Update- Governor Pat Quinn signed a law granting him the ability to pay $200 million in MAP grants. The money will be drawn from state funds running a surplus. Governor Quinn will identify what funds will be borrowed from in the days to come.
The Monetary Award Program has been around since the 1960s, and its primary purpose is to help remove financial blocks for Illinois residents who are pursing a higher education. Despite the hard economic times, legislators have decided to cut funding of MAP grants- which equates to $220 million.
More than 137,000 students in the state receive MAP grants; of those, 1,029 attend Lewis University. To show students’ aggravation with this decision, Lewis held a rally Wednesday, Oct. 14 in the field house. A table with laptops was set up for students to e-mail Gov. Pat Quinn with their stories on how cutting the MAP grants will affect their lives.
Junior Sherry Kasper, an elementary education major, receives the MAP grant and will directly be affected if the state cuts the extra financial aid. She attended the rally to try to save the MAP grant so she can get it for next semester because it will be very hard for her to continue on without it. “I kind of depend on it,” said Kasper. Kasper had e-mailed her legislator prior the rally.
Students heard speeches from President Br. James Gaffney, FSC, Romeoville Mayor John Noak, Dennis Cook, a republican candidate running for lieutenant governor, financial aid director, Janeen Decharinte and several concerned students.
Gaffney explained that taking away the MAP grants is “unjust to students and their families and their future; unwise because Illinois will not foster uneducated citizens and people who make up the educated workforce of the state. It is also undemocratic.”
Elementary education major, Amy Adams, described how she will be affected by her MAP grant being snatched away; her mother is her only financial support, and works only 30 hours a week while receiving minimum wage. Eliminating her MAP grant can result in Adams not being able to continue her education at Lewis.
“Not only will it impact my life,” said Adams, “it will impact the future of a lot of other people because I’m going to be a teacher, and if I can’t continue my education, how are those children going to get their education?”
Noak argued that the field house was filled with “the next generation of leaders.” He said, “We need you all to be a part of our future. That’s why this is important.”
As the School Board President for District 230, Cook understands students’ struggle for financial aid, especially since his seniors will be affected by the cut of the MAP grants.
“You hear our politicians, nowadays, talk about job development; keeping jobs in Illinois,” Cook said. “We can’t even keep our graduates in Illinois, and now we want to cut the funding? Not a good idea.
Throughout the rally, the speakers announced that the Lewis community should contact state legislators, and force these government representatives to keep the MAP grants. Thursday, Oct. 15, students were invited to attend a statewide rally in Springfield, and voice their stories and need for these grants.
“You are the future of Illinois,” said Decharinte. “You need to make your voices heard.”
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