The CMU Fiasco and My New Favorite Latin Phrase

I have been encouraged by folks to write a letter to the editor about the evolving situation at CMU. What follows is that letter, but since I can't guarantee that it will be published, I will post it on my own blog as well.

As I have taken a close look at the situation at fiasco at Grady, Emory and beyond as well as this situation at Central Michigan University, I have come to the realization ultimately corruption can easily be identified because it speaks for itself, Res Ipsa Loquitor. I believe I can prove that there was corruption, malfeasance and targeted heavy handedness because all of it will speak for itself.

In other word, in order to prove my thesis: the administration at CMU chose the Griffin Fellowship to make an ideological stand, hired an individual with an obvious conflict of interest, and then instead of defending or explaining their actions they moved to marginalize and eliminate whatever threat they saw through heavy handed, draconian measures that were in no way fair or consistent. To prove my thesis, I will merely lay out the facts and let them speak for themselves.

First, the administration hired Gary Peters for the prestigious Griffin Fellow. Peters was hired for a three year term. Subsequently, he is also running for the U.S. Congress in a district several hundred miles away. If he wins, he will have to resign only completing one of the three years he was signed for.

The head of the department he was hired at has stated in emails that he believes that the perception of the department on the outside is entirely too conservative...

I think there is a growing impression that CMU is a Conservative Republicanbaseand I and several others have heard this over and over from folks in our own administration, the faculity, and from Lansing politicians.

Furthermore, he stated that previous hires were used by opposing forces in order to shove ideological preferences down the throat of the department...

they percieve that they were overridden because of Ranny Ricker's call regarding (name blacked out). In the second search to fill the Griffin Chair the Department received a hassle when they found a moderate Republican to have cleared al the hurdles and a political ally and close associate of John Engler was almost foisted upon them even though the person lacked the same excellent qualifications as Bill Ballinger...

He stated that this hire would be used to even this out...

We were looking for political diversity … another prominent Republican in the chair will create problems.”

When an enterprising student, Dennis Lennox, challenged and investigated this hire, the administration did everything they could to silence, marginalize, and eliminate Lennox. They tried to ban video cameras from public places after he approached Peters on numerous occasions. Their act was so heavy handed that it sparked the ACLU to respond as such...

letter from the American Civil Liberties Union addressed to Central Michigan University President Michael Rao and dated November 27th requesting that the University lift a ban on videotaping Professor Gary Peters on campus, a ban targeted at a conservative student, Dennis Lennox. According to the ACLU the University's decision "violates Mr. Lennox's First Amendment right to engage in political advocacy."

He was cited multiple times for technical violations of student codes that can only be characterized as liberal. For instance, on one occasion he was cited for passing out literature too close to a doorway because it violated a policy that forbids such acts with in 25 feet of a doorway. On the same occasion he was also cited for not identifying himself when an administration official approached. While we can all debate whether or not Lennox was in technical violation of any of the mandates in the student code of conduct, there is no arguement that the student code of conduct is being used in an unusually heavy handed manner toward Lennox that doesn't apply to the rest of the student body. Here is the student code on alcohol..

13 Violation of Alcohol Policy. A student shall not possess, consume or furnish, or aid in the consumption or furnishing of, alcoholic beverages except as permitted by law and University policy. Violation of the Residence Life Alcohol & Controlled Substances Policy is a violation of this section.

At the same time that the administration has followed through on formal disciplinary actions against Lennox for distributing literature too close to a door, I know of no one cited for any violations of their alcohol policy.

Furthermore, the process by which Lennox is being held to account is not only totally unfair but it has been corrupted. Here is an email the admin sent to Lennox...

You have the right under FERPA to inspect your file, but not to havecopies of the information included within the file.

Furthermore, the very same group of folks from the admin that have brought the charges against Lennox will also be in charge of carrying out the prosecution and deciding his fate. That puts the role of judge, jury and execution against Lennox in the hands of the same group and of course it is the very group that is also the target of Lennox' investigation.

Finally, the administration has used unusually incendiary language in describing Lennox behavior...

Mr. Lennox is not only someone with noxious political and social beliefs, but someone who has mental health issues, and someone who seems to be losing control. The psychologist's advice (he has been following some of this on the news) is the following: "Don't provoke him. Don't initiate a confrontation of any sort, be it email, letter, or a face-to-face. He will respond in kind and escalate. Do not respond to correspondence, taunts, or 'stalking behavior' other than by calling the police

...

So are you saying that this kid is dangerous? As in Virginia Tech dangerous? Let's not ignore the warning signs

This incendiary and poisionous description came from two individuals who not only had PH.D after their names, but more importantly hadn't actually treated, evaluated or even consulted with Lennox prior to make their assessment.

Despite receiving numerous complaints from students, faculty and alumni about this hire, Peters continues to simultaneously run for Congress and carry out his duties as Griffin Fellow which pays him 65K per year for part time duty.

As I said, I believe the facts speak for themselves. I believe the thesis that I have put together is proven by the very facts of the case. I will let the audience judge for itself.