Culturally Deaf and Proud

To the editors:

Re "Harvard's Deaf Students Reject 'Culture of Deafness'" (Feb. 2): The article was well-written and reflected the deaf students currently at Harvard. However, I hope people realize that there were deaf people that attended Harvard who considered themselves culturally deaf and are proud of it. I am one of them.

While I attended mainstream schools, I also attended a deaf school during my early school years. The excellent services that the current deaf students now receive are because of efforts taken during my first year at Harvard. Because I needed a sign language interpreter, the Student Disability Resource Center hired Kellie M. Stewart on the terms she would be a full-time interpreter and coordinator for deaf students. Because of Stewart, the quality of services for deaf students at Harvard has since been exceptional. I am glad to know that the road I paved for other deaf students has made it easier for others. CAROLINE A. MILLER '96   Feb. 3, 1998

The writer, a graduate student at the University of Washington, Seattle, is former co-chair of the Philips Brooks House Committee on Deaf Awareness.