Spring Break
Platinum Party: access, accountability, diversity, support
Megan Henderson
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: News
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The Platinum Party has four main goals, according to Collins, including making SGA more accessible to students. Collins said his party will start by keeping the SGA Web site appropriately updated and having officers in the SGA office.
"Any student who wants to come in and talk about the government, talk about their problems and concerns, that's what we're going to do," Collins said. "We're going to open up the government and let the students see exactly what we're doing, how we're doing it and where their money's going."
Collins said the Platinum Party wants to unite the campus' culturally diverse groups.
"They're all working differently," he said. "What we want to do is get everyone to work together for the same common goal, but yet keep their individuality and their culture."
LaDonna McCullough is running as the Platinum Party's executive vice president.
"Once thing I like about her, she's not afraid to question things if she feels that something is not right for the students," Collins said.
Mike Hardin, sophomore pre-health, transferred to UMKC from Utah State University where he participated in student government. Hardin is running as the Platinum Party's administrative vice president.
"He is a very brilliant person," Collins said. "He's talked about so many different plans we could implement to help UMKC not only with the SGA accountability, but the diversity as well as the network of support."
Jennifer Kaminsky, freshman political science, is running as the Platinum Party's comptroller.
"She's dedicated to the access and accountability," Collins said. "We've said there will be regular audits in the SGA and she will handle that."
Collins discussed specific changes he hopes to implement if the Platinum Party is elected. One goal is to create a partnership between UMKC and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to provide students free rides on Kansas City's bus system.
To better support students, Collins said he hopes to work on keeping computer labs open later than 5 p.m. and the cafeteria open later than 7 p.m.
Regarding the student union, Collins said he was initially against the new student union, but will work to make sure it is student oriented.
"We would work with the administration to ensure that it's a student union, not an administration union," Collins said. "Not something they're going to build and put their offices in, or a bunch of corporations in there that are going to make money for them."
Collins said his party's message is one of change.
"When I saw exactly who was going to be running, I didn't feel that they were the best candidates for the students," he said. "We need a change in the government."
mhenderson@unews.com
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