The desks were wrapped around the classroom walls, offering plenty of space for the student presentations. Nervous chatter filled the room. The assignment: Today each student in The Deaf Experience class must sign a song of his or her choice.
Religion professor W.T. Guerry looks on during the presentations and videotapes each performance.In 1985, religion professor W.T. Guerry conceived the idea and developed The Deaf Experience course as part of the Maymester curriculum at Charleston Southern University after students began expressing an interest in sign language.
Guerry was well acquainted with the importance of deaf culture education. Prior to joining the faculty, he had served in a church with 75 deaf members and also did his doctoral dissertation on deafness and worship.
Diana DeJesus, left, and Kanisha Pitt sign their song for the Deaf Experience class.According to Guerry, the course is designed to “increase the level of deaf awareness and introduce the students to the deaf culture.” He states one of the biggest benefits of the class is to help churches with deaf ministries. Over the years, several students have become deaf interpreters.
“A lot of the time you don’t think about people being deaf,” said Franny Garrett, a junior nursing major and member of Summerton Baptist Church. “Before this class, I didn’t even know the alphabet in sign language, and now I know it and a lot of words, too.”