A state-funded scholarship that has assisted thousands of students attend college could be abolished this year if a proposed bill in the Illinois House reaches the governor’s desk.
The
General Assembly Legislative Scholarship is available to every state
representative and senator to use to assist up to eight students living in the
legislator’s respective district with tuition expenses at any state university.
The scholarships do not pay for books, room and board and other fees.
According
to the Illinois State Board of Education, over 3,500 students have attended
college since 2000 using the GAL scholarships. And since its 1909 inception, over 300,000
students have been awarded the scholarship.
On the
West Side state Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-8th Dist., said the scholarships have made
it possible for many low-income students in his district to attend college.
“You
should see the light in their eyes when they are informed they won,” he
explained. “For many students this is the only way they will be able to go away
to college and experience living on their own. Some things are best left
untouched and this is one of them.”
Gov. Pat
Quinn said during his budget address last month that if House Bill 0201 reaches
his desk, he would sign it.
“We
should abolish the legislative scholarship program,” Quinn said. “We need to
revamp our higher education system to increase access for all students.
Therefore, we will increase funding for the Monetary Assistance Program, which
provides scholarships for qualified needy students, with a particular focus on
community college students.”
However,
MAP awards are based on financial need, which the U.S. Department of Education
determines once a student applies for financial aid.
The GAL
scholarship is not need-based, instead other criteria is used such as academic
performance, letters of recommendation and a written essay. A committee, which
could include the legislator, then determines the winners.
The
governor’s support for the bill has disappointed some Black lawmakers.
“The
governor took away free rides for all seniors and now he supports taking away a
scholarship that benefits hundreds of minority students every year,” said Rickey
Hendon, the former state senator for the 5th District who resigned last week.
Hendon,
who was first elected in 1993, had awarded a total of 152 GAL scholarships.
There are
four state universities in Chicago, including Chicago State University. The
South Side higher learning institution has a predominately Black student
population and since 2006, school records show 95 students attended CSU using
the scholarship.
During
the same time period 68 students attended Governors State University and 246
students attended Northeastern Illinois University on a GAL scholarship. Waived
tuition for the scholarships totaled $163,700 at GSU and $878,706 at NEIU. Data
for CSU and the University of Illinois-Chicago were not available at Defender press time.
A
majority of scholarship recipients from state Rep. Monique Davis’ 27th District
on the Far South Side have attended CSU.
“Even
though Chicago State is not located in my district that is where most of my
scholarship recipients go,” Davis said. “I have given out 160 scholarships
during my tenure and I know without this scholarship these students would not
have been able to go to college.”
Davis,
who has been a state representative since 1987, added that each year she awards
eight, one-year scholarships and plans to fight to keep the scholarship in
place.
“I get
tired of people trying to take away from those who do not have much,” she said.
State
Rep. Mary Flowers, D-31st Dist., has been in office since 1985 and is the
longest serving Black representative. Since first being elected she has given
out about 200 scholarships.
She
questions why several white legislators would want to end the scholarships.
“Why are
we (Blacks) not entitled to this scholarship? Poor people pay more taxes than
the rich and these scholarships are paid for with tax dollars,” she explained.
“There use to be a time when people could earn college degrees while in prison
but we took that away. Now we’re talking about taking away a scholarship that
makes it possible for many Black kids to go college. Something is wrong with
that picture.”
Democrat
state Rep. Lisa Dugan, whose 79th District covers such areas as Bradley and
Kankakee, does not participate in the scholarship program and supports
abolishing it. She fears it may lead to higher tuition costs.
“By
continuing to award these legislative scholarships universities are losing
money and it could lead to an increase in tuition, which would hurt needy
students already struggling,” Dugan told the Defender. “I know universities award
athletic and other scholarships but they control how many to give out opposed
to elected officials making that decision.”
If the
bill becomes law, students currently on a GAL scholarship would continue to
receive it until their respective scholarship expires. No new scholarships
would be awarded, however.
State
institutions where the scholarships are accepted include Chicago State
University, Eastern Illinois University, University of Illinois, Northern
Illinois University, Western Illinois University, Southern Illinois University,
Illinois State University, Governors State University, and Northeastern
Illinois University.
Copyright
2011 Chicago Defender
