On Thursday, Oct. 15, approximately 100 Bradley students will board buses at the Michel Student Center heading to Springfield to rally for the reinstatement of funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP). Senior journalism major D.J. Piehowski of Genoa, Ill., is traveling with the Bradley contingent to provide an up-to-the-minute, play-by-play of the day’s events, showing what Bradley students and others are doing to restore MAP funding. Follow his dispatches throughout the day.
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Photos: MAP Rally in Springfield
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I’m finally back at my computer, which means that my limited length text message correspondence is over.
On the way home, it was easy to see what a day full of screaming, chanting, standing and clapping will do to a group of college students. There was much less chatter on Bus Two’s return to Peoria, and many more sleepy heads resting against the windows. That is, until our group leader, Brad McMillan, was patched into the bus’ P.A. system to announce that the Illinois Senate had approved the MAP appropriations. That seemed to grab everyone’s attention and wake some people up, as applause broke out on the bus.
It is still unclear how the legislation plans to pay for next semester’s MAP grants, but this bill being approved can at least put student’s minds to rest, eliminating the thought of being forced to drop out of school after winter break.
I can’t say enough for the personal benefits of today’s experience, especially as a journalism major. I haven’t spent much time in the capitol, but it was remarkable to be able to witness our democracy at work first hand and leave Springfield with an outcome that will provide a brighter future to so many students. At the rally, I was surrounded, shoulder-to-shoulder, by nearly 2,000 students whose educations are made possible by MAP grants, but it was truly humbling to realize that they were only a sliver of the nearly 140,000 students that are impacted by this program.
I guess that’s all for today. Thanks for reading!
2:32 p.m.
We are back on the bus. My legs are tired and my face is cold, but overall, it was a tremendous experience. Right now I am going to enjoy the rest of my leftover Fritos. Stay tuned for an in-depth recap.
2:10 p.m.
Here’s a photo of everyone with Rep. Gordon and Sen. Koehler in the Senate chambers.
1:54 p.m.
About 20 of us and a WMBD camera crew are crammed into Sen. Koehler’s office waiting to be taken into the Senate chambers. Rep. Jehan Gordon just popped in to tell us the bill passed with only one nay vote.
1:22 p.m.
State Rep. Jehan Gordon wouldn’t give the exact vote total, but revealed that the bill passed overwhelmingly in the House.
1:17 p.m.
State Sen. Dave Koehler has just come outside to meet specially with Bradley students. Sen. Koehler said the House bill is making its way to the Senate.
1:13 p.m.
1:04 p.m.
The scheduled part of the rally has ended, but the participating students are now making their way to the capitol building to continue lobbying.
12:58 p.m.
Brocke Masse of Kenwood High School in Chicago just gave an interesting perspective. In all of the MAP talks, the effect on high school students is not usually discussed.
12:45 p.m.
Kyle has just introduced Gov. Pat Quinn, who announced that the House of Representatives has already passed appropriations for reinstating MAP funding. The bill will now go to the Senate.
12:38 p.m.
All of the students and speakers that have spoken have been fired up, but nobody has come close to displaying passion of State Rep. David Miller who just blew this crowd away, causing the students to break into an emphatic “We need MAP” chant.
12:32 p.m.
A student from Lincolnland Community College just took the mic and delivered an extremely powerful address. She is a single mother, victim of domestic violence and Americorps member. Apart from her personal story, she had one message for legislators: “Restore MAP.”
12:27 p.m.
The scheduled events of the day have kicked off and now speaking is Depaul University president Dylan Goodson, who said more than 4,100 Depaul students receive MAP grants.
12:16 p.m.
Not to be outdone, the student body president of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has taken the stage. Kyle’s invitation to “share your story” has caused a line to be formed in front of the crowd. Also, this rally has filled a tent of approximately 100 by 50 feet and has spilled over into the courtyard of the Illinois Educator’s Association building.
12:11 p.m.
12:05 p.m.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale has arrived and made a statement. Their student body president grabbed the mic to give his own personal story and announce that SIU has filled eight buses to capacity for the rally.
11:58 a.m.
Student body President Kyle Malinowski has taken the stage and recieved a more than warm reception. Kyle gave a quick intro of himself, but then gave up the microphone to anyone who wished to share their MAP story.
11:55 a.m.
Of the many chants and cheers that have broken out so far, I think the cleverest has to be “ASAP give us MAP!!”
11:49 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
Just arrived, Illinois Central College and Southwestern Illinois College.
11:40 a.m.
There is an extremely vocal crowd from Greenville College here already. One of them is holding what is easily my favorite sign so far - “MAP is cheaper than welfare or jail.” Another Greenville student is carrying a sign that says “How can I be a teacher if I can’t be taught.”
11:37 a.m.
Students are quickly filling the rally site at the Illinois Education Association building.
11:29 a.m.
Just landed on the ground in Springfield. We are now making our way over to the rally site. Already we can see students from different schools walking around the capitol. Looks like a good turnout so far.
11:08 a.m.
We just passed another busload of students from a different school heading to the rally. It will be interesting to see how many students and how many schools show their support today. I couldn’t tell what school was on the bus, but they had on royal blue shirts.
10:58 a.m.
Katrice Buckley on left and Gabrielle O’Bryant on right.
10:51 a.m.
I’m quickly finding out that there isn’t much to see between Peoria and Springfield.
10:41 a.m.
There are a number of students highlighting textbooks and reviewing their class notes here on bus two. Others are napping. They must be saving their energy for the rally.
10:27 a.m.
I’m sitting next political science and criminal justice major Mike Manseao who had a good point on the bus. “The legislators answer to us, not the other way around. Its important to get out there today so they feel our presence and hear our voices.”
Good morning from the Michel Student Center! I’m D.J. Piehowski and today I will be accompanying about 100 other Bradley students as they travel to Springfield to urge lawmakers to restore funding for MAP grants, which provide financial assistance to more than 137,000 college students in Illinois. Bradley has arranged for two charter buses to take us to the capitol, where we will take part in a rally at the Illinois Education Association building.
Despite the fact that students from colleges and universities from across the state will be participating, the rally will undoubtedly have a strong Bradley presence, as our own Student Body President, Kyle Malinowski, has been asked to emcee the event.
There are 1,451 Bradley students that receive MAP funding and a large portion of them have shown up this morning to show their support for this cause, wearing red and toting signs with countless slogans and calls to action.
The MAP grant provides up to about $5,000 of financial aid a year to qualifying Bradley students and is awarded on a financial-need basis. There is no room in the current Illinois budget to fund the program for next semester, leaving many benefiting students without a way to come up with an extra $2,500 to pay for the spring semester.
This rally gives those students a chance to have their voices heard.
