By Alexis Young
Staff Writer
“We hope that we can welcome the Deaf community onto our campus and show them that a predominantly hearing university does in fact have great respect for the Deaf community,” said Armon Panahi, a junior biology major. “We are also hoping our hearing campus can gain insight from the deaf individuals and learn more about their community.”
American Sign Language Club will host a Deaf Social, its second event of the year, on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Loft of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The event is open to all hearing and deaf on campus and in the surrounding community.
“We started this event with the hopes of hosting a sort of social for deaf and hearing individuals to mingle and converse,” said Jordan Boland, a junior bioinformatics major. “This will mostly be a laid-back event to allow deaf and hearing individuals to converse, but we will be having ‘deaf story time’ where the deaf individuals will be able to share stories in any way they want.”
Boland and Panahi started the club this year to build campus interest in American Sign Language and in the deaf community. They felt the club could provide them with a platform on which they could spark interest and awareness in ASL and the deaf community on a predominantly hearing campus.
“Most people won’t ever travel to foreign countries,” said Angela Reisner, a sign language professor at Bonaventure. “But ASL is a language used in our country, and the more people who know it, the better communication access there is for everyone. Not to mention the fact that it is entirely possible that people who are born hearing may become deaf later in life.”
Gena Girard, a sophomore education major who is a part of ASL Club gained interest in sign through a project in high school. “When I came here, I was placed in the ASL class and I really enjoyed it, which is why once I was done with the class, I came back for the club.”
Learning sign was not a waste for Girard.
“When I can’t speak, I can sign which can be beneficial because, like me, my sister knows the basics and we can then communicate,” said Girard.
Multiple people from the deaf community will be in attendance, giving students a chance to branch out and practice their skills. However, knowing ASL is not a requirement to attend the event as there will be many hearing individuals who know sign in attendance.
“My goal is for people who have never had contact with a deaf person, or who have had limited contact, to have the chance to interact with them,” said Reisner. “Most people don’t see/speak with any deaf people on a regular basis, and this is a good opportunity to spread awareness about the community.”
youngam13@bonaventure.edu
