Campus Conservatives Claim No YAF Affiliation

A recent e-mail from Campus Conservatives claims they are independent and have no affiliation with YAF.

Dear Sir:

Please cease and desist in your statements that Campus Conservatives,
Central Michigan University's oldest and most active political
organization, is a chapter of Young Americans for Freedom. Campus
Conservatives is an independent conservative organization and is not
affiliated with Young Americans for Freedom.

CAMPUS CONSERVATIVES BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Bryant Greiner, President
Evan Agnello, Vice President
David Grabowski, Vice President
Jake Maloney, Secretary
Zach Davis, Treasurer
Chase Canning, President Emeritus

However, they were listed as the CMU-YAF Chapter by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and referred to as YAF multiple times when FIRE took up a case with Campus Conservatives.

Also Central Michigan Student Life RSO Directory links to their Constitution, which refers to the group as "YAF" and uses the YAF Logo multiple times. The Constitution is dated in 2006 and signed by Dennis Lennox.

YAF Watch will look into this and discover what the situation is.

Campus Conservatives Label MSU-YAF Leader One Of Their Own

The connections between recognized hate group MSU-YAF and the Central Michigan YAF Chapter have been known before. When MSU_YAF was named a hate group Dennis Lennox said “We are going to stand by Kyle Bristow and YAF as a whole.”

Campus Conservatives apparently still holds this view. On their Flickr Photostream they host an image featuring. Kyle Bristow, the Chairman of MSU-YAF.

On the actual page itself they do not differentiate Bristow from the rest of their members. The label under the photo reads "Campus Conservatives". The photo is undated, but the upload date is November 24th, 2009.

Screenshot of Flickr Photostream

Bristow (Left) in white and blue polo.

(Click to enlarge)

Campus Conservatives inclusion of Bristow in their photostream and the support they have given in the past raises questions of how ideologically close they are to MSU-YAF.

College Republicans At CMU Post Series of Press Releases Critical of Campus Conservatives/CMU-YAF

Apparently the Michigan State University College Republicans aren't the only CR chapter critical of their campus YAF chapter. The College Republicans of Central Michigan University have a series of press releases critical of the Campus Conservatives, the CMU YAF chapter.

January 29, 2010

DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO
Campus Conservatives Still Determining If the Word “Partisan” Applies to Everyone

MOUNT PLEASANT – As the Campus Conservatives Gubernatorial “Debate” gets closer, the College Republicans at Central Michigan University again released comments regarding another instance of hypocrisy from the Campus Conservatives:

“In today’s edition of CM-LIFE, it was noted that the Office of Student Life at Central Michigan University will be funding the circus otherwise known as the Campus Conservatives Gubernatorial Debate on Tuesday. College Republicans are shocked and appalled at these actions, as the Campus Conservatives had previously attacked their organization for receiving SBAC funds to attend a Leadership Conference in Washington, DC. Former President of the Campus Conservatives wrote at that time,

“CMU by law can't give money to partisan political groups. I know how much the school gave the group - it was over $1000. The law is clear. Both the CRs and the school are in violation.”

“It seems that the temperatures aren’t the only things that have made a drastic change recently! Once against CMU supporting partisan student organizations, the Campus Conservatives have apparently crawled back to the well following apparent failed fundraising attempts.”

“For an organization who couldn’t afford to pay their bill for security to the University, I am shocked that the Office of Student Life would be willing to support this effort at such a tremendous level. If funneling student funds to a mismanaged and controversial debate isn’t enough, only two of the five candidates are actually attending, “said Nathan Inks, Chairman of the College Republicans at Central Michigan University. “Two out of five… I am pretty sure any professor can tell you that’s only a 40% and that means you fail.”

“From the beginning Campus Conservatives have shown an attitude of hypocrisy and dishonesty,” Inks continued. “They were dishonest about Rick Snyder coming. They were dishonest about live broadcast coverage by WNEM. They’ve gone around town seeking sponsorships from local business owners using mischaracterizations. Now, they want to be trusted as stewards of our tuition dollars? Do they think we’re crazy?”

January 27, 2010

BACKLASH
Support for Campus Conservative Debate Fading Fast

MOUNT PLEASANT – Following their release last night regarding the Campus Conservatives, the College Republicans at Central Michigan University today released the following statement regarding the upcoming Gubernatorial Debate being planned by the Campus Conservatives:

“The mess that is the Gubernatorial Debate hosted by the Campus Conservatives continued to spin out of control on Wednesday as businessman Rick Snyder confirmed he would not attend and WNEM rebuking a claim by the Campus Conservatives that the debate would be televised live.

