Fellow Vandals,

Let me thank you for taking the time to look at our website.  We hope to answer your questions and encourage you to take a stand for greater student voice!

Derek and I decided to run for ASUI President and Vice President for a few reasons.  Firstly, we have many great ideas about ways to make the University better for students.  We encourage you to take a look at them in our platform.  Please feel free to ask us about our plans, and make suggestions.  Secondly, we believe students ought to have a say in their University of Idaho experience.  Students are the reason for the institution, and their needs should come first.  Thirdly, we are not your typical Presidential team; we bring new voice and original ideas together with experience to genuinely make a difference.   

Our mission is to promote greater student voice in all aspects of the University.  Every plank of our platform has been designed to empower students because we believe students should come first.  We believe leadership means empowering others, not telling them what’s best, or acting without understanding students’ needs.  Accordingly, we promise to always be open to all students, and we will work to ensure students have an active role in the development of our university.

Our plan to achieve greater student voice focuses on three key aspects of UI development-

Student Life - Issues that directly impact students’ academic and personal success, such as tuition costs and text book prices, safety, and relations with the City of Moscow.

Community – Issues that enhance student community, such as sustainability, arts, athletics, campus beautification and the creation of a welcome center.

Academics – Issues that promote scholarship and help students achieve their academic goals, such as advising, research, scholarships, and technology.

Our leadership will be effective.  Our policies are viable, and you will always find us supportive of student initiatives and ideas.  We are prepared to do more than listen; we are ready to empower students.  We offer more than words; we offer real solutions that promote long term UI development.  Too often the same promises are made by the same type of leader, leaving problems unresolved.  We offer upfront plans so you can see viable change.

We have big goals, and we have high expectations of ourselves and our fellow Vandals.  We realize the possibility that not all of our plans will come to fruition in the next year, but Rome wasn’t built in a day, and student empowerment has to start somewhere.  Derek and I believe it should start now, with new leadership and greater student voice.

Yours,

Lauren