The University of Idaho Interfraternity Council has delayed its elections for one week due to a lack of applicants.
The election date was originally set for Sunday, Nov. 10 — however IFC President, Chris Chesnut, decided to postpone the elections for one week because the position of assistant recruitment chair received no applicants.
“We usually have to do this every year,” Chesnut said. “It’s a tougher job to commit to because it’s a two-year commitment.”
Allen Jennings, the current assistant recruitment chair, said the lack of applicants for his position didn’t surprise him.
“It’s always a struggle to fill my position,” Jennings said. “It essentially boils down to people not wanting to do the work because of the two-year commitment.”
Jennings, who is preparing to take the position of recruitment chair in January, said despite the concerns of the two-year workload, the real grunt of the position comes in the first year as assistant recruitment chair.
“You only really work for one year,” he said. “Your second year is facilitating recruitment, which is just one week.”
After serving their year in office, the assistant recruitment chair is automatically given the position of recruitment chair for the next year. Chesnut said the National Government of IFC has praised their council for having this rule.
“It makes for a much smoother transition to bring someone in who already knows the material,” Chesnut said. “We want recruitment strategies planned year-round.”
The job of the assistant recruitment chair entails being a liaison between campus visits, assisting the recruitment chair and planning events for Vandal Friday.
“Assistant recruitment chair is a very promotional-based job,” Chesnut said. “Their presence is mainly based around campus.”
The position of assistant recruitment chair wasn’t the only reason Chesnut delayed elections. Each other position had about three applicants.
“There’s a very diverse group of applicants,” Chesnut said. “But I would prefer more people so I allotted this extra time.”
Since the delay was put in place, Chesnut has received six more applications.
“I deemed there needed to be a resource for getting more people involved,” Chesnut said. “It’s been a good process.”
IFC elections are now scheduled for Sunday.
Aaron Bharucha can be reached at [email protected]