Our reader's voices
Griffin Chair in danger
As a Central Michigan University student, I fear for the future of the Griffin Chair faculty position.
CMU's Political Science Department's Web site says; "The endowment funds the salary and associated costs of a U.S. and Michigan government and political expert to serve as a faculty member in Central Michigan's political science department."
To become an expert in the field of politics, you have to be active in politics. When you are active in politics, you often find people who do not agree with you, but very rarely do you have one of them stalk you.
I fear that the behavior of Dennis Lennox will scare away qualified candidates for the position. Why would a political expert come to CMU to teach, lecture or any other reason knowing he or she may be attacked by right-wing political hack Dennis Lennox wielding his camera?
It is important that when we do have a political expert come to campus to teach and conduct seminars that we treat the expert and her or his views with respect.
I hope all students will engage in an open debate with the Griffin Chair and the speakers that the chair brings to campus and learn from them.
I hope out of respect for Senator and Mrs. Griffin, both distinguished alumni of CMU, Dennis Lennox will put down his camera and start treating all faculty and administrators with respect, not attempted intimidation with a camera.
It speaks volumes for Gary Peters' commitment to bipartisanship and serving the needs of students that both the Republican and Democratic leadership from the state legislature have accepted his invitation to participate in the Griffin Forum on Nov. 6 at CMU.
Andy Leavitt Swartz Creek senior
Unfair coverage of Gates
Dr. Pam Gates is what every administrator should strive to be: caring, courteous, intelligent, understanding, the list could go on and on. Shame on the student who started this hypocrisy and more importantly shame on CM Life for allowing the slander to continue as long as it has. Dr. Gates would never intentionally harm anyone. She is an asset and ally to the student community and her work should be valued and appreciated. Anyone who would seriously consider the dismissal of Dr. Gates would be a fool. It is a honor to be acquainted with her, and I know that almost all of her colleagues and students would agree. Gates is one of the finest women I know, and I am embarrassed by how this paper has portrayed her, after over 20 years of service to the Central Michigan University community.
Rebecca Mercado Thornton Mount Pleasant senior
