2008 Woodie Awards
Web Update: Lennox's disciplinary hearing canceled
Topinabee junior barred from next hearing after refusing to turn off video recorder
By: Angie Favot
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
Dennis Lennox II's refusal to turn off his video recorder caused the cancellation of the Topinabee junior's disciplinary hearing at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
As a result, Lennox will not be allowed to attend the next hearing that will decide his fate at Central Michigan University.
Director of Student Life Anthony Voisin warned Lennox several times during the beginning of the hearing that he was not allowed to record the hearing, according to the The Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures 5.2.3.3.
Voisin made Lennox aware he was refusing to participate in the hearing unless Lennox turned off the camera. Lennox refused, saying his constitutional rights and the Michigan Open Meetings Act allows him to use the camera.
Voisin ruled the meeting was over because Lennox would not comply with the rules, and Lennox had five minutes to reconsider or the meeting would be canceled.
"I'm not going to participate in a hearing when my constitutional rights are not being upheld," Lennox said. "It's a victory for free speech on campus."
The Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures states, under the hearing section, "a record of the hearing, made by tape recorder, will be kept by the Conduct Proceedings Officer at least until the appeal time is exhausted. If either the university or the student requests another type of record of the hearing be made, this may be done at the cost of the requesting party provided the type of recording does not interfere with the hearing."
Director of Media Relations Steve Smith said if a student requests a transcript of the hearing, the additional recording material becomes CMU property.
Lennox said he wanted to tape the hearing to shed some sunlight on the case, and should be allowed to since CMU is a public university and the constitution applies to it.
"They can tape record, but I can't," he said.
Smith said the hearing is not public, and if Lennox chose to waive his privacy rights and make the recording public, he needs to do so in writing.
As a result, Lennox will not be allowed to attend the next hearing that will decide his fate at Central Michigan University.
Director of Student Life Anthony Voisin warned Lennox several times during the beginning of the hearing that he was not allowed to record the hearing, according to the The Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures 5.2.3.3.
Voisin made Lennox aware he was refusing to participate in the hearing unless Lennox turned off the camera. Lennox refused, saying his constitutional rights and the Michigan Open Meetings Act allows him to use the camera.
Voisin ruled the meeting was over because Lennox would not comply with the rules, and Lennox had five minutes to reconsider or the meeting would be canceled.
"I'm not going to participate in a hearing when my constitutional rights are not being upheld," Lennox said. "It's a victory for free speech on campus."
The Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures states, under the hearing section, "a record of the hearing, made by tape recorder, will be kept by the Conduct Proceedings Officer at least until the appeal time is exhausted. If either the university or the student requests another type of record of the hearing be made, this may be done at the cost of the requesting party provided the type of recording does not interfere with the hearing."
Director of Media Relations Steve Smith said if a student requests a transcript of the hearing, the additional recording material becomes CMU property.
Lennox said he wanted to tape the hearing to shed some sunlight on the case, and should be allowed to since CMU is a public university and the constitution applies to it.
"They can tape record, but I can't," he said.
Smith said the hearing is not public, and if Lennox chose to waive his privacy rights and make the recording public, he needs to do so in writing.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 44
Reggie Muckian
posted 2/27/08 @ 4:52 PM EST
As I have said before, I will not allow my son to attend C.M.U. after this situation. We thought about sending him there after he graduates high school, but not anymore. (Continued…)
Martha
posted 2/27/08 @ 4:52 PM EST
Dennis Lennox reminds me of my niece. My niece has Asperberger's Syndrome. If at anytime she feels like there are not enough people paying enough attention to her, she throws a tantrum until she gets noticed. (Continued…)
Nick Matthews
posted 2/27/08 @ 5:27 PM EST
How do these CMU administrators justify having a recorder if a student facing expulsion can't have one?
Lillian Cummings
posted 2/27/08 @ 5:55 PM EST
The school has, once again, made a fool out of itself. Someone inside Warriner Hall needs to wakeup and tell the Student Life people to stop their quest to expel Dennis Lenox. (Continued…)
Nick Smith
posted 2/27/08 @ 8:03 PM EST
Actually, it's Lennox making the complete buffoon of himself. It's that type of garbage that created this whole situation in the first place. Apparently people STILL don't realize you're not allowed to operate cameras inside campus buildings unless given permission. (Continued…)
John Fitz
posted 2/27/08 @ 8:04 PM EST
This looks bad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLGpxrfPPSc
donkeyshow513
posted 2/27/08 @ 8:29 PM EST
And Lennox Wins!!!!
Anything they try to do to Mr. Lennox without him present might give him standing for a denail of due process lawsuit. CMU is done from here on out. (Continued…)
CMU Looks STUPID AND PETTY
posted 2/28/08 @ 9:40 AM EST
This battle continues to get more and more attention and CMU looks worse and worse. I cannot understand with all of the problems on campus and in this state that they would devote precious resources to fighting this. (Continued…)
Leslie Timmins
posted 2/28/08 @ 10:28 AM EST
Why doesn't CMU just drop it? They have to realize this is going to hurt the school in the long run. Dennis Lennox isn't going to back down until his name is cleared. (Continued…)
Impartial Observer
posted 2/28/08 @ 10:41 AM EST
Lennox is the type of person that intentionally pushes others to the breaking point, and then uses their reaction toward his gain. The media, including CM-LIFE, buys it hook, line and sinker. (Continued…)
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