The biggest flaw in any student government organization, ASUI President Nate Fisher said, is the high rate of turnover.
“Year in and year out, any sort of momentum is always difficult,” Fisher said. “If I had another year, I could accomplish even more.”
Phil Vukelich | Argonaut
ASUI presidential candidate Nate Fisher speaks at the final ASUI presidential election open forum Thursday in the Horizon Room in the Idaho Commons. Voting for the upcoming ASUI election opens Monday.
Over the last year, the Fisher administration has made headway on issues such as sexual assault prevention and establishing an Idaho Student Association. Fisher said another term as ASUI president would give him more time to tackle issues such as redistricting ASUI and managing student space.
The most interesting development in the Fisher administration, however, is Fisher himself. In the year since he took office, those who followed ASUI saw the incumbent grow from an eager and bright-eyed senator to a measured leader.
“I was confident in my leadership and communication abilities before this year, but the development that I’ve had to do has been an incredible experience and opportunity,” Fisher said.
According to Fisher, working continuously with university administrators, local and state government, university stakeholders and alumni for the past year gave him the breadth of experience to continue representing students.
“In many ways, being ASUI president has opened my eyes, and certainly given me a much better and appreciative understanding of the university and of ASUI, and how they both interact on the full spectrum,” Fisher said.
Fisher said his time as ASUI president has also reminded him of his true passions. For the first time, the extroverted Fisher said he finds solace in the quiet moments at the end of the day when there are no hands to shake, events to attend or policy points to discuss, and he can sit and play his viola.
Fisher also said he has become much closer with his parents. His father, who served in the cabinets of three Idaho governors, has been a guiding figure during his term. Fisher said while he hopes to live up to what his father has accomplished, he also hopes to make his own way in the political realm.
“Working in government can be really hard — you’re a very public figure with a public persona, and with that comes a lot of scrutiny,” Fisher said. “Sometimes it can seem like it’s always an uphill battle and you wonder, ‘Is this going to be worth it?’ You always have critics and people who want to see something done in a different way, and it can be overwhelming at times.”
Despite the hardships of being a leader, Fisher said he’s running for reelection because the public service aspect of the job is what fuels his ability to support students.
“When you step back and look at it holistically, it has been an incredible opportunity,” Fisher said. “It’s something I really do enjoy, and I take it one day at a time, because it truly is something I’m very passionate about.”
Hannah Shirley can be reached at [email protected]