Dear Editor:

The Minnesota State Grant Program, funded by the state Legislature, is critical to many students at Macalester College. This is the state of Minnesota's largest and most important college financial aid program. Last school year, 180 Macalester College students received $645,000 in financial aid awards, with an average award of $3,583.

However, due to a huge deficit in the state's budget, there is reason to fear that legislators will put financial aid awards for college students on the chopping block. Already this year, the State Grant Program stopped accepting applications on January 10th because of chronic under funding: for the first time ever, more students qualified for grants than there were dollars available. Next year, there could be cuts to student aid awards averaging 20 percent or more.

Students here at Macalester are working with students at 16 other private colleges in Minnesota to make sure that the Minnesota Legislature understands how important financial aid is to the college aspirations of so many of our students.

Even if you do not receive a state grant yourself, chances are that a friend or someone sitting next to you in class does: about one-third of all private college students receive a Minnesota State Grant. Losing financial aid dollars will affect the ability of students to choose a high-quality private college education that will hurt this state and our college.

Your voice is important in letting legislators know how vital it is to keep the State Grant Program viable and strong:

• Log on to the Minnesota Private Colleges Web site at www.mnprivatecolleges.com. You can learn more about the State Grant Program and how financial aid policy works for college students.
• While on the Website, visit the Action Center. You can find out who represents your hometown in the State Senate and State House and write them a quick note. Tell them that you're getting a great education and ask them to protect students who receive financial aid for college.
• Finally, you can join hundreds of private college students from around the state at Private College Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, February 25. You can sign up to attend the event on the Website. Event details and arrangements will also be listed there. This is a great opportunity to learn about how the legislative process works, and to advocate for students.

By making our voices heard, we can make a difference for our own education as well as for future Macalester students.

Both of us plan on being at the Capitol on February 25th and we will be providing rides. Please email stone@macalester.edu or haqeel@macalester.edu if you're interested.

Doug Stone, College Relations

Haris Aqeel '04, MCSG President