When Tanner McClain moved from Kansas to Middleton as a 12-year-old, his grandfather, a devoted U of I alum, took him directly to the Vandal Store in Boise to get him decked out in black and gold. It was the first of several not-so-subtle nudges toward the U of I from his family. After McClain’s sister Katie came home raving about her experience and the tight-knit community in Moscow, McClain knew he was destined to be a Vandal. Now as president of the Associated Students of the University of Idaho (ASUI), he aims to enhance the on-campus experience and unite all U of I students. As a freshman in 2020, McClain missed out on many traditional community building events due to Covid-19 restrictions. He wants to rally students around Vandal athletics with an ASUI student tailgate for football games and he’s planning a serpentine walk for home basketball games, among other things. “After all we’ve been through the last few years, I feel like this is the year for people to really come together,” said McClain, who is a double major in philosophy and political science. “We’re working on improving transportation, bringing recycling back to campus and getting more involved with the food bank. But most of all we want to get people together, get people excited about being Vandals.” McClain and ASUI also plan to tackle several initiatives this year around sustainability, starting with campus transportation. He intends to promote the use of public transit and Lyft ride-sharing so that students don’t feel like they need to bring a car to campus. He also hopes to improve the campus recycling program. High contamination rates hampered recycling efforts in the past, so McClain is planning an educational campaign to remind students how to effectively use the bins around campus. ASUI’s plans supporting sustainability embody the university’s broader goals. Sustainable Solutions is one of the Brave. Bold. Unstoppable. fundraising campaign themes. Sustainability Director Sarah Dawson joined the U of I staff this fall to lead initiatives and build momentum in this area. Just a few weeks into leading ASUI, McClain appreciates the chance to make a difference for his classmates and future Vandals. “I think the biggest surprise since being involved in ASUI is how much the student voice matters,” said McClain. “The leadership really listens and ASUI can be very influential in the decision making process.” |