'U' refuses ASL proposal

Arriving on campus this fall, many students hoped to begin learning the third most widely spoken language in the country - sign language.

But despite wide student support, including a Michigan Student Assembly proposal submitted to the linguistics department last spring, deaf and non-deaf students will not be sitting in classrooms this fall learning how to sign.

Why didn't the class materialize?

It depends on who you ask.

"Everyone thought there was going to be a class ready in the fall, even though it wasn't in the catalogue. And they were so disappointed," said Joan Smith, who has interpreted for President Clinton and works in the Services for Students with Disabilities office.

Last October, hearing-impaired student Rachel Arfa began circulating a petition to then-interim University President Homer Neal, requesting that the University set up a sign-language course.

MSA followed up the petition in the spring by passing a resolution asking the department of linguistics to offer a class in American Sign Language.

"Our plan was basically, it's time for the University of Michigan to offer an American Sign Language class," said MSA Communications Chair Ryan Friedrichs, who worked on the resolution. Friedrichs is an LSA junior.

After the MSA proposal was submitted to the linguistics department, Marilyn Shatz, director of the Program in Linguistics, approached the LSA Dean's office about hiring a part-time professor and offering an introductory course this fall.

The difficulty ensued when the dean's office turned down the department's request, saying that offering a single course would not be sufficient for students to become proficient in sign language.

"The proposal was to hire an adjunct lecturer who would offer a course in the language and, what would be required, I think, for us to offer a course in American Sign Language would (be) for us to have a curriculum in American Sign Language," said Lincoln Faller, LSA associate dean for undergraduate education.

The problem, some say, is not lack of student support, but the way the students made their request.

"My viewpoint is simply that we need some clarification on what it is that the students do want," Shatz said. "Do they want one class, or is it that they want something else?"

Friedrichs said that students requested a preliminary sign language class taught by a part-time instructor because they thought it would more likely get approval than an entire sign language curriculum.

"You get student support in a temporary class, (then), if you get high enrollment ... it can become a permanent part of the department," Friedrichs said.

Many say students all over campus are eager to start signing - all they need is the listing in the course book.

Smith said there has always been a tremendous response to sign language classes offered in various locations on campus. "We taught it last year for free to medical students and the room was filled," she said.

Smith also noted that there is currently a wait list for the University Activities Center class in sign language.

Friedrichs said Faller may not have made a fully informed decision on the issue. "I don't think he realized, personally, how much student support there is behind an American Sign Language program."

Arfa said that although many hearing-impaired students choose not to communicate through sign language, an American Sign Language class is still vital because it would open up the gates of communication.

"It would make this campus more accessible for a small number of hearing-impaired students who have a difficult time communicating orally and rely on sign language," Arfa said in a written statement.

In the upcoming winter semester, as in the past, Linguistics 361, Sign Language Studies, will be offered. This course teaches students to analyze "the nature of sign language from a linguistic point of view," but does not set aside time for students to practice signing, said Prof. Karen van Hoek.

Those who worked to ensure that a program would begin this fall say they are not giving up hope that a program will begin in the future.

"We're nowhere near giving up on this project," Friedrichs said. "It's going to happen - it's just a matter of when."

AJA DEKLEVA COHEN/Daily
Rachel Arfa, a hearing-impaired student, campaigned for an American Sign Language course at the University.

09-09-97