IdahoReporter.com

Idaho State University (ISU) isn’t known for its prowess on the football field, but the school still deserves recognition from the Idaho Legislature, says Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs.  The House unanimously passed a resolution recognizing ISU for its work in the medical field.

Andrus told lawmakers Thursday he was skeptical of the resolution when it was first presented by Rep. Pete Nielson, R-Mountain Home, to the House State Affairs Committee.  Andrus said he feels that health care education is “more personally beneficial to us” than football.   He focused on ISU’s research work with diabetes, cancer, and prosthetics as areas where the school excels.

ISU offers several degrees in medical-related fields, though it does not have an official medical school.  School president Arthur Vailas has worked to receive permission from the state to establish a medical school at ISU, but so far those efforts have come up short.

This resolution was not the first for Nielsen.  He also introduced a resolution honoring the University of Idaho football team for its win in the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl held in Boise on Dec. 30, 2009.   The Vandals bested the Bowling Green Falcons with some late-game heroics by starting QB Nathan Enderle.  The game was won on Enderle’s daring pass to his receiver in the end zone to convert a 2-point conversion.  The final score of the contest was 43-42.

The Vandal resolution, however, was not the first resolution of the session honoring a state higher education institution.  Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, successfully pushed a resolution through the House, which honored Boise State University’s football team for its 17-10 win over Texas Christian University in  the Fiesta Bowl, held in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 4, 2010.  The win for the Broncos was the team’s second BCS victory in four years; the Broncos beat the University of Oklahoma in the same BCS game by a score of 43-42 in 2007.

The resolution now moves on the Senate for consideration.  The only publicly-funded four-year college that has not received recognition from the House is Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston.