Nic Students Try To Accelerate Recall Drive Signature Collectors Halfway To Goal With First Deadline Just Month Away

This Labor Day weekend will kick off a month of hard work for North Idaho College students collecting signatures in an attempt to trigger a recall election.

“We’re going to divide up and go door to door next,” said Renee Scott, Associated Students of North Idaho College president.

The students are collecting signatures needed for an election to recall NIC board members Barb Chamberlain, Jeanne Givens and Bob Ely.

The students are upset with the trustees’ decision to raise fees and force former President Bob Bennett’s resignation.

Bennett’s resignation was particularly controversial.

A resulting settlement cost the school $142,000 in exchange for Bennett’s promise not to sue NIC.

The trustee’s decision to raise tuition came at the first board meeting after students left town for the summer.

With only half the signatures needed and only a month left before a deadline, students are gearing up to canvass neighborhoods.

They need 14,828 signatures by Oct. 2.

On Tuesday, the students must turn in what petitions they currently have to get a 30-day extension, Scott said.

Last week, the students set up a booth at the North Idaho Fair, but they only received 400 to 500 signatures, Scott said.

“(The fair) wasn’t as prosperous as we thought it would be,” she said.

Friday evening students circulated petitions at the annual NIC student cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Scott spent all day Saturday collecting petitions they had circulated throughout town, she said.

Now that classes have started, the petition drive will be tougher to find time for, she said. “We’re still doing it as much as we can.”

, DataTimes