Idaho State University chosen as ‘Elect Her’ program site

Idaho State University has been selected as one of the sites for the 2011 Elect Her training funded by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), and Running Start.

This is the second year of participation for ISU. Elect Her offers a half-day training that teaches college women how to run for and win student government positions at their schools. This unique workshop leads the way in addressing the disparity between the high percentages of women in colleges and universities and the low representation of women in student government. Elect Her is the only program in the country that encourages and trains young women to run for student government positions on their college campuses.

ISU's Elect Her training will take place on Thursday, Feb. 17, from 4 to 8:30 p.m. and will include dinner during the training as well as a reception at the end of the evening. The free training will be open to current ISU students, both men and women, as well as to select Southeast Idaho high school students, on a competitive basis. Online registration will open in January and will be accessible through the Anderson Center's website: www.isu.edu/andersoncenter.

Since 2007, AAUW and Running Start have collaborated to encourage college women to run for student government. Building on those successes, the organizations developed and initiated the Elect Her — Campus Women Win training program last year, and the effort is already showing results for young women. From the nine campus sites in 2010, participant evaluations show practically double the number of students planning to run for student government and planning to run for political office post-college.

ISU was chosen as one of the nine 2010 sites through a competitive application process and received a special invitation to continue participation in 2011. The original application was submitted jointly by Rebecca Morrow, director of the Anderson Gender Resource Center and AAUW Pocatello Branch member; and ISU students Shalene Summers and Gena Cook.

"The 2010 training was a rewarding experience for all who attended, and we expect this year, particularly with the inclusion of new activities, to be even more exciting and beneficial for attendees," Morrow said. "This program will help ISU students to prepare to run for not only positions in ASISU, but also for local, state and federal offices. The experience will also help prepare students for other leadership positions in their communities and professional lives after graduation."

Visit http://www.aauw.org/learn/LeadershipPrograms/electHer.cfm for more information regarding the Elect Her program.

For more information about the ISU Elect Her training, contact the Anderson Center at 208-282-2805.

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