Protesting policy creates confusion
The university's policy that regulates demonstrations and protests is leaving would-be protesters and university officials equally confused.
Midland freshman Dennis Lennox II was told Oct. 11 he needed to be 50 feet from a building if he wanted to protest Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who spoke in the IET building.
But a few days later, a university Web site said the new distance was 25 feet, with a message saying the Web site was updated Oct. 5 at 5:43 p.m.
Coincidentally, that was the same day Missionaries to the Preborn, an anti-abortion group, was kicked off campus for breaking the protesting rules.
A call to the Central Michigan University Police Department Tuesday night revealed the correct distance is 50 feet; officials cited the Office of Student Life Web site as their source.
During his protest, Lennox said the police did not specify what the distance was for demonstrating when he asked them.
"They could not quote me the policy," he said. "When I called to find out what it was, officials directed me to the cmich Web site."
The policy on the site states demonstrating may not take place within 25 feet of any window of any classroom or office, within 25 feet of any door of any classroom building or office building or within 40 feet of any window of any residence hall or university apartment.
Lennox said the changes were made between Oct. 11-13, but university officials said the policy has not been changed.
Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe said Lennox may have accessed an old policy when he typed "advocacy" into the search.
"Old policies may still sit on the server," Roscoe said. "The Student Life Web site should be referring students to the policy on the purchasing Web site."
That Web site lists the 25-foot rule.
Director of Student Life Tony Voisin said changes to the policy have not been made in almost two years.
"The last time the committee met to change the demonstrating policy was in May 2003," he said. "Student Life has the link to the correct policy on its Web site."
Voisin said Lennox accessed an old policy located on the server. The old policy was deleted from the server Thursday afternoon.
