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Despite these new develop ments, Gerdes said she believes the most important factor in the council’s decision may be whether members are convinced that ASL is a individual language associated with a unique culture. That didn't happen at the 1994 discussion, former council mem ber and biology professor Alan Dickman said. He said while he supported the motion, the majori ty of the council did not. “The big issue was: ‘Is there re ally a culture associated with sign language?’” he said. By the end of the discussion, he said, most coun cil members agreed that ASL was a individual language separate from English. But members did not reach a consensus that the “deaf culture” often discussed in relation to ASL possessed enough unique literary, historical and artistic markers to qualify it as a truly separate cul ture, he said. Michael Hibbard, a professor in the planning, public policy and management department, said he felt that way when he sat on the board. “I have no doubt that ASL is a 001782 / 1 EMERALD CITY COMICS Your campus connection for.. COMICS & GAMES New Releases MAGIC Back Issues ad&d Subscription Cyberpunk different language, with its own grammar and syntax,” he said. “But I think the purpose of the for eign language requirement goes be yond that.” The controversy over the foreign language requirement may lie in the wording, said University Sign Language Instructor Johanna Lar son-Muhr. “I think that what's happening is that the foreign language re quirement is mislabeled," she said. "What we're talking about is a sec ond language requirement.” For example, she said, at many universities, Navajo — a language spoken only in the United States — is offered to fulfill that require ment. She also points to the growing number of Americans who speak Spanish, even though that language is also considered “foreign” under the University guidelines. Because ASL is relatively new — it was not formally recognized as a language until 1965 — people often do not understand that it is a separate language associated with an individual culture, she said. “It's been proven that ASL has linguistic integrity,” she said. “In fact, it has no roots in English at all.” Evangelista, who began his sign language studies in Larson-Muhr's class, said he has learned more from her class than just the lan guage. From hearing her stories of growing up with two deaf parents, he said he has also learned to ap preciate the deaf culture. It is a cul ture that he says has its own histo ry, folklore and traditions. “The deaf culture is so rich and diverse in tradition and culture that to say it is not a culture ... is not looking at the larger picture,” he said. But while the debate over the merit of ASL culture may not be resolved anytime soon, if Evange lista has his way, the issue could be decided based on the existing law alone. In 1994, the Undergraduate Council decided the foreign language requirement must: allow students to gain linguistic skills make students familiar with other cultures that have ancient and distinct histories provide intellectual discipline and the challenge of learning a foreign language The council decided: The deaf community is a subculture of American culture, rather than a culture foreign from that of the United States in general. If all available languages were placed on a spectrum, most other languages would receive a higher priority [over ASL3 Dissenting opinion of the council: ASL clearly provides linguistic skills. While slightly weaker in its cultural component than standard languages, ASL has enough cultural integrity to carry it to a two-year limit. ASL has rigorous intellectual content equivalent to other languages. Source: Feb. 3,1994, Council minutes. Before writing his petition, he consulted Sandra Gish, the ASL program coordinator at Western Oregon University, for help writing his request. Her advice to him was straightforward, he said: Tell the committee he was requesting that the University allow him to com plete the degree requirements as mandated by law and leave at that. And when it comes down to it, Evangelista said, that is what he plans to do. “I’m just respectfully asking that the University comply with the state law,” he said. Slide into Mr.Cleanjeans this Summer 012018 AND WIN Eugene Emerald tickets Drawings are held weekly during the season. • Close to Campus • Clean Handicap AccessibleMachirttfc MR. CLEAN JEAN'S COIN-OP LAUNDRY 240 E. 17th (between High & Pearl) GOT A STORY IDEA? GIVE US A C A L L! 3 4 6 - 5 5 1 1 Oregon Daily Emerald P.O. 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