impact on Mark decision to attend Gallaudet. At Gallaudet Mark could achieve any goal he wanted and was free to be himself. He engaged in intellectual conversations and learned how to be a leader he yearned to be. Finally finding the ideal environment to learn and grow Mark excelled far beyond his expectations. At the end, Mark graduated with his PHD in Psychology, and returned to PSD to work as an school