The ASUI Senate meeting Wednesday evening focused on updates from ASUI President Nicole Skinner.
Skinner told the Senate there has been a lot of thought and attention going into ASUI elections this year. She said the election packet has been updated with information about what it takes to campaign and things candidates might want to start preparing for.
“We wanted to remove the barrier to access that was there for a lot of people who may not already know someone who is a part of student government and make that more accessible,” Skinner said.
Skinner said the open forums are also being diversified, as well as opportunities for engagement throughout the election. Question and answer sessions will be added in the Wallace Residence Hall basement and the Hub during dinnertime. Specific dates and times have not been set yet.
There will be a candidate meeting 7 p.m. Thursday in the ASUI Office. The meeting is mandatory for all candidates running in the ASUI Spring Elections.
“Sometimes people just need to be invited to the conversation,” Skinner said. “I joined student government because someone just came up to me and was like, ‘Have you thought about joining student government?’”
Skinner also encouraged the Senate to attend and take part in the university’s presidential candidate forums, as well as encouraged their constituent groups to attend. She said the sessions are a way to hear about the candidates’ philosophies and submit feedback.
Skinner said the Idaho State Board of Education should hire a new president by the end of the month. In-depth interviews with candidates will take place following the individual forums, and then salary negotiations and package accommodations will begin once a president is chosen.
Sen. Sam Harrich asked if the new president would take over immediately or if there would be a “lame duck Chuck situation for a while.”
“I mean we kind of already have that situation to be honest,” Skinner said.
Skinner said there’s only so much Staben can do in his current situation, since his contract ends June 15. But she said she is sure the new president will have some sort of role during this time.
Near the end of Wednesday’s meeting, Skinner also swore in the ASUI Supreme Court, which will be responsible for reviewing various bylaws, rules and regulations, as well as the ASUI Constitution.
Zachary Spence, a graduate student studying curriculum and instruction, was sworn in as chief justice. Third-year students Jesse Watson and Elizabeth Marshall were sworn is as justices.
Ellamae Burnell can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @EllamaeBurnell