Despite only becoming an ASUI senator this semester, Zachary Spence already has a laundry list of ideas to improve life at the University of Idaho.
“He started his first semester diving right in,” said ASUI President Max Cowan. “He”s always in the office and always working on something.”
Even though his major is computer science, Spence said he joined ASUI because he is passionate about history and politics. He also felt ASUI would allow him to address unresolved issues around campus.
Alex Brizee | Argonaut
ASUI Senator Zachary Spence addressed other senators at an ASUI meeting Wednesday.
One issue on Spence”s to-do list is changing the way UI advertises itself.
“We have a reputation for being a party school,” Spence said. “When, in fact, we are an academic school and have the highest academics in the state.”
Cowan said that raising UI”s academic profile could help raise enrollment numbers, which is a goal the university has been working on. Recently, UI reported an approximate 3.3 percent drop in total student enrollment for fall 2015 as compared to the previous academic year.
Raising awareness of the option for first-year students to live off campus is another issue Spence plans to address.
Freshmen students at UI can seek an exemption from the requirement to live on campus if they are 21 or older, living with their parents, married, have children or have already completed 27 hours of college credits.
“It is a poorly advertised option, but it is an option. And I want students to know that they have the choice,” Spence said.
Spence said he became interested in the topic when he heard students were surprised to find out that living off campus freshman year was an option. Higher education is expensive, he said, so it”s important students know every option available to save money.
“I have nothing against Greek life or Residence Hall life as a choice, but I think students should know there are several choices,” Spence said.
Spence also wants to ensure all students are treated fairly, regardless of living situation. He said ASUI has had trouble reaching off-campus students and he wants to help fix that problem.
Spence said the majority of ASUI senators live on campus or are Greek, so he wants to ensure ASUI Senate gets input that encompasses all students.
To reach more students living off campus, one plan Spence has is to create a senate group on VandalSync. The current plan, he said, is to have the group contain ASUI Senate minutes, bills, resolutions and upcoming events. The Senate VandalSync group would also allow students to sign up for an email list with weekly updates, provide feedback and to take polls.
“I am a senator and I”m here to serve the students,” Spence said. “If students have concerns, questions or comments, they can come looking for me or send me an email. I cannot promise results, but I can promise a listening ear.”
Aleya Ericson can be reached at [email protected]