COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — During the public comment section of North Idaho College (NIC) Board of Trustee business meeting on October 25, 2023, President Nick Swayne took the position that no NIC policy was being violated when a member of the public obstructed a videographer who was filming the public meeting on behalf of Kootenai Journal.
The videographer was in the designated area reserved for members of the media, when Teresa Borrenpohl of Post Falls positioned herself in front of the camera while waiting in line to address the board. Borrenpohl continued to reposition herself as the videographer changed angles to capture the ongoing proceedings.
When Chair Greg McKenzie asked Swayne to address the behavior, Swayne saw nothing wrong with Borrenpohl’s conduct.
Several policies address conduct at NIC, including 3.03.05 – Disruptive, Hostile or Violent Behavior on NIC Sites and 2.01.03 – Meetings.
Disruptive, hostile, or violent behavior will not be tolerated in NIC classrooms, in instructional environments, on NIC controlled sites, or during NIC sponsored activities.
Disruptive, hostile, or violent behavior includes but is not limited to behavior that is intended to and/or has the effect of threatening, intimidating, and/or harassing NIC employees, students, and/or visitors, or otherwise detracting attention from instructional or other college activities.
NIC Policy 3.03.05
It is expected that all attendees at the meetings will observe the commonly accepted rules of civility to provide orderly and respectful interaction in public settings.
NIC Policy 2.01.03
Trustee Todd Banducci, taking exception to Swayne’s stance, said, “Are you seriously going to side with somebody being that rude? Blatantly and intentionally. Is that really the position you are going to take as our president of this college?”
Before Swayne could respond, Trustee Tarie Zimmerman asked a public commenter, “Do you feel threatened by him?” The commenter replied with a statement saying she doesn’t want to be filmed.
Kootenai Journal attempted to clarify Zimmerman’s comment by email, “Can you explain your comment insinuating the filming of a public meeting is threatening to members of the public? Is it your position that NIC should not allow the First Amendment right of the press at the board’s public meetings?” Zimmerman did not immediately reply to the inquiry.
This is not the first time Borrenpohl has disrupted official NIC proceedings. Borrenpohl was identified as the individual who pulled the fire alarm during an NIC board meeting in 2022, forcing the meeting to be recessed. Borrenpohl ran for an Idaho House of Representatives seat as a Democrat on the November 2022 ballot. She received just over 21 percent of the vote, losing to incumbent Rep. Tony Wisniewski. Borrenpohl is a former employee of NIC.
Borrenhopl was not approached by security, nor removed from the meeting.
