Community

  • Video picks: Singing with sign languageSign Language Club President Ashley Letourneau said she thinks sign language is beautiful, and she wants to share it with her campus community. Among other things, she hopes to teach students who join Sign Language Club how to sign lyrics to songs. Letourneau’s friend, Michael DiMartino,   creates YouTube videos of himself doing just that–dancing and signing to popular songs in the streets of New York City. In a world that often looks down on or ignores people with disabilities, the following videos are examples of people taking pride in deaf culture and showcasing the expressiveness of sign language.To watch the following videos, please visit youtube.com and enter the given title into the search field.

    ◄D-PAN “Beautiful” ASL Music Video         Channel: chromebumperfilms

    This video, by the Deaf Professional Arts Network, features several people signing to Christina Aguilera’s song, “Beautiful.” Several hurtful stereotypes are pointed out during it.

    ◄Waiting on the World to Change

    Channel: chromebumperfilms

    Again, produced by D-Pan. The video shows deaf individuals signing to John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change,” while showing news clips that illustrate the discrimination deaf persons face in our society.

    ◄Jessie J-Price Tag-Sign Language

    Channel: SongsinSign

    A fun video by Michael DiMartino. Because DiMartino does not have a hearing loss, he dances and lip syncs in addition to using sign language in his video. This one features him on the streets of New York City, complete with goofy attire and funky dance moves.

    ◄Ke$ha-We r Who We R (sign language)

    Channel: SongsinSign

    This one may not be shot on the street, but the signs for Ke$ha’s crazy lyrics are more than enough to keep the viewer entertained.

  • New Student Organization: Sign Language Club shows first signs of lifeIn a classroom filled with students, one student in particular just can’t help but stand out from the crowd. What draws people’s attention to Ashley Letourneau, junior communication major, is not what the average individual might think. No, what draws attention to Letourneau is the woman usually sitting directly in front of her—a sign language interpreter.