2008 Woodie Awards
University report: Gates did no wrong
Lennox refused to cooperate with investigation into Oct. 15 incident
By: Frank Wisswell
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: News
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Central Michigan University has absolved Pam Gates of all wrong doing in an Oct. 15 incident with a student.
Barbara Taylor, interim Affirmative Action Officer, completed the administration's investigation of the incident between Gates, interim dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Topinabee junior Dennis Lennox II.
On that day, Lennox went to Gates' office to make a Freedom of Information Act request while videotaping the encounter. The clash resulted in both Gates and Lennox filing complaints with the CMU Police, although the Isabella County Prosecutor's Office declined to take up the issue.
Director of Media Relations Steve Smith said it was determined Gates only pushed away Lennox's camera.
"Despite allegations made by the student, evidence indicates that the dean did not strike or hit the student," Smith wrote in an e-mail sent out Monday.
Lennox said the law states that since the camera was attached to his hand, even batting the camera away constitutes assault.
"What was recorded on the video was clear and the law is the law," Lennox said.
Smith said Taylor's findings will be forwarded to interim Provost Gary Shapiro and Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe to determine if additional action is required.
In the e-mail, Smith said Lennox refused to cooperate in the investigation.
"That's his choice," Smith said.
Instead, Taylor used a written statement and a video recording, both of which Lennox provided to the police on Oct. 16.
Lennox said he believed there was a conflict of interest in the investigation because Gates is the university's Affirmative Action coordinator.
"We refused to participate because CMU refused to launch an independent investigation," he said.
However, Smith said Gates is not the Affirmative Action coordinator.
"That was a role that she (Gates) relinquished when she became interim dean," Smith said.
Gates became an interim dean in January when Shapiro started filling in as provost, following Thomas Storch's retirement.
Barbara Taylor, interim Affirmative Action Officer, completed the administration's investigation of the incident between Gates, interim dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Topinabee junior Dennis Lennox II.
On that day, Lennox went to Gates' office to make a Freedom of Information Act request while videotaping the encounter. The clash resulted in both Gates and Lennox filing complaints with the CMU Police, although the Isabella County Prosecutor's Office declined to take up the issue.
Director of Media Relations Steve Smith said it was determined Gates only pushed away Lennox's camera.
"Despite allegations made by the student, evidence indicates that the dean did not strike or hit the student," Smith wrote in an e-mail sent out Monday.
Lennox said the law states that since the camera was attached to his hand, even batting the camera away constitutes assault.
"What was recorded on the video was clear and the law is the law," Lennox said.
Smith said Taylor's findings will be forwarded to interim Provost Gary Shapiro and Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe to determine if additional action is required.
In the e-mail, Smith said Lennox refused to cooperate in the investigation.
"That's his choice," Smith said.
Instead, Taylor used a written statement and a video recording, both of which Lennox provided to the police on Oct. 16.
Lennox said he believed there was a conflict of interest in the investigation because Gates is the university's Affirmative Action coordinator.
"We refused to participate because CMU refused to launch an independent investigation," he said.
However, Smith said Gates is not the Affirmative Action coordinator.
"That was a role that she (Gates) relinquished when she became interim dean," Smith said.
Gates became an interim dean in January when Shapiro started filling in as provost, following Thomas Storch's retirement.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 25
Steve Redder
posted 10/31/07 @ 8:48 AM EST
Did anyone who viewed the Lennox/Gates video note the expression on Ms. Gates face? At first I thought it was an expression of disgust, but after another review of the video I focused on her eyes, whereby I saw dark flashes of hatred directed at Mr. (Continued…)
Amert Leffel
posted 10/31/07 @ 9:13 AM EST
Steve Smith can say what he wants, but the Affirmative Action Office Web site listed Ms. Gates as an affirmative action coordinator until someone deleted the page this week. (Continued…)
Nick Matthews
posted 10/31/07 @ 9:14 AM EST
It's no surprise that Central Michigan University administrators decided in favor of one of their colleagues. Does anyone actually think the student was going to get a fair shake?
As a taxpayer, I'm ashamed of CMU. (Continued…)
Liz Meyer '86
posted 10/31/07 @ 9:19 AM EST
My husband and I both graduated from Central Michigan University, and now our son will be graduating high school this June.
Based on what I have read in Central Michigan Life and other news publications, I won't be letting our son attend my alma mater. (Continued…)
Michael O'Dell
posted 10/31/07 @ 9:20 AM EST
Dean Pamela Gates should be fired for her barbaric attack on a student.
michmediaperson
posted 10/31/07 @ 1:18 PM EST
Liz, as a graduate, I agree with you 100 percent.
It's ashame how CMU has become a PC university. Look at the stories in this newspaper. One after another. (Continued…)
Shane
posted 10/31/07 @ 5:29 PM EST
It's becoming more and more clear that the conservatives in this area have nothing better to do with their time than smear a Dean who merely did not want to be harassed by an over zealous student with a reputation for smearing public officials. (Continued…)
Martin E '00
posted 10/31/07 @ 7:00 PM EST
I find it amazing that a 10 second video, shot from only one perspective, is being used to condemn Ms. Gates. I don't believe that her actions are excusable, but I wonder why Mr. (Continued…)
Justin
posted 10/31/07 @ 7:50 PM EST
None of you have had the "privilege" of meeting this student that you are all speaking up for. If he had went through the proper channels that he knew he should be going through to file a FOI form, this wouldn't even be a news story. (Continued…)
Grant Devorski
posted 10/31/07 @ 10:20 PM EST
There is no published evidence to support any allegations against Dennis Lennox. If he did something wrong, the papers should report it. But they haven't; reporters have detailed questionable actions by CMU in response to the outrageous and disgusting behavior by Dean Gates. (Continued…)
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