Quinn rallies SIUE support for MAP grants
Rosie Githinji
Issue date: 10/13/09 Section: News
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Quinn was at SIUE to speak to students about issues with MAP grant funding. SIUE students and faculty, were joined by students and faculty from Greenville College, Blackburn College and McKendree University, attended the event.
The governor has been traveling around the state in the past week speaking to multiple colleges about the impact the loss of the MAP funding will have on students.
MAP grants give students money to pay for schooling. The funding has been severely cut to the extent that students currently receiving funding will not have any in the spring if something is not done to save it.
Estimates, sent out in a press release from the governor's office, state about 138,000 students who receive the MAP funding are only getting half of what they were awarded. There are 130,000 students who applied for grant money who will not receive any aid from the MAP.
The press release also stated SIUE lost $3.8 million in funding for the 2009-2010 academic school year.
According to Quinn, colleges have helped Illinois become a better state and the need for higher education must continue.
"We are not going to leave anybody behind from our community colleges, and we are not going to leave anybody behind from our four-year universities," Quinn said. "Education is the most powerful source in our society for equal opportunity."
Earlier this year, Quinn proposed a $1 increase to the cigarette tax to help pay for the MAP grants. The senate, according to Quinn, has approved the increase in the tax. Quinn also announced he will be proposing an income tax hike to help pay for MAP funding, among other things.
"I would like to earmark a portion of income tax to pay for MAP funding," Quinn said. "We need to raise the income tax in order to pay our bills."
Quinn said the legislature knows they must deliver a way to help students, and the lobby day planned for Oct. 15 will help the state come up with a solution.
Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard said he is appreciative of the efforts the governor is making to save the MAP. He said the income tax hike would most likely not be something discussed during the General Assembly veto session held Oct. 14-16. He said February is the most likely time for consideration into an income tax increase.
According to SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift, one in four students at SIUE are affected by the loss of MAP grants. Vandegrift said the figures showing who is impacted by the loss of MAP grants shows a real need exists to help ensure students are still able to afford higher education.
Students from the various colleges in attendance also spoke about the need to make sure MAP grants are not taken away.
Student Body President Brandon Rahn began his speech by saying it was his responsibility to represent the best interests of the students and support them.
"We students are asking for your help," Rahn said. "The students of Illinois are stating that MAP funding must be reinstated."
Senior business major Corinne Boynton of Decatur addressed the students saying everyone will be affected by the loss of MAP funding. She is not making enough money at her jobs and will have to take out extra loans without MAP money.
"I am going into my last semester not knowing how I am going to afford it," Boynton said.
McKendree Student Body President Braden Posey spoke as well, telling those in attendance the future is at risk.
"Action regarding this important issue must continue," Posey said. "I hope together we can push this through."
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