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 Peter Koper is the latest English Professor at Central Michigan University to join the war against Dennis Lennox. Lennox has weathered a near physical assault on his camera by Dean of Students Pamela Gates, who happens also to be an English Professor, a blistering set of e-mails by English professors and graduate assistants that Outside Lansing first broke in October which internal sources relayed to us, and now a formal complaint for distributing literature by yet another English Professor that threatens to have Lennox expelled.
This time, Lennox forwarded us the documents he obtained when he did his Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) required review of documents relating to charges against him. Those charges will be heard by administrators next week. The documents are astonishing. Page 1 of Koper Complaint
Page 2 of Koper Complaint
Email from Investigator to Koper with Lennox Photo
Email from Investigtor to Ombudsman First, Koper's complaint is dated on October 23, 2007, the same day as the event, and refers internally to events that happened "last night, Tuesday, October 23". Of course, that is impossible. While it could be mere human error - dating irregularities in documents, or small inconsistencies of any kind, are one of many signs of tampering or later than actual creation of the document. In this case, it wasn't until late November - the day the ACLU sent CMU a letter admonishing it on its videotaping policy, that CMU filed a student code of conduct proceeding against Lennox for this matter. What is else is odd? In excessive zeal, he carbon copies CMU's presidente, Dean Gates, and three other top CMU officials. If this is just a minor complaint against an unknown student, why carbon those folks? Why Gates? Why Rao? One might speculate that the whole letter was a fabrication intended for that audience - particularly given Gates connection (as an English Professor) to Professor Koper and the English Department's proven anti-pathy to Dennis Lennox. In addition to the not so English-aware mis-spelling of Dick Cheney's name (sic: Chaney), Koper proves himself to be a real zealot [ed note: at a reader's request, we've changed the less precise word "noid" to a word with more meaning and less personalization, nonetheless, we stand behind our belief the letters have an over-zealous and authoritarian element to them] - I dare say fascist - in his letter. In his zeal to cure CMU of what he considers litter, he writes, "This morning I again consulted the Policies on Advocacy Activities to confrim my judgment that the young man had violated them. [ed note: who made him the judge, something he takes on the role of as twice] I ask that you investigate this matter and bring appropriate charges against this young man." He noted he didn't have a name, but was certain he could identify him if he saw him. And so he did - when Voisin sent a single picture to him at 10:20 am on October 25. Now, if I recall my Law & Order episodes, there is a reason a line-up has multiple pictures in rather than one. You don't want to lead the witness. Even paper line-ups use the technique of multiple similar pictures to ensure fairness. If this were a real court with real due process, the case would be tossed on that ground alone. And why do I mention 10:20 am on October 25? The letter was erroneously dated October 23, but must have been sent and must have been delivered in person on October 24 because it referred to events on October 23. That's an awfully quick investigation - and that is all there was in the file. No questions to Mr. Koper by the investigator to corroborate details of the letter. No specific followups about facts. Just a quick judgment made in the same morning the investigation began - and ended there. And THEN IT TOOK A MONTH TO FILE CHARGES ON THIS? If it were this simple, and the violation significant, why not file immiediately. Instead, Voisin waits until the day the ACLU files a complaint with CMU on its videotaping ban which wasn't really a ban. In addition, Koper comes off as pretty weak. "His behavior in taking the fliers from my hand was coercive. [Koper, are you really an English professor? Look up the meaning of the word] I did not feel I could continue my activity in his presence." If Koper were really an authority figure and identified himself, then he completely lacked in courage in running from Lennox in such a cowardly way. If Lennox were genuinely a threat, Koper should have called the police. This lends credence to Lennox's version of the story that a man was taking his fliers, the man refused to identify himself so Lennox also refused to identify himself. In all you have a 40-something man cowering from a barely 20-something student. Finally, don't take CMU at its word if you're considering using the "Ombudsman". Ombudsman are supposed to represent the consumer or in this case student (who is a consumer) in matters dealing with the university. Most universities and many other institutions utilize them. Here's CMU's promise to students: The Student Ombuds Office is part of the President's Office and a place for student voices to be heard. You can expect:
* Accessibility
* Confidentiality
* Impartiality CMU's ombudsman is Susan Rademacher. So much for confidentiality - when asked by Anthony Voisin if Lennox had contacted her and spoke with her about certain matters, she told him. That's par for the course - Lennox' privacy rights have been squatted on so many times its not even news anymore. You can email Susan Rademacher at ombuds@cmich.edu and complain. Don't count on it being confidential though. Lennox will have a student code hearing later this month. Contact CMU and tell them to drop their anti-First Amendment hearings against Lennox. |
