ASUI presidential candidate Nicole Skinner made a splash during the Senate’s second open forum with her response to how she would hold the administration accountable.
“I think it’s really easy to say these things in an open forum, but what I think you really need to be doing is looking at how your candidates have been practicing holding the administration accountable in the past,” Skinner said. “I think Rob Spear should be fired immediately.”
Skinner referenced a report from The Argonaut and Idaho Statesman, detailing University of Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear’s mishandling of a 2013 sexual assault.
The other candidates at the forum mentioned removing people who make students feel unsafe, but did not name anyone specifically.
The other candidates for ASUI President were Jesse Smith, Austin O’Neill, and Jesse Watson.
Candidates also answered questions about how they planned to increase multicultural enrollment at the university and improve student spaces.
O’Neill said to increase the multicultural enrollment, the university should expand recruitment to those areas. Sean Collins, his vice president candidate, said the university needs to advertise its affordable prices.
Skinner said the university needed to ensure campus departments dedicated to diversity have funding and student spaces. Carlos Vasquez said raising awareness of the multicultural Greek community is one way to retain multicultural students.
Watson said he wanted an ASUI cabinet member strictly for increasing enrollment and said he wanted to see a growth in multicultural Greek fraternities and sororities.
Smith said the university should lobby to lower tuition, advertise UI as a cheaper alternative and work on student retention.
The other topic the candidates discussed was how they would improve student spaces.
Skinner said she wanted to advocate for a real student union building and renovate existing student spaces.
“I think we can speak for many students when we say we do need a place to have the ability to study freely,” Vazquez said.
Watson said he wanted to install nap pods around the campus for students to be able to take a break.
James Howard, vice presidential candidate with Watson, said he wanted to increase student parking spaces.
“As an off-campus student, this resonates with me. Student parking spaces, they’re nonexistent if you live off campus,” Howard said. “You have to park at the far side of the Kibbie Dome or outside the transportation center. Getting access to better parking spaces is something that would improve student life.”
The next open forum will be 6 p.m. March 28 for ASUI Senate candidates.
Kali Nelson can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @kalinelson6