Lennox seeks funding delay
Dennis Lennox II is taking his message about Gary Peters' campaign to the Michigan Senate.
Lennox will travel to Alma to speak in front of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education at 10:30 a.m. today in the Tyler-Van Dusen Campus Center at Alma College.
Lennox, a Topinabee junior, said he will be asking the senators to delay any increase in funding for CMU until it resolves the issue concerning Peters, who currently is CMU's Griffin Endowed Chair as well as a Democratic congressional candidate for Oakland County.
"I think CMU is a great school with a lot of great students and faculty, and I'm not arguing for their funding to be received, just temporarily delayed until questions are answered," Lennox said
Lennox said Peters' contract states he has to give his primary commitment to CMU.
"This isn't about partisan issues," he said. "(Peters) has tarnished our image and reputation in Lansing, and it's something they have to be accountable for."
But Lennox won't be the only person speaking about CMU. University President Michael Rao is expected to speak on the school's behalf.
Kathleen Wilbur, vice president of government relations and public affairs, said Rao and other university presidents typically testify twice a year, once in front of the Senate and once in front of the House.
Wilbur said Rao will deliver a current status report and a vision for the future, including the 2010 effort on campus, the possibility of starting a medical school and CMU's commitment to teaching growth in research areas.
Director of Media Relations Steve Smith said the meeting is an opportunity to tell the university's story and what CMU has accomplished over the years, using an example like CMU's role in stimulating the economy.
"(Rao) will talk in general terms about (the) state's funding decline, and the funding of higher education in the state of Michigan will come up I'm sure," Smith said.
Smith said he heard Lennox would be speaking at the meeting, but has no first-hand knowledge.
"I know President Rao is going to speak on behalf of CMU at the meeting, and I can only speak on behalf of the university," he said.
More than 50 people are expected to attend, and Lennox said this is a unique opportunity.
"I think it's interesting to see what's going to happen," Lennox said.
Lennox said CMU has heard from both legislatures in the House and Senate.
"I can't speak for the Senate, but I think it says a lot that I'm speaking at this hearing, and it says a lot that members of the legislature have spoken out," Lennox said.
College Democrats President Matthew Sous, a Freeland junior, said Lennox is trying to make a political issue and trying to mess with Peters' campaign.
"I took Gary's class last fall and I learned many valuable things," he said.
Sous said he thinks the anti-Peters campaign is ridiculous.
"Not all people are privately wealthy, (they) still need a job when running for office," he said.
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