Presidential candidate Rachael Miller and her running mate McKenzie MacDonald sat across from presidential candidate Austin Karstetter and his running mate Cruz Botello at the ASUI presidential and vice presidential debate March 31 in the Idaho Commons, ready to tell their audience why they were the pair who should win their vote. Interim Director of Student Involvement Shawn O”Neal sat between the candidates and moderated the debate.
When Miller was asked what policy points she would push for with University of Idaho President Chuck Staben in the Idaho State Legislature, she said she would focus on Title IX violations.
“Students who violate Title IX will have it marked on their transcripts, which is the same thing they do for academic dishonesty, so we”re not asking a lot here,” Miller said. “I think if we can make this a statewide initiative then we wouldn”t have to worry about students transferring from other schools with the same kind of expulsion history.”
Karstetter said he would work to make open-source textbooks required for 100-level classes.
“At Washington State University and University of Washington they are actually working on legislation for open-source textbooks,” Karstetter said. “Right now teachers have the option to use open source textbooks but they”re not forced to. I think requiring teachers to use them would help students out a lot.”
Botello was asked what initiative he has taken to improve diversity on campus and what he plans to do to continue diversifying UI. He noted his current collaboration with Jesse Martinez, the director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
“I think it”s also important to have someone in the Office of Multicultural Affairs where you can go and push for things that will improve diversity on campus,” Botello said.
MacDonald said her time at ASUI has made her realize the diverse needs from different student organizations on campus.
“One of the biggest points in our platform is collaboration, so making sure Rachael and I always put forth that effort to collaborate with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, with the Women”s Center and with all of those different places and organizations with diverse needs is something we feel is very important and that”s something we will make sure is a priority throughout our term in office,” MacDonald said.
Sen. Kate Ricart asked a question as an audience member directed at Karstetter and Botello which inquired about their policy points and why they believe they are the most urgent changes needed for ASUI.
Karstetter said one of their platform points is structure, which is something he said needs to be improved within ASUI.
“I think it needs to be changed because I don”t think senators are doing their jobs correctly. I don”t think they are outreaching enough and I don”t think they”re interacting enough,” Karstetter said. “I think it has to change in order for students to see ASUI as a better organization and so students can actually see what ASUI is doing. With more interaction from your senator, you can get all that information.”
Botello said community is also something he and Karstetter hope to improve by having one-on-one conversations with students.
“I think having ASUI tailgates will help because we want to be on the ground working with students,” Botello said. “Going up to them and having personable, real conversations will show them that they have a place in ASUI.”
Miller also answered Sen. Ricart”s question and said her points come down to improvements in policy.
“Even though my points aren”t as sexy as Vandal tailgating, at the end of the day it”s about policy initiatives,” Miller said. “We also already have a structure where if senators aren”t doing their jobs they receive a pay cut. It”s a three strike system, so if you don”t turn in your hours three times in a row you get a pay cut.”
Voting for ASUI president, vice president and senators will be held online through Wednesday.
Jessica Gee can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @JessicaC_Gee