Kyle Keckler
Staff Writer
As president of the Associated Students of Idaho State University (ASISU), Emma Watts and the ROAR party established three goals: to raise Career-Path-Intern (CPI) wages, to establish a cost-per-credit system aimed at decreasing the cost of textbooks, and to create a student engagement app made to give students an easy way to see what is going on around campus.
Where do the goals currently stand? Just a few weeks into the second semester, one goal has been achieved, while the other two are on their way toward completion.
Already, CPI wages have been increased, from $9/hour to $13/hour for undergraduate students. As for the cost-per-credit textbook system, ASISU is working on an agreement with the group responsible for the distribution of textbooks and is anticipating the system’s debut in Fall 2024. Lastly, the engagement app is currently in progress. President Watts and Vice President Chance Reynolds are engaged in discussions to begin the implementation and design of the app, which will give students a central platform to see what events are happening in the campus community.
For students wondering how exactly ASISU works for them, President Watts had this to say: “We fund a lot of entities on campus… We fund every activity that the SAB completes. So, we are very much into life on campus – but at the same time, we provide academic support… funding students to go to research conferences or professional development… because, at the end of the day, that’s why we’re all here – to get our degree. We want to help support our fellow students with these sorts of endeavors”.
President Watts also shared insight during the interview into what first made her want to get involved in student governance at ISU.
“I was actually involved in student government and student council in high school all four years, and I was able to plan dances, speak with administration and do projects and just be involved in school,” she said.
Watts enjoyed her experience so much that she decided to continue it when she transitioned into higher-ed:
“I really wanted to carry that into my collegiate career because that’s something that I have a passion for, representing students but also speaking to the admin and negotiating and trying to get ideas and needs of students through.”
Leadership is an important trait a president needs to overcome challenges. President Watts explained how she likes to get things done:
“My leadership style is, think of the idea, and then plan it out and know the details of it … and then once I have that idea, I like to work with other ASISU members and ask them for their input,” she said. As for overcoming roadblocks while trying to make things happen: “Set up a ton of meetings, contact people, send reminders … just be persistent with your efforts if you think that it will truly benefit the students.”
That persistence seems to be paying off; with one-third of the party’s goals already accomplished, and the other two on the way to completion, it seems that President Watts and others involved in ASISU are on their way to making this year, and their term, count.
