In 1988, Gallaudet University students decided that they would take matters of their education into their own hands. The sixth president of Gallaudet had announced in late 1987 that he would be resigning his position as president.[28] By early 1988, the committee that selected the candidates had narrowed it down to three finalists, two of which, Dr. Harvey Corson and Dr. I. King Jordan, were deaf, and one of which, Dr. Elisabeth Zinser, was hearing.[29] On March 6, it was announced hastily through press release (even though the selection committee was supposed to come on campus) that Zinser, the only hearing candidate, had become the seventh president of the university.[30] There had been rallies beforehand for a deaf president (most notably on March 1), but on the 6th, the rallying changed into protest. Students and faculty went on marches, made signs, and gave demonstrations.[30] The students locked the gates to the university and refused let the school open until Zinser resigned.[31] Under intense pressure from the students protesting, Zinser resigned on the fifth day of the protest, March 10.[30] Many students decided to stay on campus instead of going on Spring Break, which was scheduled to begin on March 11.[30] Two days later, on March 13 Jane Spilman resigned and was replaced by Phil Bravin as chair of the Board of Trustees, a taskforce was created to figure out how to achieve a 51% majority of deaf people on the Board of Trustees, and no one received any punishment for being in the protest.[30] I. King Jordan was named eighth president—and first deaf president—of Gallaudet University.