It’s a serious business

Before I graduated, I never thought I would end up living in Northwest Indiana and attending Purdue University. I have no regrets.

As the years went by, I found only a few deaf people around in Northwest Indiana area, but I also found myself a lot of deaf friends from Chicago. The deaf community is pretty strong all over the Chicago area, but not Northwest Indiana. I often wonder, “Where are they, and why are they hiding?” Being deaf is nothing to be ashamed of; I kept that thought to myself.

In past few years, I have bumped into some students on campus that attempted to communicate with me in my language: American Sign Language. It was a very nice gesture and nice knowing that they were motivated to communicate. I usually sign normally, the way I always sign. With hearing people, I don’t accommodate my signs for them. If they couldn’t understand me and ask me to rephrase on what I just signed, then I rephrase and sign to them in a different way. Sometimes I notice them nodding, and I often keep asking myself if they actually understand what I am saying.

Being a student at Purdue Cal for four years, I would see people who took ASL classes signing slightly different than how I sign. I often noticed myself criticizing them or trying to teach them on one word that has a zillion signs within its meaning.

My deaf friends and I always thought if we set up a Purdue Cal ASL Club, it would give other people an opportunity to learn more about the deaf world such as cultures, slang and so on.

This year, Leesa McClelland and I decided to create an ASL Club. We both think it would give people more opportunity to come out and explore than just inside of the classroom.

So here we are, Purdue Cal ASL Club. Like us on Facebook! Be sure to check the flyers every once a while.

Interested in joining the club? Email us at purduecalasl@gmail.com.

Readers can contact Sammy at chronicle.production@gmail.com or (219)989-2547.