SEPTEMBER 19 , 2019
UIARGONAUT.COM
‘You don’t have to be somebody else to feel included’ Alex Brizee | Argonaut
Diversity Scholars with OMA (left) Nallely Gonzalez, Pepe Maciel, Lizette Almanza and Yanet Rosales, pose outside the Student Diversity Center Wednesday.
DIVERSITY Office, Native American Student Center, Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Women’s Center, said Chief Diversity Officer and Executive Director of Tribal Relations, Yolanda Bisbee. Alex Brizee With five varying offices, ARGONAUT the priorities stay in line as Yanet Rosales is far from the staff is trained on cultural home — 399 miles to be exact. competency and culturally Rosales, a third-year responsive education, which Diversity Scholar with the focuses on the inclusion of Office of Multicultural Affairs language, culture and history. at the University of Idaho, is The goal for these programs? from Gooding, Idaho. A proud, To decrease the equity gap, first-generation Mexicanbecause from a national Yolanda Bisbee American student, Rosales perspective, ethnic and diverse made the decision to leave home groups’ equity gaps are higher, for a higher education at UI because of the leaving more students unlikely to graduate. Office of Equity and Diversity. The difference between equity and equality can sometimes be misunderstood, There are five units to the Office said Lizette Almanza, a third-year of Equity and Diversity — College Diversity Scholar with OMA. Assistance Migrant Program, LGBTQA
UI students, administrators reflect on the benefits and challenges of diversity, inclusion funding
One of her advisors, Jesse Martinez, programs, I mean, I’m wondering OMA Director, explained the difference to if a majority of Hispanics or Latinx her in a way that is more understandable. communities or any other community “Everyone has a shoe, that’s equality” would actually graduate from this school?” Almanza said. “But we all need different Rosales said. “Because if they don’t feel sizes — things we can use safe, if they don’t feel like that for the shoe. Different people connection, would they still be need different necessities to be able to continue their education?” successful.” It is an issue that has found Which is where programs its way to southern Idaho — like the OMA and CAMP come Boise to be specific. in for these students. This past July, Boise State For UI’s students, the University’s diversity programs retention rate from freshman to were challenged by 28 state sophomore year is 81% during legislators, encouraging new Bill Goesling the 2017- 2018 school year BSU President Marlene Tromp according to UI’s new freshman to defund programs in support of diversity, retention and graduation rates. according to an article by the Idaho But for students under the Office of Statesman. Equity and Diversity, that rate was 92%, Bisbee said. SEE SOMEBODY ELSE, PAGE 4 “And I feel like if it wasn’t for these
ADMINISTR ATION
Professor Denise Bennett fired on paid leave Jan. 24 after two incidents with UI employees that administrators characterized as unprofessional conduct. Ellen Dennis The day before being placed on leave, ARGONAUT Bennett had a verbal confrontation with a University of Idaho tenured professor UI employee. Two days prior to her leave, Denise Bennett has been fired, Bennett sent an email with expletives to eight months after being placed on university administrators and others. administrative leave. On Jan. 30, an emergency text and In a letter dated Sept. 10, email alert, called a Vandal UI President C. Scott Green Alert, was sent out to students, fired Denise Bennett, citing faculty and staff, which read, the Dismissal Hearings Zack Kellogg | Argonaut “Denise Bennett has been barred Committee’s recommendation Pro-choice protesters surround pro-life demonstrators. from Moscow Campus. Recent that “adequate cause admittance to police of meth use for termination” of her CAMPUS and access to firearms. If seen on employment exists. campus, call 911.” “The charges against In her email response to you, as outlined in the letter Denise Bennett Green, Bennett said the alerts featured signage depicting graphic images from Provost Wiencek to you Campus counter-protests “demonstrate zero good faith effort of seemingly aborted fetuses with captions dated June 13, 2019, include broke out at anti-abortion on the part of UI administration.” such as “American Killing Fields” and “The unprofessional conduct, actions in violation “The calculated alerts were also Body Inside Your Body Is Not Your Body.” demonstration on Wednesday of directives, unsatisfactory or inadequate obviously timed to shut down a student The counter-protest efforts were performance of duties, admission of Ellen Dennis protest of UI administration on my behalf,” organized earlier in the week on various criminal conduct, and actions in violations ARGONAUT she added. social media outlets. Protesters gathered of policies,” wrote Green. Student counter-protests were met with Bennett formally requested an appeal at the plaza throughout the day to circle Bennett’s last official day is Sept. 21, police intervention during Wednesday’s the demonstration, holding signs and according to UI spokeswoman Jodi Walker. of Green’s decision to the Faculty Appeals anti-abortion demonstration in the Idaho chanting in unison while feminist music Bennett said in an email to The Argonaut Hearing Board, citing “extraordinary Student Union Building Plaza. blared on speakers in the background. circumstances” surrounding her dismissal. that she intends to appeal Green’s decision. Ellen Dennis The demonstration, organized by the Bennett, who has worked as a tenured SEE ANTI-ABORTION, PAGE 4 can be reached at professor in the department of Journalism Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR), and Mass Media since 2006, was placed arg-news@uidaho.edu IN THIS ISSUE
Bennett plans to appeal President Green’s decision
Anti-abortion group sparks campus protest
Kenworthy offers a welcoming experience for all, living and dead. LIFE, 5 News, 1
Life, 5
Sports, 7
Opinion, 9
Mason Petrino continues to overcome adversity. SPORTS, 7
It may have been graphic, but it was the right decison. Read our view. OPINION, 9
University of Idaho
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