As unbelievable as it seems, this could be, and as of right now may actually be happening. Because the state legislature failed to pass Governor Pat Quinn’s nearly 50 percent income tax increase he is making “tough cuts” which includes almost $200 million from the states Monetary Award Program (MAP), which provides many underprivileged students in the State of Illinois with the means to obtain a higher education. It is estimated that the cut will affect 137,000 students. Most of whom come from families with an average annual income of less than $20,000 a year. With this financial aid many students will not be able to return to school as early as early as this coming spring semester.
Lewis students are not going unaffected by these cuts. According to Lewis University’s Financial Aid Director Janeen Decharinty approximately $2 million of MAP money goes to students who attend Lewis University. Currently 1,029 students are currently enrolled in the program, each of whom are getting close to $2,400. Which is a sizable amount that helps pay for the never-ending costs of attending a private institution such as Lewis.
This state spending cut is destined to affect nearly a sixth of the students that attend Lewis. It seems there is very little they can actually do about it. We urge you to to take immediate action.
We want you, the student, to remember that you live in a democracy, and that your voice can be heard. This is an initiative that affects you and your fellow students. Most of the time college students do not feel the direct effects of government action, but this time it is our education they are after, and the effects will be felt as early this January.
Currently, Illinois university presidents are fighting for our cause, but they need our help. They had a meeting with the governor last week that appears to have been inconclusive.
Universities across the state fear that many of their neediest students will not be able to return for the spring semester due to lack of funds. Students looking for alternative state aid should stop their search now, there is none.
Lewis University is trying to raise awareness. The Financial Aid department is holding and informational meeting Thursday, September 24th in the campus cafeteria, Charlie’s Place. We strongly encourage students to attend this informational meeting. As members of the collegiate community our voices need to be heard, to ensure that the governor understands how these cuts are affecting us as poor college students. It is imperative that we do not sit idly by and watch this injustice take necassary financial aid, that was promised to us, away from us.
Right now, we are becoming victims of politics. Our academic future is being pulled into question because the Governor is pushing for legislation to be passed. It’s time the college students of Illinois to start protesting the actions of our government. It is not right for some politicians to determine our academic future. We will not become victims to the political games of those who have no stake in our future.
We believe that we can reverse this budget cut by simply making our voice heard.
So many people have criticized our generation of being uninvolved with the world around us. It’s time to prove them wrong and get involved with the politics that have are having such an immediate affect upon us. Come to the meeting on September 24th to make this change happen.
Come out and support yourselves and the future academic achievements of your peers.
The Lewis Flyer
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