SGA Reform Party leader promises 'stronger voice' for students

The University of South Alabama Student Government Association elections in late spring will give students like Michael Baldwin, who is currently creating an SGA Reform Party, a voice and opportunity to gather supporters. Baldwin, a Creola, Ala., native and junior at South Alabama, says he is running for either the position of treasurer or president of the 2009-2010 SGA to "more closely align both the student body and the SGA." The student is eager to abolish the disconnect between the student government and its people. "I am not running for the SGA," Baldwin said. "We are running for the SGA. See, it is largely a legislative body, and the only way to get things done is to fill the Senate with people that want our positive change." According to the SGA Reform Facebook group, Baldwin suggests a wide variety of reforms and presents a primary platform. "We believe the SGA will only become better when elections stop being based on popularity and start being based on issues that affect students," Baldwin said. "That is why we stand for these things. We will lower wasteful spending and we will form and encourage a student union so that students from outside the political world on campus can be heard and petition the administration." Baldwin said he stands for lowering wasteful spending, encouraging a student union for students not involved in SGA and also encourages spending primarily to benefit our campus and our entire student body. "When Michael Baldwin is elected, he will contribute 100 percent of his student-funded paychecks to campus organizations and campus improvement," according to the SGA Reform Facebook group. "When I am elected, I will start a Student Union on campus that facilitates bringing all the student groups together," Baldwin said. "Students will have a stronger voice with me. Many candidates have said they will get things done. Getting things done is not what we need; getting good decisions and using critical thinking is what we need. Right now, we cannot get that because the atmosphere of our student government is not conducive to objective and fair thought." Baldwin, the valedictorian of his class at Satsuma High School and a National Merit Scholar is now in the Honors Program at South Alabama. He is the vice chairman of the College Republicans, the treasurer of the Society of Strategy Gamers, and an active member of several campus committees. Baldwin also volunteers and enjoys preaching, teaching and leadership in general. "I stay constantly involved," Baldwin said. "My fingers are on the pulse of the campus." Baldwin above all, believes in originality to migrate from the normal standards that often bring problems to a working group such as the SGA. "When candidates run without a platform, without something they stand for and believe in, they will inevitably ride the bandwagon, follow the mob mentality, and do what feels good rather than what is good," Baldwin said. "We have a platform. We believe in something." Baldwin is now working on gaining supporters. "When I am elected, every cent of my student-funded paycheck will be put toward campus initiatives," he said. "We will stop wasteful spending. We will spend primarily to benefit all students. We will start the Student Union. The SGA Reform Party is the student's opportunity to be heard. We want everyone's viewpoints." Readers can contact Baldwin on Facebook or by e-mail at mlb507@jaguar1.usouthal.edu. "We want more people to run on our platform for every position in the SGA," Baldwin said. "Current senators and officers are welcome to join us, too. People can also find out more on the Facebook group SGA Reform Party."