Police arrest protesters at Gallaudet

updated 10:41 p.m. ET Oct. 13, 2006

WASHINGTON - Police on Friday night began arresting students who have been blocking entrances at Gallaudet University for three days in protest over the incoming president of the nation's only liberal arts college for the deaf and hearing impaired.

After warning students three times and shining floodlights on them, university Department of Public Safety employees arrested a man, who went limp and was dragged form the scene. Onlookers cheered as the man was dragged toward a police van. Other protesters were ordered to follow the vehicle but no one complied.

Assistant District of Columbia police chief Winston Robinson teams of D.C. officers were ready to take protesters into custody after DPS made the arrests.

After placing yellow tape directly in front of students blocking a side entrance, officers turned on the floodlights, prompting some students to complain that they could not see a line of orange-vested interpreters who were conveying police orders.

Hundreds of protesters were behind the police line, some standing on top of buildings, and others hanging out of windows.

The school has been virtually shut down since Wednesday, when students formed human chains at the gates, keeping vehicles form entering or exiting.

The protesting students and some faculty members are demanding the resignation of Jane K. Fernandes, who was appointed in the spring to succeed I. King Jordan. Those who are against her presidency say Fernandes isn't open to different points of view and that the selection process did not reflect the student body's diversity.

Fernandes has repeatedly refused to step down.

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