ETSU has a new organization that was developed this fall semester for students who are mute and or have speech impairment on campus.
The organization is called Silent Bucs.
Silent Bucs provides information about the deaf culture to all students and also gives the students an opportunity to give input of what they would like to see happen in the ETSU community.
Libby Tipton, interpreter coordinator, assembled the club with the help of students.
“The club is not offered just to the deaf community, but to any student who wishes to learn more about deaf culture,” said Linda Gibson, director of disability services.
Silent Bucs will be participating during Homecoming.
They will be using sign language during the singing of the “Alma Mater.”
The group will also be coordinating an event on the last Thursday of the month for deaf awareness.
The group will meet this Friday at noon in the Resource Center located on the third floor of the D.P. Culp University Center near the Counseling Center.
Tipton will be interpreting for students attending the meeting.
Gibson said this would give the students who are taking the sign language course an excellent opportunity to practice their skills.
There will be more sign language courses offered in the future, so students who did not get to take the course will be able to take it.
“Hopefully, Silent Bucs will see their awareness on campus as a community and build an environment for the deaf community,” Gibson said.
As a part of Disability Awareness week, the movie, The Mummy Returns, will be the first movie to be closed-captioned. This will be the first of many movies to come that will offer captioning here at ETSU.
The movie will show on Friday, Oct. 12 at, 7 p.m. in the Culp Center Auditorium for free admission.

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