College offers the much needed opportunity to learn more about people from around the world and foster global communication. But Syracuse University still isn’t representative of everyone, specifically when it comes to the languages we all speak.

ASL has been one of the primary languages used by those who are deaf in the United States, and even outside of the U.S. SU should offer this as a language under its liberal arts core curriculum.

As a member of the University Senate, and as the chair for academic affairs in the Student Association, and as a student, I’ve seen the university take steps toward being inclusive — the use of ASL translators at most campus events is a good example. But that’s not enough.

SA President Ghufran Salih has been pushing for this change since her campaign for President began last semester, in April 2018.

“ASL is such an important language, with such a rich history and culture, and students should be able to take the course and have it count as credits towards their degree,” Salih said.

Currently, SA is organizing a petition for students to sign to bring before the Senate, Salih said. SA is also talking with students who have taken ASL classes and professors who teach them.

For ASL to become a part of the liberal arts core, the work must originate from the College of Arts and Sciences Committee on Curricula — that’s where this change must originate.

The university should strive to make the courses on ASL in the School of Education recognized in the liberal arts core curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences.

That will prove to community members who use ASL that they are recognized and valued at SU.

Ryan Golden is a policy studies and religion dual major. His column appears biweekly. He can be reached at rjgolden@syr.edu and on Twitter @RyanJGolden.

Published on October 17, 2018 at 9:16 pm