Barry Levine
Barry Levine was a member of American Mensa who was expelled from American Mensa in 2008 following a national hearing for the offense of committing "calumny" against Dave Remine in the course of criticizing an earlier hearing decision against Levine resulting in sanctions against his participation in his local group in Atlanta, Georgia. This, in turn, stemmed from a conflict within that group around 2001 in which the organizers of rival lunch events clashed over the appropriateness of engaging in heated political arguments during such events. A pair of hearings were held originally, one filed by Levine against other local members, and the other against Levine. Levine's expulsion was confirmed by the American Mensa Committee at the 2008 Annual Gathering of American Mensa. Levine subsequently circulated a document accusing many members of Mensa of corruption and defamation and indicating his intention to file suit, but has not filed any legal action. As of mid-2010, his application for direct international member status is pending with the International Board of Directors, which can discretionarily grant it if they believe the process by which he was expelled was not conducted fairly.
Since his expulsion, Levine has attempted to register for Annual Gatherings as a guest of a member, but has been refused on the basis of a rule (newly passed after his expulsion, and after an unsuccessful attempt to confiscate his AG badge right after his expulsion was confirmed) against expelled members attending any Mensa event (except for events held in private homes when the owner of the home consents to the person being allowed). He has, however, stayed at AG hotels during the gatherings and hung out in the lobby and grounds to meet Mensans. In 2011, he stood outside the hotel in Portland wearing a bright orange shirt saying I was expelled from Mensa for "committing calumny against Dave Remine."
External link
- Official report of the first pair of hearings (requires American Mensa member login)
