Student Emails to Administration

New Administration emails sent 10:40am Tuesday, April 15th:

Dear CEHSP Dean Jill Pinkey Pastrana,

My name is Brynn Pachan, and I was one of the many Deaf Studies students who attended the April 10 forum at UMD alongside Deaf community members, faculty from the Deaf Studies program, and even local news outlets. The forum was held to address student concerns following the administration’s sudden decision to terminate the Deaf Studies minor on March 31—a decision that was both shocking and poorly communicated.

Over the week that followed, students received vague and conflicting emails from administrators that slowly retracted the original announcement, vaguely suggesting the possibility of an ASL minor instead. This disorganized and reactive messaging only heightened student anxiety and raised serious questions about how and why this decision was made in the first place.

As a future educator, I was deeply disappointed—and frankly appalled—by the blatant unprofessionalism and displays of audism exhibited during the forum by CEHSP Dean Jill Pinkey Pastrana and Associate Dean Scott Carlson. If you are unfamiliar with the term, audism refers to discrimination against Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. Unfortunately, several moments during the forum clearly fit this definition.

The forum was disorganized from the start: no introductions, no structured method for asking questions, and Associate Dean Carlson spent the entire event standing behind a pillar instead of engaging with students face-to-face. This was not only disrespectful but signaled a complete lack of preparation and leadership. Dean Pastrana frequently avoided giving direct answers, including on crucial points like the "grandfathering" of current students into the minor—an option that wasn’t communicated until a full week after the program was initially cut. The delay in sharing this key information points to a rushed and reckless decision-making process that makes the administration appear either disingenuous or entirely incompetent.

One of the most disturbing elements of the forum was the repeated dismissal of Deaf staff and faculty. Despite their presence and willingness to engage, Dean Pastrana consistently avoided calling on Deaf professors. I had to personally intervene to ask her to respond to a Deaf faculty member’s question—only for it to go unanswered anyway. As a hearing student, I should not have to demand that Deaf professionals be heard in a space directly concerning Deaf education. Additionally, Deaf staff were never properly consulted before the decision to cut the minor. Instead, they found out—like many of us did—through informal channels and confused students. This lack of transparency and communication is both unprofessional and deeply hurtful to those who have built and supported this program. Worse still, when a Deaf alumnus, Tod, delivered a moving demonstration in sign language about the importance of Deaf culture, Dean Pastrana responded with, “How am I supposed to understand that?” referring to his signing as “that.” This was not only dismissive but a blatant display of audism. It was shocking and painful to witness. Dean Pastrana’s facial expressions, inappropriate laughter, and even physical recoiling when Deaf people were signing at her were not just unprofessional—they were disrespectful. How are students supposed to believe the administration values the Deaf community when it so visibly disrespects its members?

The justification for cutting the Deaf Studies minor—budget cuts—also doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Dean Pastrana claimed that cutting three classes (ten credits) would suffice to meet financial goals. However, programs with significantly fewer enrolled students, like the Chinese Area Studies B.A. (which requires only 31 program credits), remain untouched. Why wasn’t a similar “downsizing” strategy applied there?

Furthermore, Deaf Studies was evaluated using data from COVID-era semesters—when enrollment was predictably unstable—while the Coaching minor was evaluated using data from Fall 2024 and Spring 2025. That inconsistency is deeply unfair and suggests either bias or a deliberate attempt to undercut the Deaf Studies program. Students have also reported serious issues applying for the minor, which likely skewed enrollment data. Cutting the program based on flawed numbers is unacceptable.

Finally, when I asked Dean Pastrana to send out a clear, campus-wide email notifying students that this was their last chance to declare the Deaf Studies minor—and suggested the message be reviewed by someone in the Deaf Studies program—she first turned to the student body, and then, when corrected, to the only hearing faculty member. The disregard for Deaf staff voices in every stage of this decision is as telling as it is infuriating.

The administration’s handling of this issue—from the lack of transparency and communication to the blatant displays of audism at the forum—has been a disgrace. It sends a clear message to students and staff alike: that Deaf voices are not prioritized or respected at UMD.

I urge you to reconsider this decision and take real accountability for the harm caused. At the very least, the Deaf Studies minor deserves the same fairness, planning, and dignity afforded to other programs.

