Illinois college students will march for higher education funding and MAP grants in Springfield next week.
At least 60 students plan to take part in the march. That’s according to the march’s Facebook event.
The “March for MAP” was created by a University of Illinois Springfield student. The event was inspired by the legislature's failure to override Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto to a bill to fund MAP grants.
Christine Wang is a student at Northern Illinois University and a senator for the school’s student association. She says NIU students and other student senators plan to make the trip to Springfield as well.
“We have actually gone down to lobby several times in Springfield for our budget for MAP grants, and for fewer budget cuts to higher education,” Wang said.
Wang says about 10 NIU students plan to go, and that includes seven student senators. She hopes the bus will be filled to its 54-seat capacity.
The march is scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday.