Student Gadfly Accuses Central Michigan Ombuds

In October 2007, a Central Michigan University junior, Dennis Lennox, mounted a campaign to force a Democratic congressional candidate out of a prestigious faculty job. The politically conservative student was later charged with violating university policy for improperly distributing literature on campus. In the latest development, Lennox has accused the CMU Ombuds, Susan Rademacher, of "sharing the contents of their conversation that he had with her" with the Dean of Students. A local conservative publication political blog has urged readers to contact Rademacher to complain and provided her email address. (ABC News; OutsideLansing.com; The Provocatuer.)

At best, the complaint against Rademacher appears to be based on vague hearsay. There is no explanation of how Lennox learned that Rademacher allegedly spoke to the Dean of Students or what was communicated. Indeed one leaked email indicates that Lennox and Rademacher never met. Unfortunately, the IOA Code and Standards preclude Rademacher from offering any information in her own defense. Hopefully a hearing later this month will clarify matters, including the role of the Ombuds.