The Saint Xavier University community participated in the #MAPmatters campaign which was launched on February 9. The campaign was coordinated by the Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges and Universities (FIICU), which is chaired by, SXU President, Christine M. Wiseman.
The purpose of the campaign is to advocate for the release of MAP funding by Governor Bruce Rauner. The campaign began about a week before Senate Bill (SB) 2043 was sent to the governor. This bill would have provided $397.1 million of funding to the MAP program if approved. Even before SB 2043 was sent to him, Rauner had declared that he would veto the bill.
During the campaign, participants sent the message “Governor Rauner, please fund MAP and sign SB 2043,” using various platforms. The message was tweeted on “Twitter Tuesday,” posted on the governor’s website on “Website Wednesday,” shared over the phone on “Telephone Thursday”, and posted on Facebook on “Facebook Friday”.
SXU students received an email on Monday, February 8 from President Wiseman informing them about the campaign. Joan Knox, Associate Vice President of University and Community Relations, also sent emails reminding members of the SXU community to take part in the campaign. In an interview with the Xavierite, Joan Knox said that anyone could take part in the campaign, especially if they care about SXU or higher education in general.
“Everybody that cares about higher education, and specifically when it relates to Saint Xavier, anyone who is a friend of Saint Xavier should take part in the campaign. So, it could be faculty, staff, students, alum, people in the community. Anyone who cares, certainly about Saint Xavier, but typically about higher education,” said Knox.
Besides pressuring Rauner to sign SB2043, the campaign was also designed to bring awareness to the issue of MAP funding. According to Knox, the #MAPmatters campaign was very successful in regards to spreading awareness.
“What we are trying to do is bring awareness, so in that way I would say absolutely it’s been very successful bringing awareness to the MAP issue” said Knox “As far as the success of the campaign, I don’t think there’s anyone at Saint Xavier know who’s not aware of MAP and it’s impacts on our students and university.”
Knox believes that raising awareness is an important step that could eventually effect the actions of the governor. “The more people that become aware, the more pressure is put on the governor. The more people become aware and use their voice to tell the governor that they are demanding the release of these MAP funds the students have been promised, that could have an effect,” said Knox.
Many SXU staff, students, and faculty have participated in the campaign from Tuesday to Friday. Knox said that she has received many emails from students and others informing her that they called the governor’s office or left a message on his websites. Some SXU alumni also took part in the campaign.
Many students and alumni shared stories on social media about their experiences as MAP recipients. For example, Chance Cutrano, SXU alumni from 2015, tweeted the message “@GovRauner the only way I was able to receive a wonderful education at Saint Xavier was the #MAP funding I received. SB 2043 #MAPMatters.” Knox said that the #MAPmatters campaign will continue until the funds for the MAP grants are released.
She also said that the next step of the campaign will be determined by the Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges and Universities and will depend on the actions of governor Rauner. “I think that there will be a continued effort but I’m not sure what the efforts will be. The governor could surprise us and not veto the bill, and then our work, at least for now, on this piece of legislation is done.
“There is always going to be more work to do to ensure that MAP funds reach Saint Xavier’s deserving students. If the governor does veto the bill, then the group will talk next steps.” On Friday, February 20, Bruce Rauner officially vetoed SB 2043 and said that the bill “would explode the state’s budget deficit, exacerbate the state’s cash flow crisis, and place further strain on social service providers and recipients who are already suffering from the state’s deficit spending.”
Now FIIICU must decide what the next step in the fight to release MAP funding will be in light of the governor’s veto.
Yasmeen Abdellatif
Senior News Editor