introduction
sun	Mar 6
mon	Mar 7
tue	Mar 8
wed	Mar 9
thu	Mar 10
fri	Mar 11
sat	Mar 12
sun	Mar 13
epilogue

The day began with an early morning meeting between a small group from Gallaudet and Congressmen David Bonior of Michigan and Steve Gunderson of Wisconsin, both members of the University's Board of Trustees. The day before, Bonior had contacted Jack Gannon, the director of the University's alumni association, and requested the meeting. (Two congressmen and one senator are regularly appointed to serve on the University's Board. Also serving on the Board at this time was Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii. Currently Gallaudet's congressional board members are Bonior, Rep. Ray LaHood from Illinois, and Senator John McCain from Arizona.) Included in this group was Greg Hlibok, president of the Student Body Government.

At about this same time, Elisabeth Zinser arrived in Washington, D.C. She had agreed to begin her presidency early and felt that her presence in Washington would help bring the protest to a close. One of the first things she did was to meet with I. King Jordan in the offices of the public relations firm working on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Together the two then went to a hotel in Northeast D.C. to meet with the four student leaders. The student leaders urged Zinser to step down, but she refused.

Zinser and Jordan then went to the National Press Club, where Spilman had just begun a press conference. It was at this press conference that Jordan publicly announced his endorsement and support of Zinser.

Also on that day, the faculty of the University and of Pre-College, along with staff people, met to decide whether or not they supported this now student-led protest. There was some dissention and opposition in the faculty meeting, but, in the end, the votes in both the faculty and staff meetings resulted in complete support of the protest.

At 4 p.m. Zinser and Spilman met with Bonior and Gunderson. Obviously the Congressmen's earlier meeting with the Jack Gannon and others influenced them greatly. Both men urged Zinser to resign and that evening Bonior publicly announced his support of the protesters.

While this was happening and throughout the day, reporters and supporters flocked to Gallaudet's campus. The late Mitch Snyder, then director of the Community for Creative Non-Violence, came as well and gave his support.

That night Hlibok, Zinser, and deaf actress Marlee Matlin—who had won an Academy Award for Children of a Lesser God in 1986—were interviewed by Ted Koppel on ABC's Nightline.

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5