The reporter, a longtime Michigan journalist, is a Deadline Detroit contributor who worked with Evelyn Aschenbrenner on a May 17 investigative report about this topic.
By Peg McNichol
Wayne State University journalism students from the most recent semester received an attention-compelling email Sunday afternoon from the dean of WSU's College of Fine Performing and Communication Arts, Matt Seeger.
The subject line: "IMPORTANT - Message from Dean Seeger regarding recent reports."
Jack Lessenberry has taught journalism since 1993. (Wayne State photo)
The unusual weekend email, relayed by administrator Jessica Greenwald, refers to Deadline Detroit's story headlined "Jack Lessenberry's Long History of Questionable Behavior with Women" without naming the publication. The 4,000-word investigative article examines accounts of inappropriate behavior by the WSU senior lecturer toward students and earlier at a Memphis newspaper. Lessenberry denies most claims.
"The email sent would have covered all students who would have any interactions with Prof. Lessenberry," WSU attorney Linda Galante replies via email to a Deadline question. "I cannot give you a number."
Seeger's three-paragraph "Dear Students" message, obtained from a recipient, says:
These allegations are serious and the university is committed to fully investigating all reports of inappropriate behavior. The university has arranged for an outside, independent investigator to conduct an inquiry.
I am writing, therefore, to ask your assistance in insuring a full and fair investigation. Should you have any experiences or issues you would like to report, concerns about Professor Lessenberry's interaction with you or with others, or questions about the investigation I ask that you email me (Matthew.Seeger@Wayne.edu) or the university general counsel, Linda Galante (Linda Galante df0864@wayne.edu). We will insure confidentiality in all communications.
This is a challenging moment and I am sure many of you are struggling to understand these developments. Please be assured that the well being and success of our students is at the forefront as we work through this process.
Campus reaction to last Thursday revelations. (Facebook photo)
The dean has been a faculty member and administrator at the Detroit campus for 36 years.
Though Lessenberry is referred to as "Professor," the 66-year-old journalism instructor is a non-tenured senior lecturer -- one of 45 instrtuctors with that title at Wayne. They receive contracts of two or three years at a time. Lessenberry joined the full-time faculty in 1993 after a journalism career that included editing posts at The Detroit News and Commercial Appeal in Memphis.
Fallout followed Deadline's coverage last Thursday:
- Metro Times suspended his weekly column and planned an investigation, which led Lessenberry to resign Thursday night.
- The Toledo Blade indicated it would investigate his behavior there as an ombudsman (reader representative), columnist and writing coach.
- WSU on Friday said it hired an independent investigator, not yet identified, and Lessenberry stepped aside from student-related duties.
Before Seeger's email, Galante, an associate general counsel who serves as Title IX interim coordinator, said all complaints or questions about Lessenberry should be sent to her. She confirms the legitimacy of the dean's off-hours message and says she understands why Seeger sent it. "He shouldn't have" given his email as a contact option, she added.
As a Title IX coordinator, Galante is WSU’s designated neutral party, responsible for forwarding all reports to the investigator, a woman experienced in sexual harassment issues. Asked if WSU officials verified that the investigator has no ties to Lessenberry, Galante responded quickly and emphatically: "Yes."
Clarification:
This article originally was unclear that Galante meant the dean shouldn't have given his email address as a contact, not that she felt he shouldn't have sent the email.
First coverage:
Jack Lessenberry's Long History of Questionable Behavior with Women, May 17
