Government grant programs make it easier for students to afford college. The Minnesota State Grant program helps more than 80,000 students across Minnesota, including many Gusties, to receive financial assistance to pay for college. On March 5, students from Gustavus will join students from Hamline University and St. Mary’s University to engage legislators and learn about advocacy in a trip the state capitol in St. Paul.
Senior Communication Studies and Political Science Major Julia Kruchowski, who is also the Day at the Capitol Committee Co-Chair, spent a lot of time “trying to help plan the event,” and hopes students will not only spend time advocating for the grant program, but also learn about the overall political process.
Gustavus and many Gusties are directly affected by the status of the state grant program. Kruchowski hopes that the event will raise awareness of the importance about the program. “I hope that [students] learn more about the Minnesota Grant Program: who is affected by it, how much it helps students at Gustavus, how much it does affect Gustavus.”
According to Kruchowski, Gustavus gets about $2.5 million from the State Grant Program. “That’s a lot of money, and it affects a lot of students. It’s a major factor in deciding to go to a school like Gustavus, another school or school at all, and in these tough economic times it’s really important to be able to continue this, if not give more money to the program, because it’s pinching everyone’s wallet.”
Effecting change is one goal, but students can gain an insight on matters not related to the grant program. “I hope people learn more about advocacy, about how we can change things, and if we come together for things like this, we can make an impact. I hope they just learn more about the legislature,” said Kruchowski.
Sophomore Theatre Major Kimberly Braun spoke positively of her Day at the Capitol experience last year. “Day at the Capitol is an excellent opportunity for students to influence policy, participate in democracy [and] have their voice heard by speaking to their representatives immediately, in terms of post-secondary education. I remember the representatives coming off the floor last year to talk to us in the lobby and listen to us, and it was really cool of them to drop what they were doing to come hear what we had to say.”
Legislators appreciate hearing from students, as well. “I think that they do like meeting with students, because it shows that they care, not thinking that it is a free ride, the money they are getting. It shows that it means something to the students to get that money, that they are definitely using it, and that it is needed. I think they do like hearing from students,” said Kruchowski.
Day at the Capitol consists of much more than just meeting legislators, including a free dinner at the delicious Khan’s Mongolian Barbeque. “We start our day there at 10:00 a.m. and we [are] train[ed] on what to say and expect with the legislators. We get to speak with the legislators a little later at 11:30 a.m. or so. Then we have a lunch at the capitol. We are scheduled to meet with Gusties who are in the legislature right now, to meet and talk with them, and then get a tour of the capitol. It’s a day that’s pretty planned, but I think for people [who] are into advocacy, I think they will very much enjoy it,” said Kruchowski.
Day at the Capitol is March 5, 2009 and on March 3 a kickoff rally will take place in the Heritage Room from 6:30-7:30 p.m. You can look for tabling outside the Market Place for the Day at the Capitol. Students can register for Day at the Capitol at http://ga6.org/mnprivatecolleges/capitol.html.