Campaign season is back and in full effect at Morgan State University!  For those who aren’t familiar, Campaign Season is when a group of individuals compete for top leadership positions in the Student Government Association (SGA). The top positions that are being run for are Student Government Association President, Vice President, Mr. Morgan State University and Miss Morgan State University.

Every year you can look forward to fun slogans, appealing t-shirts and empty promises. But this year appears to be different. The candidates this season plan on taking a more direct approach.

Let’s meet the candidates!

Student Government Association President and Vice President Candidates:

Courtney Mercado and Damian Franklin

Courtney Mercado and Damian Franklin are ready to Lead by Example as they look to be the next SGA President and Vice President. What many don’t know is that Mercado and Franklin have a great deal of experience in SGA. Mercado was Freshmen Class President 2011-2012 and also Sophomore Class president 2012-2013. Franklin currently serves as Recording Secretary under the Rebirth Administration. With their “Leading by Example” platform they plan to restore SGA to it’s full potential by working hard and becoming one with the student body. The only way they believe this can happen is by leading the way and setting the standard.

Dania Smith and Kia Smith

Dania Smith and Kia Smith are no strangers to Student Government, both holding very important positions throughout their college career. Dania currently serves as the junior class president and Kia serves as Student Government Association Legislative Secretary.  Smith Administration is taking their leadership to the next level in SGA by using the platform “MSU Under Construction”.  The idea for the platform was formed after their three-year tenure in SGA; noticing the need of improvements and reconstructing certain issues instead of expelling them. “There is a lot of construction happening here on campus, we never seen the results and in order to find out the problems that are bothering students, we need to reach out to them,” expressed SGA presidential candidate Dania Smith. This power team unarguably has experience on their side, and within the next few weeks they will work to the students to do the same.

Mr. Morgan State University Candidates:

Edward Musa

Broadcast & Integrated Media major, Edward Musa is from Silver Spring, Maryland. He has plenty of experience in serving as the face and host of organization as he has served as Mr. RHOmance 2012-2013 and currently as Mr. SMOOTH, but now looks to take his King resume to the next level. His platform, which is entitled “WAKE UP” has a five point plan which is: Encourage Self Respect, Join the Morgan Community, Increase School Spirit, Community Service, and Change the Morgan Perception. With this campaign he wants to Morgan students to wake up and reach their full potential intellectually and mentally and with this he intends on impacting the local communities.

Marcus Patterson

Computer Science major and Baltimore native, Marcus Patterson is back to reclaim his spot on the Royal Court. Patterson has served as Mr. Freshmen 2011-2012 and Mr. Sophomore 2012-2013 and now he is working towards becoming Mr. Morgan State University 2014-2015. Along with his experience on the Royal Court, Marcus is also a Student Ambassador and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. His platform is “Joining to make a change for tomorrow and lifting to heighten the level of awareness.” The slogan of his campaign is “Invincible”. He believes that we are all invincible. Inspiration for his platform and campaign is “No Weapon” by Fred Hammond, and with this motivation he looks to prove it, by not letting anyone or anything get in his way.

David Roberts 

David Roberts is a Nutritional Science major, from Waldorf, Maryland by way of Chicago, Illinois. He is involved in a number of on campus organizations, starting with SGA where her currently holds the position of Tactics & Programming Director of the Junior Class. He is on the executive board for Fashion at Morgan; He also currently serves as Mr. Alpha Delta.  Even with all of these responsibilities, David wants to do more to serve Morgan State University.  With his campaign “Build” his goal is to help build the image of Morgan men to a more positive and inspiring image.  He believes many young men lack having a positive male figure in their life, and it is the job of student leaders job to be supply what students lack.

  Michael Watkins

Michael S. Watkins, Jr., is an Accounting major from Wildwood, New Jersey. His platform is, “Who said we couldn’t be ROYAL? MSU will always be ROYAL, we REIGN forever.” Michael is another face that isn’t new to the Student Government Association as he served as Treasurer for the Sophomore Class 2012-2013. He currently holds executive positions on numerous organizations on campus such as Treasurer for Gentlemen of Quality, Inc., President of Phi eta Sigma National Honors Society and serves on the Recruitment Chair for National Association of Black Accountants. He is also a member of Men of Power, Voices of Praise, and Fashion at Morgan. With this campaign he intends on stressing the way kings and queens should carry themselves. He was inspired by past Mr. Morgan’s and wanted to serve in the same way as them. He believes that Morgan Students should stick together and hold each other accountable so that students can graduate from Morgan a better person than they were before.

Miss Morgan State University Candidates:

Isatu Conteh

Isatu Conteh is a Physical Education major, from Largo, Maryland. She is currently Vice President of The Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Majors Club, an E.A.G.E.R (Enhancing Adolescent Girls for an Evolving Resolution) mentor, a member of ISA (International Student Association) Essence African Dance Team, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Isatu may not be a familiar face to the Royal Court, but with the plans and approach of her campaign she looks to be just as sharp as her experienced competition.The goal of her “Even U Identifying, Redefining, U in your University” campaign is to truly understand and identify what the student body wants in a leader and try her hardest to exemplify that. She is deciding to step out of her comfort zone and express the love she has for her University through service. Her “Even U” campaign isn’t only applying to Morgan students, but also to her and her journey to become the next Miss. Morgan State.

                                                                             Jasmine Garrett

Jasmine Garrett is a Broadcast & Integrated Media Production major from Willingboro, New Jersey. Many students may be familiar with her face, seeing she served as Miss. Freshman 2011-2012 and Miss Sophomore 2012-2013. After taking a break from the Royal Court last  year, Jasmine looks to reclaim her throne. Her experience in the Royal Court compliments her extensive campus résumé, as she is currently apart of The National Council of Negro Women – MSU Section, and a number of highly recognized honor societies such as  Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Promethean Kappa Tau Honor Society, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars Honor Society,  and Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society. With her “Watch The Throne” platform, she aims to inspire and empower the Kings & Queens of Morgan State University, through positive reinforcement; honoring the Morgan legacy, enhancing the Morgan woman and inspiring through service, dedication and faith.

Shannon Thomas 

Shannon Thomas is an Information Science and Systems major from Baltimore, MD.  Shannon is also a familiar face as she currently serves on the Royal Court as Miss Junior and also ran from Miss Sophomore 2012-2013 against current Miss Morgan opponent Jasmine Garrett. Along with serving on the Royal Court she also currently a member of F.U.T.U.R.E (Females United To Uplift Reshape & Educate). With her  “Fearless: Do What you fear, and fear disappears” platform she is encouraging everyone to live each day being fearless and brave. Her goal is to use this personal platform to relate to students.

Now that you know what campaigning is about and have some background on all  the candidates you have a better idea on what can platform appeals to you the most. Speeches and debates will take place on Monday, March 3rd!