Columbia is celebrating Deaf Awareness Day on Sept. 26. The festivities include a performance by Crom Saunders and takes place on the fifth floor of the Student Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is free to attend, but attendees must register.
Columbia has celebrated Deaf Awareness Day, Deaf Awareness Week and Deaf Awareness month, all of which are in September, almost every year for over a decade.
Meghan Vozzolo, ASL Interpreter/Coordinator, organized the event. “It’s super exciting,” said Vozzolo, “We’re expecting a really good turn out. We have probably around 15-plus local resources that will have booths and be able to share information.” These resources provide support to people who are deaf and hard of hearing, but are just as important for allies and interpreters.
There will also be vendors including: an artist, a barber, and the business that owns the copyrights to the late renowned Deaf artist Chuck Baird’s artwork.
The ASL club will also be participating in Deaf Awareness Day, hosting activities throughout the day.
“We’re gonna have a trivia booth set up, asking questions about Deaf culture and ASL things,” said Rachael East, the president of ASL Club. “ We’re planning to have a couple games, we’re thinking about doing a game of telephone but all in sign.” The club will also have a button making stand for attendees to make custom buttons.
Earlier this month, the college announced plans to cut 18 programs across the school, including the American Sign Language-English interpretation major. Those currently pursuing this path will still graduate with their chosen degree.
The college cited the costs to deliver the ASL-English interpretation program as the reason for cutting it. It is the only accredited major of its kind in the state.
Crom Saunders, a certified Deaf interpreter and associate professor of ASL, will be a featured performer at the event from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to this being his first year performing his piece for the celebration, there will be some changes in audience as well.
Saunders said in an email to the Chronicle that this year will be different in that “we have an ever-changing student dynamic/demographic, including Deaf students currently enrolled in other majors at Columbia who attend our events from time to time.”
Deaf students from surrounding high schools have been invited as well, including Whitney Young Magnet High School, Hinsdale South High School, and more.
Saunders will perform a portion of his one-person show, “Cromania!” which he first created in 2007. The piece is a collection of stories and skits based on Saunders’s life “as a Deaf person growing up in a hearing world, but also material I developed parodying pop culture and incorporating physical theatre to overcome language barriers between myself and the audience.”
“Cromania!” covers this as well as themes of satire, miscommunication and one’s unique perspective on things.
The show was first developed because Saunders was a member of a comedy and improv troupe in California, called ICEWORM. An event coordinator found his troupemate’s solo show, which according to Saunders was “most decidedly not family friendly.” The coordinator then approached Saunders about him performing a more family friendly show for an event. While he did not have a show at the time, the coordinator booked him for an event two weeks away, during which Saunders “frenziedly wrote, rehearsed and put together the first version of ‘Cromania!’”
About two-thirds of the material from the first version of the show from 2007 is still present in his performance today.
J Ambrose, a senior ASL-English Interpretation major, plans on attending the event for as long as he is able. “I think it’s very important for not just ASL students,” said Ambrose, “but people that are not students to come and see the Deaf world and just kind of immerse themselves in it.”
“It’s always about building a bridge right? Showing the Deaf community, we recognize you, we respect you, we want to support you. And also we want to celebrate with you.” Vozzolo said.
The event will have student interpreters to speak aloud what is being signed so that hearing and non-hearing attendees can take part. This includes performances such as “Cromania!” which will be voiced for those that do not understand ASL.
As a student in the ASL program, East was disappointed in the choice to cut her major, but confident in her community.
“The Deaf community certainly is not going anywhere. Columbia can close the program but that’s not going to change the fact that there are deaf people in this community.” said East. “I think it’s important to remember why we have an interpreting program to begin with, and at the heart of ASL is the Deaf community. You cannot take the language away from the people.”
Copy edited by Vanessa Orozco
Resumen en Español:
Columbia celebrará el Día de la Concienciación sobre la Sordera el 26 de septiembre con festividades en el Centro de Estudiantes, con una actuación de Crom Saunders de 1 a 2 p.m. Saunders interpretará parte de su espectáculo unipersonal, “Cromania!,” que parodia la cultura pop y explora las experiencias de las personas sordas.
El evento, organizado por la Intérprete/Coordinadora de ASL Meghan Vozzolo, se celebra de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m. e incluye puestos de más de 15 recursos locales, vendedores y el Club ASL, que organizará juegos y actividades. La celebración de este año también invita a estudiantes sordos de institutos locales.
A pesar de la reciente decisión de Columbia de eliminar la especialidad de Interpretación ASL-Inglés debido a los costos, estudiantes como Rachael East, presidenta del ASL Club, y J Ambrose, estudiante de Interpretación ASL-Inglés, subrayan la importancia de fomentar la concienciación de la sordera y de apoyar a la comunidad. Los estudiantes intérpretes garantizarán la accesibilidad tanto para los oyentes como para los sordos. El evento refleja el compromiso constante de Columbia con la comunidad sorda a pesar de los recientes recortes en los programas.
Resumen en Español por Doreen Abril Albuerne-Rodriguez
Resumen en Español copia editada por Manuel Nocera
