Issue date: 10/15/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Sean Roberts/Alestle Gov. Pat Quinn expressed his concern of the MAP grant cuts to SIUE students Thursday. Students from SIUE, Greenville College, McKendree University, and Blackburn College spoke during the rally explaining how the cuts would affect their respective schools.

Student Government, along with approximately 90 other SIUE students Thursday, will travel to Springfield for Lobby Day to convince state legislators to revive the Monetary Award Program.

Students will spend most of Thursday in Springfield, talking to different legislators explaining their personal stories and how the MAP grant affects their education.

Senator Mary Clabaugh said the $1 cigarette tax, which is proposed to fund the program, was already passed in the Illinois Senate. Students would focus on convincing the members of the House to pass the bill since they are next step to approve it.

Governor Pat Quinn expressed his support for reinstating the MAP grants during a rally last Thursday. Quinn also said raising income taxes was another possibility to fund MAP grants in the future.

Students will meet with other schools around the state in the effort to fully restore the grants. Clabaugh said the rally should hold more weight with legislators since schools will be working together instead of competing for money.

Affected by the MAP grant cuts, which happened last July, are 138,000 students Of those students 2,600 currently attend SIUE.

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