DePaulia (DePaul University, Chicago, IL), 1977-05-06

              By Jeanie Dziekan Volume 55 Number 22 DePaul Associate Professor of Law Edward J. Benett, a patient at Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Institute of Psychiatry, was indicted Wednesday by a Grand Jury for the knife murder of another patient.Homicide Comdr. Joseph DiLeonardi said that about 5:45 a.m. on May 3, a nurse at the hospital heard the victim, William Benpett, 21, shout, "I've been stabbed." The nurse ran toward Bennetts room and saw him stagger out covered with blood, investigators said. Professor Benett, still holding a bloody knife with a seven inch blade, appeared shortly afterward. He was seized by attendant Vinod Thakker, who urged surrender of the weapon, police said. The incident was reportedly disclosed to the police at about 7:15 a.m. Police said the professor was not related to the victim. Prof Indicted For Murder Law's Benett Seized at Scene of Killing Benett, 34, had been a DePaul faculty member since 1969. The Chicago Sun-Times reported May 3, "In 1970, he (Benett) and another young radical attorney, Leigh H. Taylor, were fired by the University but reinstated after students had protested thai tne firings were political." In The DePaulia,January 15, 1971, an account of events relating to the Benett-Taylor incident disclosed the firings as having triggered a student uprising and boycott within the College of Law. The DePaulia further attributed much of Benett's popularity among the students to his efforts in raising the number of black students in the DePaul Law School and his liberal stand on student's rights. University sources said that Benett submitted a letter of resignation March 21, 1977, scheduled to become effective June 30. Two weeks ago, he Rich Podsiadlo demonstrates knotting techniques with Adam Wojtowlch before this years rapelling exercise. Scenes like this will probably never be seen again at DePaul. Coelho Reflects on Demon Seasons The DePaulia was released from his university duties at the request of his wife, Gretchen Wolfe Benett, an attorney who is counsel to the Illinois Industrial Commission.The Sun-Times stated on May 3, "Benett had quarreled with the law school administration for several years and his resignation was one of several recently."On April 19, Benett entered the Hospital voluntarily for (turn to Page 4) By Steve Hudomiet The Department of the Army announced Friday, April 29 that the DePaul Senior ROTC unit will be disestablished at the (Photo by Ed Blanco) Edward J. Benett Army Reveals Plan to Cut DePaul ROTC end of the 1976-77 school year because of insufficient enrollment. However, Department Chairman of Military Science at DePaul, Colonel Donald Fisch, indicated that a definite statement concerning the future of ROTC could not be made at this time. Fisch commented that a definite statement concerning the future of the DePaul ROTC program could not be made until more information is available from the Department of the Army. Fisch said that the department is attempting to obtain further information on the matter in addition to that released last Friday. Fisch commented, "We're attempting to find out what can be done but can't say for sure until we get further information." Fisch stated that the ROTC program at DePaul was declining over the past few years and was forced to share some of it's See page 12 May 6, 1977 faculty with the ROTC unit at Loyola University. The number of Freshman interested in the program this year increased but the enrollment of Juniors and Seniors remained the same. According to criteria set by the Department of Defense, the enrollment is insufficient to continue the program. Fisch stressed that the University has made no official decision as to the future of the program. Fisch indicated that no DePaul student will be denied the opportunity of taking ROTC. Referring to Scholarship cadets and Juniors and Seniors already under contract with ROTC, Fisch commented that they will be able to complete the program. If completion of the program would interfere with the student attending DePaul, the student would be released from the contract. Fisch assured all ROTC students that they will receive a letter explaining the options available before any decisions regarding next year have to be made.