Last Monday, Dr. Pamela Gates was confronted by a man who has displayed increasingly hostile behavior toward members of the University community. Dennis Lennox came to her office to harass her, and refused to leave. When Mr. Lennox thrust a camera in her face, her understandable reaction was to deflect it.

Mr. Lennox has a long history of false statements and hostile behavior. Currently, he leads a smear campaign against Professor Gary Peters. He accuses Mr. Peters of living off of taxpayers, when he knows that his position as Griffin Chair is funded by a private donation. With no credible evidence, he accuses the Political Science Department of anti-Republican bias in hiring Mr. Peters (a Democrat), despite the fact that two of the three people to hold the Griffin Chair are Republicans. He falsely accuses Mr. Peters of violating his contract with CMU. He created such discord in the CMU College Republicans that they expelled him. He is a leader of an organization widely regarded as a hate group. He has stalked Mr. Peters across a dark parking lot, spewing insults and accusations.

Mr. Lennox has made numerous Freedom of Information Act requests about the hiring of Mr. Peters. He knows that they go to Robert Martin, and not Pam Gates. He also knows that if Dr. Martin determines the request to be valid, Dr. Gates has no choice but to comply. Thus, the only reason he had for accosting Dr. Gates was to harass this well-respected university leader. Dr. Gates has served CMU for over 20 years, as a professor, Associate Dean, and Interim Dean. She has earned the respect of students and faculty for her integrity, professionalism, and kindness. Her reaction to Mr. Lennox’s aggression was understandable. To call it “violence” or an “attack” is absurd.

Robert Noggle

Professor of Philosophy

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