Sincerely,

Brynn Pachan

UMD Deaf Studies Student & Future Educator 

Response from Jill Pinkey Pastrana at 11:58 am Tuesday, April 15th

Dear Brynn,

thank you for reaching out. I share some of your frustrations and was grateful for the strong advocacy of the students and community who participated in the forum. Indeed, it was an important space for ongoing learning.

I also agree that the communications surrounding proposed program cuts should have and could have been much better. We strive towards a goal of clear communication, and will continue to do so.

I do disagree with several of your assertions concerning examples of "audism", but I am also very conscious that I have a lot to learn...

We continue to move forward to explore many of the suggestions brought forward in the forum. We hope to send out a survey to all students in the days to come to gather a greater representation of student interest in the program.

Thank you for your ongoing advocacy. 

Best - Jill

Brynn's reply to Jill Pinkey Pastrana at 12:25 pm Tuesday, April 15th

I am curious about your disagreement with the examples of audism that I mentioned. In the Deaf Studies minor, we learn about audism quite extensively; I would be happy to discuss your perception of what happened at the forum. As you said, you have a lot to learn, and one of the best ways to learn is through communication. I am looking forward to seeing that survey get sent out. Please remember to consult members of the Deaf Studies faculty, and maybe not only the hearing members.

-- Brynn Pachan

Response from Jill Pinkey Pastrana at 1:07 pm Tuesday, April 15th

Thank you for your offer Brynn,

when things calm down a bit, this is the season of the flurry approaching commencement, I'd love to take you up on this offer.

I am working to schedule a meeting with all Deaf Studies faculty and staff and have been meeting individually as well as our schedules allow.

Best - Jill

Tuesday April 1nd at 4:34 pm 

A standard message was shared amongst students to email to administration.

Dear [Administrators]

We are writing to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the recent proposal to cancel the ASL and Deaf Studies Minor at the University of Minnesota Duluth. We also wish to address the troubling decision to reframe American Sign Language (ASL) as a mere tool for special education rather than recognizing it as a vibrant, rich language that represents a unique culture and community of people.

The proposal to cancel the ASL and Deaf Studies Minor is a severe disservice to both the Deaf community and the university’s broader educational mission. ASL is not just a tool—it is the primary language of over 500,000 people in the United States alone, and it has its own history, traditions, and a culture that spans centuries. The minor in ASL and Deaf Studies offers students an invaluable opportunity to engage with and understand the intricacies of a minority language and community. Removing this opportunity would deny students a comprehensive understanding of Deaf culture and the unique linguistic features of ASL.

Furthermore, reducing ASL classes to merely a tool for special education is not only reductive but also offensive. Just yesterday, a faculty member brought a new hire to the lab (the day students were informed the program is gone) and declared that all special education students need to take ASL and that we have a certificate. We do not have a certificate, we have a minor and in the past, special education students were required to take ASL as part of their APAS.

Due to the difficulties for students to complete their blocks, it was then eliminated from their course requirements. This approach erases the lived experiences of Deaf individuals, treating their language as a mere functional tool rather than a means of communication that sustains a vibrant and diverse culture. By framing ASL as something only relevant in the context of special education, the university perpetuates harmful stereotypes and reinforces the misconception that Deaf people and their language are somehow “lesser.” This narrow view of ASL diminishes the value of the language, its speakers, and the broader Deaf community, relegating it to a utilitarian tool instead of celebrating it as an essential cultural and linguistic treasure. ASL is a language with its own grammar, syntax, and structure, and it has been used for centuries as a means of rich communication and cultural identity. The Deaf community, which has historically faced significant barriers to accessibility, is an integral part of our diverse society.

It is crucial that we acknowledge and support their language and culture, rather than appropriating ASL for purely functional purposes. The university has an opportunity to stand as an ally to the Deaf community, not just in a supportive, administrative sense, but through the curricula it offers, the values it upholds, and the spaces it creates for marginalized communities to thrive.

