table{border-collapse:separate;border-color:blue; border-style:ridge;}caption {caption-side:bottom}Graphic by Adam Larck/The Daily Eastern NewsMAP Grant200,000Illinois students are assisted by the MAP grant$200mShort of aiding students due to budget cuts140,000Low-income students won’t receive aid in spring 2009$4.8mIn awards could be lost if legislators can’t find alternative fundsApproximately 40 to 50 students will travel to Springfield at 8 a.m. today to lobby state government officials to restore funding for the Monetary Award Program grant for the spring 2010 semester.

At Eastern alone, an estimated 2,300 MAP grant recipients may encounter problems paying for their education next semester when the school could lose $4.8 million in awards if legislators fail to procure alternative funds.

“I’m not a MAP grant recipient, but I’m affected by what the students are affected by, and their concerns are my concerns,” said Student Body President Michelle Murphy. “Eastern has one of the highest percentages of MAP grant recipients in the state, and we just want to make sure that Eastern has adequate representation among other state universities. We want to have a good showing.”

Murphy believes the most effective solution would be dedicating excess money in the state budget toward restoring grant funds. She plans to consult with state legislators alongside Eastern’s Student Action Team to express necessity.

On the way there, attendants will run through lobbying procedures and break into 11 to 13 teams that will confer with legislators at the capitol.

Attendants will distribute upwards of 1,150 pre-made letters signed by Eastern students urging immediate action. They will then attend a rally encompassing schools across the state in the effort of demonstrating mass support.

The group will also deliver a formal resolution stating that 2,300 Eastern students depend on the MAP grant, which was approved by the Student Senate last Wednesday.

Student Senate member Michael Stopka hopes to show politicians in Springfield that students can unite as one voice when speaking for issues that affect them.

“I believe that students are a strong force, and with elections coming up, they will have to find the money some place,” he said.

Stopka is one among thousands who will personally be affected next semester should legislators fail to allocate sufficient funds.

“I would love to be here to finish my education,” Stopka said. “I have no clue what might happen if we lose the money. If we have a better education, we have more advantages toward getting better jobs and paying higher taxes in the future to support the state.”

Presently, Stopka agrees with the Republican party’s proposal to supplement the MAP grant through targeting those who have evaded taxes and collecting interest.

Conversely, he disagrees with the Democratic party’s suggestion of a $1 tax increase on cigarettes, as he questions its long-term success toward ultimately relieving students’ financial struggles.

The grant, which assists more than 200,000 Illinois students, has suffered budget cuts that have rendered it $200 million short of aiding 140,000 low-income students in the spring.

For this reason, Eric Wilber, student executive vice president, hopes to see federal proposals brought forward by next semester.

“There’s other money in the budget that could be moved around, or that the governor could be granted the authority to give out,” Wilber said.

He urges all students to realize that the fate of the MAP grant will impact more than just those who take advantage of financial aid.

“This affects everyone, even individuals,” Wilber said. “If the MAP grant isn’t fully restored, some students may not be able to return, and that lost tuition money from dropouts will negatively affect academic funding and Eastern as a whole.”

Erica Whelan can be reached at 581-7942 or elwhelan@eiu.edu.