Language is often thought of as only spoken word. How we articulate defines our own unique voice, and society differentiates languages as English, French, Latin, and Mandarin. Lost in this list is a language and a community that communicates through gestures. This is known as American Sign Language.
Aiming to become a registered student organization (RSO) in January, the Stevens American Sign Language (ASL) Club is starting to bloom. Phil Gehman, the Director of Disability Services, shared information with Peer Leaders over the summer about what Stevens Disability Services can provide for new students. He mentioned the possibility of creating an ASL club on campus. Dylan Skurnik, a sophomore student, now a leader in the ASL club, showed interest and contacted Gehman to help start the club. Gehman and Skurnik have spent time spreading the word around campus, and there are currently 30 students interested in joining.
Skurnik describes the club meetings as “ASL workshops.” Gehman will teach signs to students to practice during the meeting and throughout the week, and he will review previous signs that were taught as well. They also encourage student teaching, as Skurnik says, “If a student has learned on their own and wants to share, they are more than welcome to demonstrate for the group.” This will bring a sense of community within the club by bringing students together to learn ASL. Their goal is to increase awareness and knowledge of the deaf community. As Gehman explains, ASL is often forgotten about as a language. He says, “Unfortunately, I think ASL is often looked at as just gestures, but it’s much more than that. Understanding ASL’s hand shape patterns and distinctive grammar shows the unique construction of the language. Contrary to what is still sometimes believed, ASL shares the complexity and utility of spoken languages.”
As well as ASL workshops, Gehman hopes that club members can attend events that promote the acknowledgment of the deaf community. He explains, “As someone with deaf parents, finding the deaf community around me has been a priority for me in every location that I’ve lived.” He enjoys attending events in Manhattan such as ASL poetry nights, theatre performances, and Disability Pride events. Club members who attend these kinds of events will gain outside exposure to ASL to help increase their skills.
For more information on the ASL club, contact Dylan Skurnik at dskurnik@stevens.edu.
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