Park Forest, Schools

Students to Protest for Higher Education Funding and MAP Grants on April 13


Students plan to gather at the Old State Capitol at 11:00 am on April 13, 2016 to advocate for themselves in a peaceful protest to the current State Capitol.

Springfield, IL—(ENEWSPF)—April 7, 2016.  On April 13, 2016 students plan to unite at University of Illinois Springfield Colonnade. They will then commute to the Old State Capitol where March for MAP will begin at 11:00 am. The community is encouraged to participate and advocate educational funding for future generations.

March for MAP is a student lead movement founded by Shamira Quiñones (Kin-yo-nes), a sophomore student at the University of Illinois Springfield from Chicago. The idea originated after she visited the State Capital on March 2nd, when the override to the governor’s veto failed.

Quinones, along with a small committee of first generation college students, united the University of Illinois Springfield Campus as well as campuses across the state to participate in the March for MAP. “They promised us that if we did what we were supposed to do in high school that we would be able to go through higher education, and now that’s becoming impossible for some students who have worked hard to get here.” Quiñones said.

The Illinois State budget has put many college students at worry. Students are afraid that the money from MAP Grants will no longer be available, which will result in a ripple effect. “If I don’t receive MAP Grant, I would not be here today. Taking away this guaranteed funding exemplifies that they (the government) does not care about the future of our generation” Student, Shavondra Britton, a first generation college freshman at the University of Illinois Springfield also from Chicago.

March for MAP is a student lead movement that legislators cannot ignore. This movement plans to benefit more than students, but higher education institutions amongst the state of Illinois for funding. March for MAP goes beyond the small committee at the University of Illinois at Springfield. This is a chance to get the voices of thousands of students, all over the state, heard.

If you would like to participate and get more information you can email at [email protected] and join the March for MAP Facebook event page.

Source: March for MAP


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