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Voters ban affirmative action

(11/08/06 5:00am)

Affirmative action is abolished in Michigan. The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative was approved with 1,491,457 votes  Tuesday. The opposition to Proposal 2 totaled 1,052,209, with 73 percent of precincts reporting. Topinabee sophomore Dennis Lennox II said he was not surprised with the results. “I expected the good citizens of Michigan would realize affirmative action based on race and gender is not acceptable,” Lennox II said. “It can be seen through the results.” The amendment to the Michigan constitution bans public institutions from using programs that offer preferential treatment in Michigan to groups or individuals based on race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for education, public employment or contracting purposes. Muskegon junior Michael Hotwagner voted no on Proposal 2. He said he felt voters were not fully educated on the issue. “When you close the poll and you read ‘Michigan Civil Rights Initiative,’ how is the average voter supposed to know?” Hotwagner said. “Uneducated voters wouldn’t know it was a shot to civil rights. That’s a blow to the civil rights movement.” Public institutions affected by the proposal include state and local governments and public education, including college and university admissions. Lennox said it is not right to have special preferences regarding law. “Race and gender preferences will never be accepted in Michigan,” Lennox said. Thomas Stewart, assistant political science professor, said people believe affirmative action is based solely on gender and race. “It’s just a basic misunderstanding on what affirmative action is,” Stewart said. “(The outcome) is surprising and is based on some unrealistic analysis on what affirmative action has done.” Hotwagner said the results are unfortunate, but he will not stop the fight for equality. “We are going to have to start from scratch,” Hotwagner said. “But we won’t let this setback stop us.” Lennox said there still is work to be done on the constitutional language of affirmative action. The state will have to work socioeconomic status into affirmative action for it to be approved under the new amendment, he said.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2006/11/votersbanaffirmativeaction

Some rally participants patronizing, radical

(10/27/06 4:00am)

Whether or not Phil Hornshaw was present at the rally on Wednesday is seemingly irrelevant, because I was there and was personally insulted by the “Affirmative Action is Racist” rally participants. Topinabee sophomore Dennis Lennox II directly insulted a friend of mine (Angela Vincent) after she cordially walked over to the group of four anti-affirmative action demonstrators prior to either rally. What was said by Mr. Lennox does not need to be repeated, but it included profanely requesting Angela to leave or the police would be called, for no just reason. It is important to note that none of the Anti-MCRI chants or signs were in any manner offensive or demeaning. In fact many of the signs simply stated “Vote No on 2.” Perhaps Mr. Lennox was too preoccupied chanting “Racists go home!” and pointing his finger to realize he himself was being a nuisance. I personally feel the Anti-MCRI rally participants held up our end of the agreement, even when the “Affirmative Action is Racist” participants were patronizing our participants. Dennis Lennox II is an openly radical conservative who feels it is his job to represent all Republicans on campus, so if you are a Republican here at CMU, you should know that Lennox is greatly disenfranchising and soiling your political affiliates without your consent. The actions of Lennox were utterly deplorable and disgusting.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2006/10/somerallyparticipantspatronizingradical

MCRI rally demonstrates the worst of politics

(10/23/06 4:00am)

irony (n) (pronounced ahy-ruh-nee): an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected; the incongruity of this. Example: the You Decide: The Future of Affirmative Action debate Wednesday in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium. The event was meant to be a calm, educated discussion of the issues surrounding Proposal 2 informing students before they go to the polls on Nov. 7. Right before that event, a pair of rallies took place outside Warriner Hall — one consisting of about 12 protesters speaking out against affirmative action, the other of about 60 speaking in favor of it — that spiraled from peaceful protest into warrantless screaming and petty insults. Irony. It’s great to see the very worst of American politics in action center stage on campus. Oh wait, sorry — irony again. Let me start over: I’m a proponent of freedom of speech. I think more students should rally, vote and participate in the government of this country. But the action of some students in defense of their beliefs Wednesday was deplorable. And the leader of that small band, the organizer of the “Affirmative Action is Racist” rally and shouter of angry insults was Topinabee sophomore Dennis Lennox II. Lennox, a consistently vocal conservative, led the  most volatile of the protesters. “Racists go home!” the extremists shouted at opponents of Proposal 2. His insults were so alienating that Lennox’s rally started with 12 participants and ended with five. Irony. This isn’t the first time Lennox has besieged those who don’t agree with him. He claimed the College Republican’s constitution was illegitimate while running for chairman last year. He continually raised procedural objections throughout the group’s meeting, to the point where members suggested amending their constitution to disallow such tactics — or forming a new Lennox-less organization. Despite Lennox’s best (worst?) efforts, Williamston junior Leslie Little won the race for chair of the College Republicans. Irony. Wednesday’s protest was a display of the worst of American politics — the parts that involve divisive issues about which people stop listening to the opinions of others and start attacking the character of the people who disagree with them. Rallies like Wednesday’s don’t bring people into the political arena. They don’t influence people to vote. They don’t encourage strong democracy and the free expression of ideas. They oppress. They belittle. They discourage. Irony. I believe the First Amendment is the most important, most American thing ever done by this government, and I support Lennox and others’ rights to free expression. After all, since Lennox is running for county commissioner in Topinabee and pays attention, he must know a little more than you and me, especially if we don’t see eye-to-eye. Oh wait, sorry — irony again. Phil Hornshaw can be reached at phornshaw@cm-life.com