The attempt to host a debate on the campus of Central Michigan University is turning into an embarrassment for the Campus Conservatives, the University and the Republican Party. With their apparent focus on self promotion, the Campus Conservatives continue to ignore the real problems Michigan families and students are facing.”

“They don’t know when to stop,” said College Republicans at Central Michigan University Chairman Nathan Inks. “A few weeks ago they were lying about who had confirmed attendance, today they’re lying about the debate being televised… what’s next?”

“Michigan’s college students and young adults absolutely deserve a debate that focuses on their issues,” Inks added. “However, it is essential that the debate take place in an organized, honest and appropriate fashion. The tactics employed by Campus Conservatives are sure to reflect poorly on any candidate who decides to attend, as there is no telling what type of circus this debate could turn into with them at the helm.”

January 26, 2010

Campus Conservatives Want It Both Ways
Group Flip Flops on Supporting Republicans

MOUNT PLEASANT – The College Republicans at Central Michigan University today released the following statement regarding the upcoming Gubernatorial Debate being planned by the Campus Conservatives:

“The Campus Conservatives are trying to have it both ways by organizing a debate for the Republican candidates for Governor. In 2009, the College Republicans asked the Campus Conservatives to join them in hosting a “Silent Salute” to our troops. Dennis Lennox replied on behalf of the Campus Conservatives by saying that they are not a partisan group and could not be affiliated with a Republican organization:

“At this time, Campus Conservatives will not be participating with College Republicans. We are prohibited from working with partisan political organizations.”

The College Republicans at Central Michigan University are the only official Conservative student organization on campus, and are recognized as such by the Michigan Federation of College Republicans and the Isabella County Republican Party.”

“The Campus Conservatives should be ashamed of themselves,” said College Republicans at Central Michigan University Chairman Nathan Inks. “Refusing to participate in a tribute to our troops who serve selflessly to protect us, but jumping at a chance to rub shoulders with Michigan’s political elite shows their true colors and the purpose of their organization.”

“The College Republicans at Central Michigan University will continue to volunteer for candidates, both local and statewide. We’re never afraid to say we’re Republicans,” Inks continued. “I encourage Senator George, Sheriff Bouchard and any other candidates considering attending this debate to think twice before standing next to a group that won’t stand up for their Party.”

Campus Conservatives/CMU-YAF criticized by CMU student newspaper after failed debate. CMU-YAF alleges College Republican conspiracy.

Interesting developments regarding Campus Conservative/CMU-YAF. While their former Chairman and current Alumni Adviser Dennis Lennox faces a misdemeanor criminal charge for allegedly mailing campaign literature using county resources, CMU-YAF's attempt at hosting a Republican gubernatorial debate has fallen through.

Central Michigan Life, the CMU Student Newspaper, criticized CMU-YAF for overpromising and under delivering as well as mishandling the gubernatorial debate.

Campus Conservatives’ failure to secure debaters shakes their reputation
By Editorial Board || February 01, 2010

Campus Conservatives had a gubernatorial debate scheduled for Tuesday for about three months.

But it has since been reduced to a speech by State Sen. Tom George because none of the other gubernatorial candidates could attend. After endless promotion and the Campus Conservatives trying to stir up public interest, the supposed “debate” fell flat on its face.

Although Campus Conservatives was able to salvage at least a sit-down with one candidate for governor, chalk this one up as a loss.

The registered student organization has been drumming up hype over this debate for a couple months, sending out press releases and dispersing flyers all over campus beginning in December. Beyond Sen. George, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Attorney General Mike Cox, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra and Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder were scheduled to be part of the debate Tuesday in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.

But something was wrong from the beginning. Each press release did not list anyone that confirmed, only that they were invited to CMU. Each candidate received their invitation back in November, giving the Campus Conservatives ample time to adjust the event as needed, depending on who would attend.

As the debate grew closer and the number of confirmations was not growing, the group took the deadline for replies up until the last minute instead of making an executive decision to reorganize accordingly.

This turned out to be a big mistake. Now the event is with one candidate and is moved to Bovee University Center’s Auditorium. How many students will show up to a sit-down with one candidate, especially one they may not even know?

The fact that every candidate but one failed to say ‘yes’ shows how unorganized the Campus Conservatives was when planning this event. Even an event with Bouchard debating George would have drawn more students had Bouchard not dropped from the debate Friday.

It is understandable when events don’t always happen as planned. Some things fall through. But it’s another story to parade this “debate” around, set the deadline so late for candidates to respond and insinuate to the media that certain candidates are coming when they really aren’t.

If the Campus Conservatives expects anyone to take it seriously, it needs to be more organized and execute its events with added precision and not draw up hype over something so uncertain.

Don’t tell students you’re going to host an event with multiple speakers if none of them have confirmed. Don’t wait until the very last minute to announce there have been significant changes.

