MAP grant funding may be reinstated

Gov. Pat Quinn speaks to students about the Monetary Award Program, or MAP grants on the Quad. The Illinois General Assembly voted to restore funding to the grant. This action is after a rally and an Illinois Student Senate meeting stressed the significance of these grants.
Wesley Fane The Daily Illini

At least two University students were on hand in Springfield on Thursday as the Illinois General Assembly voted to restore funding to the Monetary Award Program, or MAP grant.

Carey Ash, vice president–internal for the Illinois Student Senate, and Johnathan Wilson, member of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, joined 5,000 other students from the state to speak to legislators about MAP grants.

The students were part of a rally to push for restoration of MAP grant funding after about half of the program’s budget was cut in July.

“We wanted our MAP Grant back and we got it,” Ash said.

The rally was planned during the first week of the Illinois General Assembly’s veto session, in which MAP grant supporters believed the legislature would discuss restoration of funding.

Ash said he felt the rally had a big influence on state lawmakers.

“I think it’s a success that the General Assembly – A. saw and B. heard – what students had expressed today,” Ash said.

Before Thursday’s rally, ISS took action to stress the importance of MAP grant funding. The senate hosted a rally Oct. 7 to draw attention to the MAP grant issue and drafted a resolution showing support for restoration of the program’s funds.

“If the state of Illinois wants a future, it has to understand the future is on this campus,” Ash said prior to the rally in Springfield.

Although the legislature voted to bring back finances for MAP grants, Gov. Pat Quinn still needs to sign the bill into law for money to make it into students’ accounts next semester.

If the governor does not sign the bill and the program ends, it could cause serious problems for University students, Ash said.

Erin Baran, sophomore in Business, said she would not be receiving the MAP grant next semester unless more funding comes through. She said the grant paid a large chunk of her tuition, providing around $2,500 of support each semester.

“Of course I want it to be reinstated,” Baran said. “It’s going to be difficult to come up with the money that was taken from me.”

Baran said she thinks the state should not be too hasty in deciding the future of the program, adding that such an important decision should be made with “careful precision.”

“I want it to be the best decision for everybody,” Baran said.

David Hsu, junior in Engineering, said he felt the MAP grant should be restored, if not expanded, by Illinois legislators.

“In a time like this we should be encouraging education to bring the next generation of students up to par with international standards,” Hsu said.

He said he understands the need to balance the budget, but there are other areas that could afford cutbacks.

“I don’t know the timeline, but I would like to see these changes made now,” Hsu said.