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2006/10/mcrirallydemonstratestheworstofpolitics

MCRI debate heats up as forum nears

(10/11/06 4:00am)

Michigan Civil Rights Initiative supporters have spoken. And affirmative action advocates have answered. There will be a second rally — supported by Students Against the MCRI — to take place next Tuesday, a day before “You Decide: The Future of Affirmative Action in Michigan,” a debate on the hotly-contested MCRI, also known as Proposal 2. The rally will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside the Bovee University Center. Detroit sophomore Jerell Erves, a spokesperson for Students Against the MCRI, said the rally is being organized “to convey the spirit and the truth behind this matter; to build awareness and to expose this initiative that is founded on deceit.” “I believe all 20,000 students should attend this rally because it addresses the heart of what this country is about, and that is about humanity,” Erves said. “It is about the needs of many people in this country; the needs of humanity, equal resources and rights.” The debate will take place Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium. Tuesday’s rally comes in response to a pro-MCRI rally — titled “Affirmative Action is Racist” — that will take place from 5 to 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, before the debate, outside Warriner Hall. “... I strongly support Proposal 2 because I believe everyone should have an equal playing field,” said Topinabee sophomore Dennis Lennox II. Lennox is organizing the rally, which is to support Proposal 2 and put an end to racist programs like affirmative action, he said. The MCRI is “a proposal to amend the state constitution to ban Affirmative Action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes,” according to michigancivilrights.org. Voting yes on Proposal 2 would end affirmative action in admissions policies, such as those in use at the University of Michigan. Voting no on Proposal 2 would maintain the state’s current policy on affirmative action. “People should expect to be educated about Proposal 2 and hear firsthand from scholars about how affirmative action has influenced their lives and made America a better place to live in,” said Detroit sophomore Michael Ware, a Student Government Association senator. More information on Proposal 2 from groups favoring it is available at michigancivilrights.org. Information on the proposal from groups opposing it is available at oneunitedmichigan.org.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2006/10/mcridebateheatsupasforumnears

Students fired up for Dole’s visit to Alma

(09/27/06 4:00am)

Republicans and Democrats usually can’t be seen mingling with one another a little more than a month before Election Day. But that’s not the case for Republican Bob Dole and Democrat George McGovern. And not for Republican and Wyandotte senior Megan Mulheisen and Democrat and Goodrich senior Emily Doerr, either. Dole and McGovern will speak at 8 tonight at Alma College’s Cappaert Gymnasium — and Mulheisen and Goodrich will attend. “I thought the opportunity to hear a couple senators talking about civility was pretty interesting,” Mulheisen said. “Emily was going and I figured a College Democrat and a College Republican going together would be fun, too.” Mike Silverthorn, director of marketing and public relations for Alma College, said the two will host an open press conference at 7:15 p.m. at the Tyler Van Dussen Campus Center, before their 8 p.m. lecture. Dole and McGovern will address the issues of responsible leadership and the role civility should play in it. “Both Dole and McGovern are prominent former presidential candidates and even though they aren’t in the political arena anymore, they are still involved,” Silverthorn said. “They are responsible leaders who pursue and address key issues in the world.” The former senators co-authored “Ending Hunger Now,” a book of essays on the scope of the world hunger problem and the best way to fight it in an urgent, nonpartisan manner. Both also shared their views on the state of public debate last February at the University of Richmond. “The program was well-received at Richmond and both Dole and McGovern enjoyed themselves,” Silverthorn said. “They had good conversation with students and the audience and we are happy and looking forward to when they come to Alma.” The lecture is sponsored by the Center for Responsible Leadership at Alma and is free to the public. Silverthorn said the gymnasium seats about 2,000 and he anticipates a large crowd, which are encouraged to arrive early. Topinabee sophomore Dennis Lennox II plans on attending the event and is looking forward to meeting Dole again. Lennox said he met Dole 10 years ago when he was involved in his presidential campaign. “I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to listen to a two-party, bipartisan panel talk about issues and civility,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity and it’s too bad CMU can’t have something like this.”

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2006/09/studentsfiredupfordolesvisittoalma

Corrections

(09/06/06 4:00am)

In a story ‘MCRI cleared for Nov. 7 vote’ in Friday’s edition of Central Michigan Life, a quote incorrectly identified CMU graduate Sean Novak as accusing the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative of fraud. The quote should have read, “‘He (U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow) accused us of widespread fraud, which is just not the case,’ said Doug Tietz, campaign manager for MCRI.”

