1993_12 The Daily Collegian December 1993

              Thursday, Dec. 9,1993
Qfyt Bail? Collegian
News-^5
Deaf actress JVIatlin highlight of "SUent Sleigh"
By Brent B
StaffWriter
The sixth annual Fresno "Silent
Sleigh" program took place at the
Fresno Air National Guard Base
Wednesday.    .
"Silent Sleigh" is a special
Christmas celebration that gives
deaf and hard-of-hearing children
a chance to speak to Santa Glaus in
their own language.
The program is the brainchild of
Mike Glad, whose 13-year-old deaf
son, Michael, was the inspiration
for the first "Silent Sleigh" eight
years ago in Fremont, California.
"SUent Sleigh" has become &'
tradition in both Fresno add River¬
side, California. This is toe sixth
year that the Fresno Air National
Guard Base has provided the loca¬
tion for the event
"We are proud to provide the
facility and personnel on an ongo¬
ing basis because we strongly be¬
lieve in and support this program."
said Wing Executive Officer, Lt.
Col. James Arthur, ofthe event.
" The Christinas even|started off
with live entertainment by Acad¬
emy Award winner Marlee Matlin
, and well-known deaf comedian and
actor CJ Jones.
The event continued with a pa¬
rade, the arrival of Santa and Mrs.
Claus by sleigh and live reindeer
and lunch. Treat bags were also
given to the schoolchildren attend¬
ing.
Matlin and Jones were brought
in for their achievements and abili¬
ties as role models for deaf and
hard-of-hearing children.
Many children from local area
grade schools and high schools
came to the "Silent Sleigh" event to
ask questions of Matlin and Jones
about their careers and positions in
life.
Matlin, who has appeared in
films such as "Children of a Lesser
God" and "Hear No Evil," and in
the television series "Reasonable
Doubts," has also earned numer¬
ous awards and honors for her hu¬
manitarian work, particularly with
those organizations that help chil¬
dren. \
The 200 or more people that
attended the question-and-answer
forurrr were able to talk to both
Matlin and Jones while other non-
deaf people heard their answers
translated, through an interpreter.
The younger children attending
asked questions ranging from their
Hollywood careers to how much
money they make at aperfonnance.
When one young student asked
Jones what his favorite television
show was, he replied that Star Trek
and Deep Space Nine were bis fa¬
vorite. Matlin, who in addition to
starring in "Reasonable Doubts,"
, has also been on "Seinfeld" and
"Picket Fences," amicably dis¬
agreed with his choices of shows.
When questioned on how she
became deaf, Matlin replied that
she contracted, the disease Rosiola
whenshe was 18 months old, which
resulted her becoming deaf.
Matlin emphasized the fact that
she 'always studied hard in her
speech classes and learned how to
overcome her difficulties in under¬
standing others. She went on to tell
the young students that persever¬
ance is needed in their speech
classes all the way through high
school.
Jones, who travels internation¬
ally with his comedy act, holds a
degree in business administration,
and worked with computers before
starting his comedy act. Jones got
his start with the National Theatre
for the Deaf.
Jones' message to the students
was to follow their dreams and to
stay away from the crippling ef¬
fects of drugs and alcohol.
The forum, which ran from
12:30 to 1:30 in the afternoon, was
a energetic affair for all who at¬
tended. Matlin and Jones' upbeat
and caring attitudes were a positive
influence for all of the attending
people.     (
In keeping with the spirit of the
season, the Michael Joseph Glad
Scholarship Fund will also con¬
tinue this year The $500 scholar¬
ship was created by Glad for the
roost improved deaf or hard-of-
hearing high school senior in the
Central San Joaquin Valley.
'Faii'Test' not so fair for all college bound folks
CPS Male students received
three-fourths of the $2.2 million in
college scholarships awarded this
year through a new federal pro¬
gram designed to encourage the
study of math, engineering, and
science, a watchdogjrroup says.
The National Center for Fair
and Open Testing said an analysis'
of winners' names showed that 352
males received awards worth more
than $4,000 each, compared with
84 females. The genderof 35 schol¬
arship winners in the National
Academy for Science, Space and
Technology program could not be
determined.   .
FairTest says the program is a
good reason why scholarships
shouldn't be awarded On the basis
of test scores such as the American
College Testing Program Assess¬
ment (ACT).
yThis is a perfect example of
what happens when biased tests are
used to award scholarships," said"
Cinthia Schuman, director of
FairTest. "Despi te good intentions.
Congress is using public funds to
restrict girls'access to traditionally
male-dominated disciplines. Con¬
gress must overhaul the program to
create a level playing field for all
students." -
Awards in the scholarship pro¬
gram were made to one student in
each congressional district, based
solely on ACT scores. Schuman
noted that males average 1,2 points
higher (on a 36-poiot scale) than *
females on the test's math section
and .5 of a point higher on the
composite score even though ttv, If>
males generally take the same
amount of algebra and geometry as
males and earn similar grades in
high school and college.
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