ASUI President Martha Smith welcomed the ASUI senators to the first meeting of the semester on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
“It’s great to be back,” she said.
The Nepali Students’ Association announced the Taste of Nepal 2025, taking place in the International Ballroom on Feb. 2. Student tickets are $15.
Vice President Emma Johnston has been working on conducting meetings with the new senators and helping them start on projects, looking to give them guidance as needed.
Pro Tempore Anya Zuercher sponsored a bill, written by Senator Lance Butikofer, to address inadequate counseling and mental health services on campus. “Having the program now is great,” Zuercher said, “but it could be better.”
She looks to make mental health services easier to access and improve availability of sessions. She plans on continuing to work with the Counseling and Mental Health Center to make a change.
Smith and Johnston wrote a resolution, sponsored by Senators Julissa McDowell and Arielle Hebison, thanking former UI football head coach Jason Eck for his time with the Vandal family.
Johnston and Zuercher, along with other ASUI members, plan on welcoming the new football head coach, Thomas Ford. Zuercher says she is planning on holding a meeting open to all students where they can ask him any questions they have, while Johnston mentioned her plans on creating a welcome basket for Ford.
Senator Alexa Benitez announced the 12th annual MLK Art and Writing Contest held by the university, open to undergraduate and graduate students. Awards for the best written works and the best art pieces that fit the given theme include scholarships. Benitez hopes to raise awareness about this contest that commemorates the life, work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Rebekah Weaver can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu.