Gusties Converge on the Capitol

A contingent of 55 Gustavus community members—students, alumni, and administrators—recently gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul in support of Minnesota’s State Grant Program, which provides financial aid assistance to low- and middle-income students and their families. The Gusties took the day off of class or work to provide voice to the need for continuing and even increasing the state grant program to provide access to higher education to all.

The grant program benefits college students at all higher education campuses across the state and at Gustavus more than one-fourth of the student body received a state grant for the 2007-08 school year. With each grant averaging more than $3,500, the Minnesota grant program provides $2.5 million to Gustavus students.

Day at the Capitol is an annual event that was coordinated by a dedicated group of individuals on campus, including students and staff. It is sponsored by the Minnesota Association of Private College Students (MAPCS), a student awareness group associated with the Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC). Campus support for the 2008 Gustie contingent came from Gustavus’s Student Senate, Alumni Relations, College Relations, Dean of Students, and the Department of Athletics.

While at the Capitol on March 6, Gustavus students met privately with their legislators, were debriefed on the grant program, and given a crash course on lobbying. Sen. David Hann, a Gustavus graduate, greeted the students and gave them an update on what is going on at the Capitol this legislative session. The group also spoke with former State Representative Ruth Johnson of St. Peter who is currently assistant dean of students at Gustavus.

Editor’s Note: Mike Marcotte is the current President of the Minnesota Association of Private College Students (MAPCS), and has served as Vice President of Administration for the Gustavus Student Senate and a student coordinator for prior Day at the Capitol events.