Many hard-working EIU students rely on the Monetary Award Program (MAP) to help them pay for college. But this grant is currently unfunded. Why? Because the Governor refuses to do his job and pass a state budget. This lack of action affects all Illinois students because it threatens public higher education.

At EIU, we have been honoring students’ unfunded MAP grants. But this drain on our resources aggravates other problems caused by the lack of a state budget. It’s been seven months now. Two other public universities are talking about closing if a budget is not passed soon. The loss of Chicago State and Northeastern Illinois University would make it even harder for working class and middle class students to find a place in our state university system.

If you agree that it is time for the Governor and the legislature to negotiate and pass a budget, let them know. Illinois students and the universities that prepare them for the future cannot wait much longer.

Fern Kory, professor of English