Campus Conservatives will hopefully learn from this and won’t let another event run into the ground.

Flier from Campus Conservatives. Click to enlarge and notice small font for "Confirmed and/or invited" disclaimer.

CMU-YAF responded on their blog, criticizing the newspaper.

We were very disappointed to read the editorial in Monday’s edition of the newspaper.

Instead of praising a student organization for becoming engaged in the discussion of Michigan’s future, Central Michigan Life decided to criticize the school’s oldest and most active political organization for something totally out of its control.

...

We had strong indications that at least three of the five candidates would participate — giving us no reason to cancel the debate because one candidate [Mike Cox] felt hob-noising with rich donors was more important and another [Rick Snyder] was afraid to discuss the issues unless the rules favored him.

CMU-YAF went on further to allege that the Central Michigan College Republicans played a role in getting candidate and Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard to pull out of the debate and Central Michigan Life to print the negative editorial.

Sadly, the debate was ruined by the sabotage of College Republicans chairman Nathan Inks, a Central Michigan Life columnist, who repeatedly harassed the candidates and media outlets covering our efforts with absurd accusations and threats of protesting the debate.

And because the College Republicans had volunteered for Bouchard at past Republican Party events, they were able to convince his campaign to cancel — citing a “scheduling conflict” even though the sheriff had pledged to debate even if it was only him and George on the stage.

Instead of pointing a finger at Campus Conservatives, Central Michigan Life should be criticizing the candidates who decided students weren’t important enough as well as blasting the immature, unprofessional and absurd actions of CMU’s Republican-in-name-only organization.

Sincerely,

Campus Conservatives Board of Trustees

CMU-YAF has previously criticized the CMU College Republicans as being too liberal.

There’s also the fact that CMU’s chapter of the College Republicans has been notoriously liberal over the years.

The club’s leadership opposed Proposal 2 of 2006, the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, which banned affirmative action in higher education admissions, until a general membership revolt forced the leadership into endorsing the proposal on the condition that the club’s support would never be made public.

Past leaders of the College Republicans have been pro-abortion even though the Republican Party’s platform is expressly pro-life. They also worked with other liberal groups at CMU to support attempts to re-define the institution of marriage by allowing same-sex couples to wed.

That’s why Campus Conservatives exist.

Meanwhile CMU-YAF, under the leadership of Dennis Lennox, came out to support MSU-YAF after it was labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Lennox said the situation is unfortunate and the decision is misguided, but it will not affect the way YAF at CMU operates.

“We are going to stand by Kyle Bristow and YAF as a whole,” Lennox said.

Dennis Lennox Turns Self Into Police Over Campaign Finance Misdemeanor

Dennis Lennox, former Campus Conservatives/CMU-YAF President and Cheybogan County Drain Commissioner, turned himself into authorities after a charge was filed for violating campaign finance rules regarding use of public funds for political campaigns. Lennox, who accused Congressman Gary Peters of misuse of his position as professor at public Central Michigan University, allegedly used county stationary and postage to mail campaign literature with Christmas cards sent from his Drain Commissioner office.

From the Petoskey News-Review

The Cheboygan County drain commissioner turned himself in Monday evening following a campaign finance charge that he used county resources to fund his campaign for state representative in the 105th district for the Michigan House of Representatives.

Cheboygan County drain commissioner Dennis Lennox, of Topinabee, faces misdemeanor charges for allegedly sending campaign literature to about 250 recipients, including residents outside of the Cheboygan County area in a Christmas greeting on Dec. 4. Lennox has been openly campaigning for the 105th House seat currently held by term-limited State Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer, R-Kewadin.

Cheboygan County Prosecutor Daryl Vizina filed the charges in the 89th District Court on Friday stating the drain commissioner violated campaign finance laws. The charge is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a $1,000 and/or one year in jail.

Vizina alleges the drain commissioner was mailing the Christmas cards and campaign documents to recipients throughout the 105th district in Charlevoix, Otsego and Antrim counties, extending beyond Lennox's Cheboygan County jurisdiction.

However, Vizina said, Lennox initially refused to repay the postage cost to the county, prompting the matter to be investigated by the Cheboygan Police Department.

"Basically, (Lennox) told the county administrator who discovered (the campaign literature), 'I'm not paying it back,'" Vizina said. "Maybe not as nice as that."

Following a police investigation, Vizina said, Lennox repaid the full amount of the postage of $110.

On Monday, Lennox downplayed the charge and called it a political stunt.

"This deals with — it’s important to get the terms right — a campaign finance complaint," Lennox said. "It's not a misusing of public funds, or an embezzlement-type charge. It deals with a campaign finance complaint, specifically the Michigan campaign finance act of 1976."

