To: Governors State University Students, Faculty and Staff

I am Roger K. Oden. Most of you know me as the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and as University Professor of Political Science. As Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, there are certain things about which I cannot make public comments, such as employee personnel reports, student academic reports, etc.

I am writing you today, however, not as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences but as a member of Governors State University’s community and a citizen of the Untied States of America. As a U.S. citizen, I have the constitutional rights of free speech supported by the 1^st amendment. I also have the right to protect myself from defamation.

The Innovator of October 31, 2000 contains a letter to the editor by the Innovator’s Faculty Advisor, Geoffrey e Laforcade. The University terminated Geoffrey de Laforcade’s employment effective August 31, 2000. The newspaper contains an article entitled “De Laforcade’s Dispute Reaches 3^rd Phase Arbitration,” under the byline of M.L. Hosty. M. L. Hosty serves as Managing Editor, News Editor, Features Editor, Opinions Editor, Ad Manager, Copy Editor, Columnist, and Contributor. Geoffrey de Laforcade’s letter to the editor and M. L. Hosty’s article is a collection of untruths and I believe that they know they are untrue. I also believe they are being written with the intent and purpose to damage my reputation. I will vigorously defend my name, person, and reputation against defamation.

I thank you for taking the time to read my response.

Submitted: November 2, 2000