Deaf Students Vow to Keep Out New President

WASHINGTON — Gallaudet University students said Thursday that Elisabeth Ann Zinser, the new president of the school for the deaf, is unwelcome on the campus, and they vowed to keep her out.

Students have been protesting the selection of Zinser, who is not deaf and does not know sign language, and their demonstrations have halted virtually all instruction for four days. They have promised to continue their protests until she resigns.

The doors to the administration building were chained shut Thursday, and no administrators were seen on campus.

Student leader Greg Hlibok said students were willing to meet with Zinser but intend to tell her and Jane Bassett Spilman, chairwoman of the school’s board of trustees, that “there will be no dialogue, no compromise. That’s what we’re promising.”

Withdraws Support

In another development Thursday, one of the two deaf finalists for the school presidency withdrew his support for Zinser and said he would back the student protesters.

A day earlier, I. King Jordan, dean of the school’s college of arts and sciences, had said he was supporting Zinser “for the good of the school.” But Jordan told a student rally on Thursday that he could no longer support the new leader.