Denise Bennett — by now you’ve surely heard both the name and the story.
Bennett, a former University of Idaho professor, was placed on administrative leave back in January. She was subsequently “barred from campus” and eventually fired from UI.
Bennett has been a hot topic for the past nine months, both on UI’s campus and nationwide. While many students have supported Bennett along the way, such as organizations like REINSTATE DENISE, it is time for this chapter to end.
Bennett was arrested Friday for felony burglary, felony controlled substance possession and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession — specifically meth — in Lewiston, posting a $5,000 bond Monday.
Addiction is no joke, but the latest news shows Bennett unfit to work in an academic setting.
Whether or not you agreed with President Scott Green’s decision to fire Bennett, she was fired. There is no going back.
Bennett is leaving a legacy on UI’s campus — especially the Journalism and Mass Media department — and it is not one worth bragging about.
Do we as UI students, as JAMM students, want our college’s legacy to be ‘Denise Bennett’? The JAMM department and its students work hard and have achieved great things through their work, and it is time to focus on ourselves — to help ourselves.
Not to help those who cannot help themselves.
Bennett was a spectacular professor in her time and guided many students along their paths, this much should not be forgotten or dismissed. But her character as of late has not benefited the students — the same students who have studiously supported her dying cause.
While we are all for supporting a great cause, you have to bring a cause worth fighting for.
When Bennett left, she left a hole in JAMM’s broadcasting department, putting extra work on her colleagues and the students. It wasn’t fair for her JAMM colleagues to pick up extra work and it was not fair to students to only get half a professor.
And while you may agree with Bennett being put on leave initially, she has not helped herself from the beginning.
Filming a live stream of her official letter stating her administrative leave, breaking strict rules of her probation and now breaking the law has done little to re-establish good rapport with the university.
The system may be broken, but Bennett didn’t follow any of the rules. One can’t preach “the man” firing her was affecting students, and then never even try in good faith to make it back to those same students.
She didn’t fight for her students, the students fought for her.
“The Bennett issue” is closed. While The Argonaut will continue to report on Bennett’s story as it affects our student body, there is no longer a battle to fight. Next chapter.
— Editorial Board
Jesse Zylstra
There's a lot of issues with this "editorial," but that is what most of us have come to expect from the Ragonaut. At least the paper publication has one purpose: cleaning windows. It's a custodial favorite.
Jared Jonas
This is absolutely disgusting. The Argonaut is doing smear pieces now?
L Traynowicz
Once again, the Arg demonstrates its irrelevance to journalism and news. Why publish this libelous nonsense? Thankfully, the story will reach few individuals and have zero value beyond a few students putting in their hours for class credit. I keep waiting for the Arg to show merit, but it’s truly a rag. Pity.
Denise Emily
I happen to be alumni: MFA Studio Art, College of Art & Architecture, 2013 and as my LOVELY FRIEND JERRY SCHUTZ states you might consider getting ACCURATE FACTS before making LIBELOUS STATEMENTS about me. And FOR THE RECORD I have never intended to be a “role model.” I taught thousands of students over more than twenty years to make conscious STORYTELLING CHOICES through often BRUTAL CRITIQUE & REVISION! This editorial board might benefit from something similar & I suggest all y’all go get a GOD DAMNED lesson from my former colleague STEVE SMITH before he gracefully retires this spring. DENISE EMILY #ftp #smd
Jerry Schutz
Of course in your self-serving rant, you neglected to mention that all the charges had been dropped and there was no prosecution. Just like the Vandal Alert, your edit is nothing but a half-truth. Denies taught you better than that.
Mikel McLaughlin
Y’all are quick to kick a fellow Vandal to the curb. That’s unfortunate.