American Sign Language instructor terminated after in-class incident, students say

After two years at the University, American Sign Language instructor Peter Quint was terminated last week, presumably because of a May 4 incident with a student during his morning American Sign Language 203 course, according to students in the class.

Administrators from the College of Education declined to comment on the issue. However, several students present during the class said Quint began the class Wednesday with a personal story about being confronted by a group of men with guns while traveling in Pakistan with a group of friends. According to students, Quint, who is deaf, explained he was able to get out of the situation safely because he could communicate to the men that he was not a threat.

The story was intended to highlight the importance of communication, students said. It came about after several students repeatedly ignored Quint’s requests to only sign conversation. Quint lost his hearing due to meningitis when he was two and insisted students only sign during his classes so everyone could participate.

According to students present, later in Wednesday’s class, Quint noticed that a student spoke rather than signed, got upset and asked the student, “Do you want me to shoot you?”

“He wasn’t saying he was actually going to shoot anyone,” Claire Johnson, who is in several of Quint’s classes this term, said of the comment, adding that it was intended to relate back to the story and was taken out of context. “I didn’t find it threatening.”

The administration and Department of Public Safety made a short presentation to Quint’s ASL and Deaf Culture class last week, Johnson said, but gave little information about the specifics of the situation. Replacement instructors have taken over both of Quint’s classes, Johnson said.

“I feel like a lot of the students have been left in the dark,” said Korrin Bishop, another ASL student. “No one’s actually said to us what’s going on.”

Both students, and several others through emails, said they don’t feel the situation has been handled fairly by administration and feel that students speaking in his class rather than signing was discriminatory against Quint.

“I really want to give the administration an opportunity to talk about this,” Bishop said. “I don’t want this swept under the rug.”

Concerned Student

check out this video made in honor of Peter.
Concerned Student

check out this video made in honor of Peter.
Waiting to be herd

We want the College of Education to talk to the student and listen to our voices. This far they have chosen not to. In classes and weekend seminars the University teaches us to speak out against unjust actions. We try, but the COE decides not to listen.
Waiting to be herd

We want the College of Education to talk to the student and listen to our voices. This far they have chosen not to. In classes and weekend seminars the University teaches us to speak out against unjust actions. We try, but the COE decides not to listen.
Jemmali

Here’s another current UO abuse of power:
http://pages.uoregon.edu/jemmali/savearabic.htm
Jemmali

Here’s another current UO abuse of power:
http://pages.uoregon.edu/jemmali/savearabic.htm
http://www.facebook.com/diandriamarie Diandria Alcorn

what happens when a ELL student speaks a different language in an english classroom? They would be asked to speak english so they could participate and cooperate in school. If a teacher berated that student for using a different language during lessons, not to mention talking in class, they would not be fired, rather they would be praised. What’s the difference? The out of context statement is ridiculous, its college people, we’re adults. ACT LIKE IT. Also, if it was a sign only class, it might have been a signed “do you want me to shoot you?” which is evidence enough that it was probably a choppy sentence do to the limitations of ASL. there is only sarcasm in body language and if students dont realize that at the time, it could easily be misconstrued. THINK people THEN REACT. ridiculous.
http://www.facebook.com/diandriamarie Diandria Alcorn

what happens when a ELL student speaks a different language in an english classroom? They would be asked to speak english so they could participate and cooperate in school. If a teacher berated that student for using a different language during lessons, not to mention talking in class, they would not be fired, rather they would be praised. What’s the difference? The out of context statement is ridiculous, its college people, we’re adults. ACT LIKE IT. Also, if it was a sign only class, it might have been a signed “do you want me to shoot you?” which is evidence enough that it was probably a choppy sentence do to the limitations of ASL. there is only sarcasm in body language and if students dont realize that at the time, it could easily be misconstrued. THINK people THEN REACT. ridiculous.
GUEST

If it would have been a 200 level spanish class the student(s) would have been dismissed from the class for constantly speaking in english. Also one must take into account CONTEXT when understanding the question the teacher posed. It seems he was not threatening anyones life, he was making a point.
GUEST

If it would have been a 200 level spanish class the student(s) would have been dismissed from the class for constantly speaking in english. Also one must take into account CONTEXT when understanding the question the teacher posed. It seems he was not threatening anyones life, he was making a point.
Let’s march in PROTEST!

Let’s march in protest! Show UO where they stand! We want College of Education to understand what discrimination means. This is definitely unfair treatment from the administrators. Let’s start to march in protest!! Who wants to join us!!
Let’s march in PROTEST!

Let’s march in protest! Show UO where they stand! We want College of Education to understand what discrimination means. This is definitely unfair treatment from the administrators. Let’s start to march in protest!! Who wants to join us!!
ANON

Yeah in my own ASL class, I give out in syllabus that if anyone speaks without signing, they will be warned with 3 times. if the 3rd time hits, I kick them out of class or give them a F. It worked for me, simple as that. I kicked out one of my students and that was it.
ANON

Yeah in my own ASL class, I give out in syllabus that if anyone speaks without signing, they will be warned with 3 times. if the 3rd time hits, I kick them out of class or give them a F. It worked for me, simple as that. I kicked out one of my students and that was it.
http://www.facebook.com/margaret.adamski Margaret Adamski

I cannot believe.. How dare they disrespectful and it still unfair communication and still poor judgement, same time, too. I suspected that he might saying ” Second things, not shoot sign language?
http://www.facebook.com/margaret.adamski Margaret Adamski

I cannot believe.. How dare they disrespectful and it still unfair communication and still poor judgement, same time, too. I suspected that he might saying ” Second things, not shoot sign language?
Pissed off Deafie

I guess.. those hearies still feel the need to oppress the deafs!!! geezzz.. F**K those adminstrations people who seems to think that they know whats the best for deafies.. they DONT!!!!
Pissed off Deafie

I guess.. those hearies still feel the need to oppress the deafs!!! geezzz.. F**K those adminstrations people who seems to think that they know whats the best for deafies.. they DONT!!!!