We urge the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Education Department to reconsider its decision to cancel the ASL and Deaf Studies Minor and to reframe the narrative surrounding ASL as a language in its own right, not just as a tool for another discipline. This decision would not only benefit students who wish to pursue a deeper understanding of ASL and Deaf culture but would also send a powerful message about the university’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect for all languages and cultures.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I hope you will reconsider this proposal and stand with the Deaf community by recognizing the full value and richness of ASL and Deaf Studies.

Sincerely,

[Students]

Wednesday April 2nd at 6:51pm

A message sent by an involved student

Dear Chancellor, administrators, and leaders of CEHSP,

I am writing to request further information as to how the decision was made to cut the Deaf Studies Minor. I cannot possibly overstate how devastating this decision is for Deaf culture and community, but ignoring the human impact for a moment in favor of the financials that supposedly drove this decision; I have paid $3598.80 thus far towards this minor and it is the reason I chose to attend UMD in the first place. How was a decision to discontinue this program made without at least giving students who have committed time and money to this university expressly because of this minor a chance to complete the program you promised us? I am a declared Deaf Studies Minor, and I would like to know why my catalog year is now voided without any input from the student body it affects. The alternatives you have provided are far from satisfactory - requiring high out-of-pocket costs and digital learning for a face-to-face language - thus, my minor is gone and my time and money will be wasted if this action is allowed to stand. 

Speaking now to the social injustice and personal effects of this decision, how can this institution stand on a platform of diversity and equity - making claims about a "longstanding commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that best supports the needs of each and every individual" - while in actions taking away the very programs that will allow "the next generation of leaders" to stand up and support under/unsupported communities? American Sign Language is a rich cultural language of a historically oppressed people and placing it on the chopping block at the first continence sets an unsettling precedent about university values. For myself, this decision is utterly heartbreaking and capstones a battle I have now been fighting for a quarter of my life. Knowledge should not be something that needs to be fought for and yet since I began studying sign at 14, I have had to claw my way through the red tape of three different area schools, two different states, and I have now been taught by five different instructors, and yet, I still cannot hold a sustained conversation in my second language because every program I began was shuttered before I could ever progress past rudimentary language. I am a Human Biology and Teaching Life Science Major and this minor is an expansion and continuation of everything I want to do in my future. Language is access, and I want to have access to everything this language offers me - career opportunities, cultural connections, social relationships, and everything else language is. Are the other language programs under threat? This is more than just a minor, this is language learning and cultural competency and to take that away is to set yet another roadblock barring access between cultures. 

Back to the bureaucracy of the decision, I would like to know what is going to be done to properly support the students like myself who have paid into this program, have made commitments to this school because of this program, have fought for years to learn sign and who, because of this decision and the way it's being implemented, will now be unable to realistically complete our study of this language within any reasonable time/cost scale. If it is an issue of cost for your university, reach out to the multicultural and language departments to see if they have any space to take on the program that should reside in CAHSS anyway. If the claim is that there is truly nowhere in the budget for sign language, then, while I take issue with the university's priories, I urge that all the costs paid by Deaf Studies Minors - who will now be unable to complete their minor - should be reimbursed for the full price we have paid into this up to now. It is both unethical and immoral to expect us to pay into the minor with the notion that we would receive a complete education only to be now left stranded without any valid alternative provided by the university. That would be both immoral and legally questionable. If, alternatively, it is an issue of staffing, that can be resolved by supporting your educators rather than cutting programming at the first excuse to abandon ship. The educators of this program are phenomenal and forcing them out through a complete lack of support would be a terrible mistake. 

Finally, let me say, there is a vested interest in this program. The Deaf Studies minor is a major selling point for UMD because, in the Midwest area, Duluth is one of only two state schools to offer a sign language Major/Minor/Certificate program of any kind - the other only has a certificate program. This program is worth so much to so many people and it gives UMD a way of standing out amongst the state schools in the region. As hard as it may be with tightening budgets and an impending sense of societal doom, if there is any way at all to maintain this program then every effort should be taken because not only does it matter to students and the Deaf, it matters for the university. It matters because it makes Duluth unique. People come here because this program is here. People could go anywhere for a business degree, psychology, or biology, but if they want to sign? If they want to sign this is the Midwest state school that their eyes will turn to. Now is not the time you want to be turning students away. Please preserve this program - if not for the societal right it represents then do so for the population of students it stands to bring in in the coming years. As much as this university dreams of proliferation in all of its endeavors, now is the time for preservation of what incredible unique programs we stand to lose. Abandoning this program in favor of homogenizing into a dime-a-dozen biology, psychology, and business school will fade the university into obscurity. Let this program be taken on as a linguistics, world language, or multicultural minor, but do not let it be erased.

