ASUI Elections
For those planning to run for a senate seat or the presidency in the spring ASUI election, the final date to file elections packets is March 11. Packets are available on OrgSync, on the ASUI website and in the ASUI office, and all prospective candidates must submit their packets to the ASUI office by 5 p.m.
Any undergraduate student with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above is encouraged to run for ASUI office, regardless of major, background or experience, said ASUI Communications Board Chair Alysha Van Zante.
Prospective senatorial candidates need to have also collected 25 signatures by the same deadline, and prospective presidential candidates must have 50.
“We like to see diversity in our candidates,” Van Zante said. “We’re looking for anyone who’s passionate about helping others, who care about improving the student experience here at UI and someone who is interested in getting involved and doing good.”
There will be an informational all-candidates meeting 6:30-7:30 p.m. March 12 for those who file elections packets.
Idaho senators reject Hindu prayer
The Idaho Senate opened with a Hindu prayer for the first time in Idaho history Tuesday, a change-up from the usual Christian prayer that begins Senate meetings. However, seven Idaho senators stood outside the Senate chamber while the service took place, refusing to take their seats until it was concluded.
Sens. Steve Vick, Sheryl Nuxoll, and Lori Den Hartog stayed out to distance themselves from the Hindu Prayer opening proceedings. Sens. Jim Rice, Jim Patrick, Jeff Siddoway and Bob Nonini said they were late to arrive and did not want to interrupt the prayer.
However, Nonini said he was not happy the usual prayer didn’t take place.
“I was disappointed we did not have a Christian prayer as well,” he said.
Vick announced on his Facebook page Monday, prior to the prayer, that he would protest the prayer, and said it’s because “they have a caste system” and “they worship cows.”
Hartog said she did not feel comfortable participating in the prayer. Sen. Nuxoll said in an interview after the meeting that she hopes things return to normal in the chamber.
“I hope this doesn’t set a precedent for any other non-Christian faiths to be in the Senate chambers to lead us in prayer,” she said.
Chaplain Rajan Zed led the Hindu invocation, and in his prayer he spoke of considering the welfare of others, first in Sanskrit and then in English.
“Strive constantly to serve the welfare of the world by devotion to selfless work, one attains the supreme goal of life,” Zed said in the prayer. “Do your work with the welfare of others in mind.”
He said afterward that most of the other senators came out and shook his hand, and some even hugged him.
“We all have different viewpoints, and that is wonderful, that is what makes our country great,” Zed said.
Fraudulent phone calls
The Moscow Police Department has received several calls in the past week from people reporting they are receiving fraudulent phone calls.
The phone calls were from people claiming to be from Avista, threatening to shut off power if they do not pay an overdue bill right away. Police have also received some reports of fraudulent IRS calls.
Police said Avista or the IRS will not contact someone by phone about overdue bills or owed taxes, so people should not give out personal information over the phone.