Spring Break
People's Party: moving UMKC forward
Derek Simons
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: News
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A junior political science major, Johnson said the People's Party would work hard to reach and involve people unaware of what SGA does. She said it's not necessary to love politics to be part of SGA.
"You just have to have to want to make UMKC better," Johnson said.
Her ticket wants to give stronger support to student organizations and academic councils, organize more events, expand hours at facilities such as the cafeteria and computer labs and push to increase campus security.
"To expect the SAFC [Student Activity Fee Committee] to give money to more than 300 student organizations is just ridiculous," Johnson said. "Our party thinks more money needs to be given to the councils so that they can properly distribute it to their organizations because they know them better. We need to give student councils more support, more recognition and allow them to do their jobs."
In choosing her running mates, Johnson said she wanted experienced student advocates.
DaRon McGee, former SGA senator and current SGA comptroller, is running for executive vice president (EVP). As comptroller, he was the first to do an audit of student organization spending, according to Johnson.
"The EVP is about the legislative process - not just on campus, but off campus as well," Johnson said. "They deal with the [University of Missouri Board of] Curators … DaRon is the best legislator I know. He knows the names of every curator and every [Missouri State] House legislator."
For comptroller, she chose current SAFC member, Matthew Ferguson, a junior studying electrical and computer engineering.
"Matthew is a very strong student leader on campus," Johnson said. "He's president of Alpha Phi Alpha and all the other student organizations he's in. He very fair, and I see that the other students respect him."
The position of administrative vice president (AVP) is seen as an unimportant note-taker, according to Johnson, and is an image she wants to change with added responsibility.
Sophomore Jessica Fenger, sociology, was recently named "Miss Congeniality" for UMKC. Johnson said watching the JumpStart leader interact with other students at courtwarming events convinced her to choose Fenger as the People's Party AVP candidate.
"I need the AVP's help to organize more events," Johnson said. "I need people who are fluent with the idea of organizing, facilitating and planning events. She's not power-hungry. She's looking to make the campus better."
Regarding the new Student Union, Johnson said the People's Party would be very involved, starting with its presence at the Town Hall meeting on April 9 and 16.
"We want to make sure the students get everything they can out of it, that the promises made are fulfilled," Johnson said. "It's a lot of money we're going to be paying."
Johnson said she is confident the People's party is the best choice because it is for "SGA accountability, strong leadership, experience and change."
dsimons@unews.com
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