What is going to be done? Because what we have been told is being done is not an acceptable solution. Removing this minor not only harms students, faculty, and the community, but it damages the reputation and standing of this university.

-[Student]

A collection of emails sent by a student

Dear ____, 

The email that UMD students have received about the Deaf studies minor has NOT provided us with any new information, has not answered any of our questions, and did not provide a reasonable plan for students who wish to continue this ASL minor. 

We can not afford to complete our minor at another college, this is not what I signed up for! You need to give us students a chance to speak up.

We are going to continue to protest this decision, speak our minds, and fight for the Deaf community.

Kindly,

[Student]

Hii Jill,

I appreciate your email to all of us students who are advocating for the Deaf Studies minor to stay at UMD. 

However nice that email sounded, it did not answer any of our questions about the minor, it did not give us any new information, and did not provide a reasonable plan for students who wish to continue this ASL minor. 

Shutting down this minor is affecting the students at UMD, the entire Deaf community in Duluth, and the ability for the public to communicate with Deaf individuals and become educated about their culture and history. The ASL minor is a huge reason why many students come to UMD, without it students will leave. 

We are going to continue to protest this decision, speak our minds, and fight for the Deaf community. No generous email you send about how much UMD cares about their students will stop us from seeing how messed up this decision is.

Here's to more emails coming your way!  Get ready... 

Kindly,

[Student]

Dear _____. 

Language is access.

The Deaf community here in Duluth depends on UMD to spread awareness of the Deaf community and culture, share the vibrant language with hearing individuals, and host many of the Deaf events that people from all over come to. This program means SO MUCH to the students here, and it is the MAIN reason why many of us came to UMD in the first place. Cutting this program is not the same as cutting other programs due to the collective impact it has on students, the Deaf community, and the culture that comes with the language. 

Without this program I, and many of my friends, do not see the point in staying at UMD and will be looking at other colleges. This minor is the second most popular minor at UMD! Why would you cut it? 

We are all frustrated by the way this decision has been handled. You decided to tell us right before registration, gave no opportunity for others to have a say in the decision, and provided us with no plan for continuing this minor. (Paying for an entire other school's tuition to take online classes in order to finish the minor IS NOT A PLAN. We cannot afford that.) 

ASL is a real language. It is important. Deaf people depend on this program. Students are disappointed and angry. Please reconsider. 

Sincerely,

A student who cares. Please care with me.

Saturday April 5th at 7:55 pm

A message sent by an involved student - Robert.

I was writing because I had some questions about the decision to cut the ASL Deaf Studies program. 

Will I get a refund for the classes I took?  I took them with the intention of getting the ASL Deaf Studies minor.

If not, will UMD pay for me to finish it somewhere else? The reason I'm here is for that program.

What made you land on the decision to cut one of your biggest minor programs? The treatment that you give the program shows a general disdain for not just the language, but the culture as well.

I've seen different emails from different people that say different things about what exactly is happening. Was there even a discussion about how to cut the ASL Deaf Studies program that was agreed upon by everyone? Or are you back peddling?

How come no one was informed that there was a possibility that this was going to happen? I found out when I tried to apply for classes next semester. No one said anything to me until after I figured it out for myself.  Even then, all the information I have is that there won't be an ASL Deaf Studies program effective immediately.

I mentioned earlier, you're back tracking with the ASL Deaf Studies program being cut (immediately), then later you gave out different information, saying the program will be grandfathered out. What is your actual plan? Will I be able to graduate with an ASL Deaf Studies minor? Will people after me be able to graduate with an ASL Deaf Studies minor? 

WHY would you pick the ASL Deaf Studies program over everything else? It is the second most popular major! 

Sincerely,

Robert.

If you are a student who has emailed administration, we want your words to be seen. Forward the emails you have sent to administration to umddeafstudies.comm.messaging@gmail.com.