Hamline Students Take a Message to the State Capitol

Fifty-five Hamline students made their voices heard at the State Capitol on March 12, 2008, giving their legislators an earful about what they are going through to finance a college education. In an effort coordinated by the Minnesota Private College Council, Hamline University, and the Hamline University Student Congress, the Hamline group met up with other students from private colleges and had a united message for lawmakers: Don’t raid the Minnesota State Grant Program to balance the state budget. 

For forty percent of Hamline students, the State Grant Program puts college within reach. The grants help low and middle income students pay for college, with the average award for Hamline students at nearly $3,800. This year, for the first time in five years, the federal government has put an additional $15 million in to the Minnesota State Grant Program, through a Pell Grant increase. As legislators look to balance the state’s budget this year, however, that $15 million dollars could very well be spent on the state budget deficit instead of going to students. 

Megan Ehrreich, a Hamline junior and student congress president, is not about to let that happen. She led the effort to recruit fellow students to participate in Hamline’s Day at the Capitol and to make their voices heard. Ehrreich brought her 10-year old sister along with her, and the two spent the day meeting with as many lawmakers as they could. 

“Because of my ROTC scholarship, I do not receive a state grant,” Ehrreich said. “But I have three brothers and sisters. If my little sister, Annie, decides the military is not the route for her, I don’t want her to feel pressured and think that joining the military is the only way she can pay for college. I want the State Grant Program to be there for her. That’s why I brought her today. The message to legislators today comes from me—and also from her.”  

As she prepared her thoughts before a meeting with State Senator Gen Olson (R, District 33A), Ehrreich articulated one of the reasons why she is so passionate about this issue.  

“I know there is only X number of dollars, and that the legislature has priorities of where that money should go, but education should be a top priority. And it’s not like we’re asking for full scholarships here,” Ehrreich said. “We are only looking for a little bit of money to preserve a grant program that hasn’t seen much of an increase since my mom went to college!” 

Andrew Warnes, a sophomore at Hamline, said this is the first year he has advocated for higher education issues and that he was glad he took the time to do it. Warnes is from Shoreview, and he met with two legislators from his district, including State Representative Paul Gardener (DFL, District 53A), whose district includes Shoreview, North Oaks, Lino Lakes, Blaine, and Circle Pines.  

“If it wasn’t for my state grant, I wouldn’t be at Hamline, and that’s a fact,” Warnes told Representative Gardener. “I am asking you to make sure that no money is taken from the State Grant Program to make up the state budget deficit.”  

“I am but a lowly freshman,” Gardener responded, smiling. “But I can tell you that we are going to fight fiercely to find another way to balance the budget.”   

For those who could not make it to Day at the Capitol, there are still many opportunities left to get involved, learn about the issues, and become a part of the legislative process.

To learn more about higher education issues and to find out how to get involved, sign up for the Minnesota Private College Council’s monthly legislative “Action Alerts” by visiting http://ga6.org/mnprivatecolleges/join.tcl?theme=null.