The American Sign Language (ASL) club recognized Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness week by hosting several ASL events on campus last week.
The ASL club was started at LVC by Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) majors Jennifer Lopez and Hannah Pietzsch, the current co-presidents of the club, last spring to allow more opportunities for students on campus to practice ASL, especially SLP students. The club decided to do Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness week on campus in order to spread deaf culture and spread awareness about it.
The events during Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness week included: speakers ASL interpreter, Jodi Upton, former Gallaudet University student, Emily Biever, a forum on using ASL from SLP, Athletic Training, Physical Therapy, Education, and Psychology professors, a movie night featuring the movie “The Hammer”, and a Sign & Dine dinner event at the Arnold Health Pavilion Terrace. All events were welcome to everyone in the LVC community and no prior experience of ASL was necessary.
“I think this week gave people a better understand and look into Deaf culture,” Jennifer Lopez said. “The LVC community never has had anything like this so I feel that people were excited for the event and eager to come.”
ASL club welcomes students from all majors and all different levels of ASL. The club meets in Chapel 116 on Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. If students have any questions about the club, contact Lopez at jcl002@lvc.edu or Pietzsch at

Above: Jennifer Lopez, co-president of ASL club and SLP student, Jess Szymanski with professors who spoke at the forum.
Photo provided by: Jennifer Lopez