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campusreview.com.au
‘If seen on campus, call 911’
Idaho university reviews dismissal
of meth-using professor.
A
University of Idaho panel has
backed a journalism professor’s
dismissal but skirted around
the issue of a text the institution sent to
students warning that the professor told
police she used methamphetamine and
had access to firearms.
Denise Bennett was put on administrative
leave following a string of internal
complaints about grant funding and
administrative matters, including an
expletive-laden email that culminated in –
according to the panel’s recommendation
documents – a “verbal attack” against a UI
staff member.
Within the week, Bennett received
the terms of her administrative leave
and broadcast her reaction via YouTube
livestream. A day later, and before a
planned student protest over UI’s decision
about Bennett, the university issued a
campus-wide ‘vandal alert’ text.
It read: “Denise Bennett has been barred
from Moscow Campus. Recent admittance
to police of meth use and access to
firearms. If seen on campus, call 911.”
The panel of staff put together by the
Dismissal Hearings Committee found
that while the initial email to staff, the
verbal incident and YouTube livestream
don’t necessarily amount to grounds for dismissal, Bennett’s refusal to acknowledge
the “inappropriateness of her conduct” and
engage with the university in mediation
suggested she was unwilling to perform
her full duties and comply with professional
conduct standards – and justified dismissal.
On the vandal alert, the panel said the
university’s actions were “problematic” but
stopped short of making findings on the
allegation and disregarded the move in
making its recommendation.
“The harm caused to Professor Bennett’s
reputation is undoubtedly significant.
“At the same time, truth is a complete
defence to a claim of defamation, so if the
university believed Professor Bennett posed
a threat to herself or others, the university’s
action could be defended on that ground.”
The panel added that the university had
an obligation to put the safety of students
and staff first and shouldn’t ignore “even
ambiguous information that suggests that
possibility of a safety threat”.
Still, it said the timing of the alert “raises
questions” about whether it was prompted
by genuine safety concerns or by the
desire to suppress a student protest on
Bennett’s behalf. ■
home growers – and, with 60 students
already enrolled, it’s full.
In marketing the course, U of G spruiked
the increased demand in Canada for
workers training in the field of cannabis
production. It listed potential entry-level
jobs like cultivation technician, master
grower, packing technician and customer
service representative.
Marjory Gaouette, a manager of
program development at U of G, said since the drug’s legalisation, the
university has seen an uptick in people
calling about and looking for cannabis-
related courses.
Starting early next week, Cannabis
Production will cover the plant’s history,
growing basics, medical uses, and post-
harvest curing and packaging.
Course creator Brandon Yep, a
master’s student in the School of
Environmental Sciences, said the
course will also clarify fact from myth
and provide scientific backing for the
previously underground practice.
Here is the course description:
“Learn the entire process of cannabis
production from seed, clone or transplant
to harvest and handling of the final
product. Gain essential management
techniques and develop a solid
understanding of the best practices for
commercial production.”
The course is part of the university’s new
cannabis specialisation of its horticulture
certificate program.
In January, U of G will release
another new cannabis course, this one
focusing on regulations and quality
assurance. ■
High ed
Canadian university to offer online
cannabis cultivation course.
A
Canadian university is capitalising
on the country’s decision to legalise
cannabis, offering an online course
on the plant’s production.
The University of Guelph course is
targeted towards both commercial and
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