Idaho State University (ISU) hasn’t received enough publicity for its work in medical fields, says Rep. Pete Nielson, R-Mountain Home. Nielson successfully introduced the third resolution recognizing an Idaho university, though the new honor is for a completely different reason than the first two, one of which was also pushed through the House by Nielsen.
In front of the House State Affairs Committee, the Mountain Home Republican said he feels that ISU is doing good work in its medical studies and hasn’t received adequate credit for its work. He added that “in a year when health care is on the front burner of many peoples’ agendas,” the school’s leadership has been felt throughout the state.
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 introduction 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 team, known as 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 committee voted unanimously to pass the resolution and send it straight to the second reading calendar in the House. Nielsen will sponsor the bill, but said he hopes legislators from Pocatello will join him. Pocatello’s delegation includes Assistant Minority Leader James Ruchti, Rep. Donna Boe, Rep. Elaine Smith, Sen. Diane Bilyeu, and Sen. Edgar Malepeai. It is unknown if any of those legislators will join Nielsen in his effort to recognize ISU.
The state’s other public four-year institution, Lewis-Clark State College, based in Lewiston, has yet to receive legislative recognition from lawmakers, though the city was recently lauded by the House for its ranking as the “most secure” small city in the country.