Lennox said the charge is a fairly common matter in politics and generally handled by the secretary of the state.

"It is important to point out that it is a Democratic prosecutor and I am a Republican, and I'll let that speak for itself," he added.

Vizina refuted the claims by Lennox that politics are behind the charge.

"To the best of my knowledge, there is not even a Democratic candidate for the 105th district that he's a candidate for. So, I don't know how I'm promoting any Democratic party ideals by charging him with this."

According to Democratic Chairman Mark Brewer on Friday, there is not currently any Democratic candidate or speculative candidates identified for the 105th House district.

Other Republican hopefuls for the 105th House district are Tim Boyko of Charlevoix and Ken Glasser of Otsego County.

Former CMU-YAF Chairman Faces Criminal Charge Related to His Elected Post

The Cheybogan Daily Tribune Reports Former CMU-YAF/Campus Conservatives Chair Dennis Lennox is facing a criminal charge related to sending out campaign materials for his Michigan House Seat campaign using County funds.

Cheboygan, Mich. - Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox is facing a criminal charge of misusing his office to promote his bid for a Michigan House seat.
The Cheboygan County Prosecutor’s Office filed a misdemeanor complaint against Lennox Friday morning in the 89th District Court, alleging that Lennox included House campaign materials in Christmas cards he sent out last month and charged the postage to Cheboygan County.
According to Prosecutor Daryl Vizina, Cheboygan city police have contacted Lennox and expect him to surrender himself by early next week.

More details are to come in Saturday's edition.

Lennox has previously faced legal trouble over alleged involvement in the defamation of Democrat County Commissioner Mark Grebner, in which Grebner's Wikipedia entry was altered to portray him as a homosexual and a child molester. Lennox allegedly added the homosexual reference to the Wikipedia page.

Lennox had previously launched a campaign against Gary Peters, a CMU Professor running from Congress (MI-09), alleging Peters to be improperly using his position at a public university to raise money for Congress.

Lennox's alleged misuse of county funds, and earlier reports of his blowing through the Drain Commissioner's entire budget in six months, and fight with the county commission over using county funds for legal services raising issues over Lennox's fiscal conservative credentials.

**UPDATE**

Lennox has responded to the charges, claiming a political vendetta from the Democratic Prosecutor Daryl Vizina. Lennox plans to turn himself in early next week.

There was no evidence cited backing Lennox's accusation of political vendetta.

Virginia Young Americans for Freedom Breaks with National YAF

In an October 1st, 2009 post Virginia YAF President and Chairman William Zimmerman announced the Virginia State YAF group would be breaking with the National YAF organization. National YAF is based in Washington D.C. and according to Source Watch is affiliated with Young America's Foundation, which is based in Virginia.

Zimmerman post states:

Chairman Announces Organization Transition

FAIRFAX, Va. - During the process of organizational meetings, an overwhelming majority of leaders within the Young Americans for Freedom - Virginia have reached a consensus that our relationship with the Young Americans for Freedom (National) should come to a close. William Zimmerman, Chairman and President, announced recently that "the inability of the National Organization to effectively run the organization, coupled with their continued hindrance of our necessary operations, leaves us no choice but to go our own separate ways." Recent negotiations with the National Organization to reform operational structure have failed. In addition to the various leaders of the Young Americans for Freedom - Virginia, affiliates, alumni, and other observers have come to the conclusion that the national organization is ruthlessly ineffective. "They [National YAF] have missed multiple elections, have made no substantial effort to start new chapters nationally, and lack the ability to perform the essential functions for which they were elected - that is absurd," said Zimmerman.

Speculations of those who wish to be left anonymous suggest other internal problems, including varying levels of corruption, although this has not been confirmed. A high-level official within the Young Americans for Freedom (National) has been pushing for action from the national board of directors to expand and increase operations, especially in this environment when aid to the conservative movement is essential. Chairman Zimmerman also expressed this need for aid to the movement. "I find it hard to believe that an organization which has had such a profound impact on the American Conservative movement can refuse to beef up operations," said Zimmerman when asked about his feelings of the inaction from the Young Americans for Freedom (National). "The National Organization has brought much same to the conservative movement, and they should be ashamed of themselves for allowing a preeminent organization to fail."

Sources say that the Young Americans for Freedom - Virginia is the last permanent state organization in the country, as other well known chapters and state organizations have also failed.

"We will do all that we can to create smooth transition into an independent organization here in Virginia," said William Zimmerman. There will be a transition period between now and December were organization officials will plan, re-configure, and expand.

###

Please continue to check this web page for updates during this transitional period.

Hat tip to Mhony1983 for the tip