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2006/09/corrections-66

MCRI cleared for Nov. 7 vote

(09/01/06 4:00am)

A federal judge ruled Tuesday to allow the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative to appear on voters’ ballots this November despite what he called “systematic fraud” on the part of the petition-gatherers. U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow ruled in favor of the MCRI in a lawsuit brought on by the anti-MCRI group, By Any Means Necessary, which alleged petitioners had misrepresented the MCRI in order to trick voters into signing. “The court finds that the MCRI engaged in systematic voter fraud by telling voters that they were signing a petition supporting affirmative action,” Tarnow said in his ruling. “However, the MCRI appears to have targeted all Michigan voters for deception without regard to race.” Because it was not racially targeted fraud, the MCRI did not violate the Voting Right Act, Tarnow said. “It’s really hard to prove (fraud) through the court system,” said Sean Novak, CMU graduate and co-chair for Michigan United, a group opposed to the MCRI. Members of the MCRI, however, maintain their petition drives were executed legally. “He (Novak) accused us of widespread fraud, which is just not the case,” said Doug Tietz, campaign manager for MCRI. BAMN has scheduled press conferences announcing appeals today. The petition to place the MCRI garnered more than 500,000 signatures, nearly 200,000 more than the 317,757 required to place it on the November ballot. Even if all the signatures gathered from cities with a majority population of black residents were struck down by the court, which might have been a result of the lawsuit, the proposal still would have enough signatures to make it to a vote. With nearly 200,000 more signatures than the necessary 317,757, even if all the signatures gathered from cities with a majority population of black residents were struck down by the court, the proposal would still have enough signatures to be on the ballot in November. “It isn’t up to judges to legislate from the bench,” said Midland sophomore Dennis Lennox II. Lennox said the court decided to allow the proposal on the ballot and should not have given an opinion on the issue as well. “I think the court was clear — regardless of challenges or appeals — (that) in November people in Michigan will have an opportunity to vote yes for (the MCRI),” Tietz said. The proposed amendment to Michigan’s Constitution would ban the use of racial preferences in admissions at public universities and in hiring or contracting by government bodies. “I think (the ruling) means we’re going to have to work doubly hard to make people realize what they’re voting on,” said Nancy Nagler, co-chair of One United, an Isabella County group opposed to the MCRI. Both Novak and Tietz said students should get informed and involved. One United will host a meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 12 in the Chippewa Room of the Bovee University Center. Lennox has started a Facebook.com group called Students Against Affirmative Action, and Tietz suggested students write letters to newspapers or elected officials. “Come Nov. 7, the majority of voters are going to say we don’t want race or racially-based preferences in higher education,” Lennox said. “I’ve done research and come to a decision and that is, I don’t support affirmative action.” Nagler said passing the MCRI would be step in the wrong direction. “We’ve come a long way in civil rights legislation and this seems to be taking us back into the darker past,” she said.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2006/09/mcriclearedfornovvote

Students, possible RSO condemn Pride Week celebration

(04/14/06 4:00am)

Some students are taking offense to CMU’s annual Pride Week. The week-long event, which ended Wednesday, is meant to educate those outside the gay, lesbian, homosexual and transgender (GLBT) communities. Midland freshman Dennis Lennox II and fellow students from Central Students for Change say they are highly offended that CMU, a taxpayer-funded university, promotes a gay lifestyle. “In addition to finding it religiously offensive, it is absurd in tough budgetary times with 30 percent cuts in the last few years,” said Lennox, who’s leading the organization. “(Supporting gay Pride Week) is just as absurd as supporting heterosexual pride week.” Central Students for Change is a new Christian conservative student group currently in the process of becoming a Registered Student Organization. Lennox said he asked the Office of Gay and Lesbian Programs how much money they received for Pride Week’s events. Although Lennox has been known for his involvement with College Republicans, his objections are not affiliated with the organization, said Leslie Little, Williamston junior and College Republican chairwoman. “The College Republicans have no part of Dennis Lennox’s heterosexual pride,” she said. “He’s a member, but in no way reflects our beliefs and opinions.” In other news, Central Students for Change is co-sponsoring U.S. Senate candidate Jerry Zandstra’s visit to campus at 4 p.m. today in Anspach 165. Students for Life and College Republicans also are co-sponsoring the event. Lennox said he expects Zandstra to speak about supporting Pride Week or traditional values. “He finds it just as disgusting as we do,” he said. Zandstra said he plans to discuss the shape of Michigan’s economy. “There are two main categories to touch on – social and economic goals,” he said. “Economically speaking, I will talk about the state of Michigan’s economy, the challenges to recover and progress, the current unemployment rate and job creation.” Zandstra worked on international policy and the efficiency of economies - most notably in Kenya, where he served as an adviser and helped the country form its constitution. Lennox is bringing Zandstra to campus to help students become aware of pressing concerns in Michigan. “There are critical issues facing the state of Michigan such as affirmative action, the economy and education,” he said. “Students need to be informed of these issues and Jerry Zandstra is an expert in public policy. He is a good source to learn from.” Lennox said he is hoping for a high turnout. “We have invited over 200 people, including students and faculty, but of course anybody is welcome to come,” he said.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2006/04/studentspossiblersocondemnprideweekcelebration