More than 300 students, faculty and staff crowded into the
Cook-DeWitt Center on the Allendale Campus November 19, to hear Gov.
Granholm talk about the Michigan Promise scholarship. The governor
directed her comments toward students saying, “the fight isn’t over”
in restoring the money for the scholarship.
“I really need your help and I stand in solidarity with you to
restore the Michigan Promise,” said Granholm. “It is doable, but I
can’t do it alone.”
Granholm criticized lawmakers for cutting the scholarship money
from the budget and said she couldn’t veto the scholarship back in.
She urged students to contact their state legislators to let them know
how they feel. “You hired your representatives and you should tell
them what you want them to do. I encourage you to engage in democracy
and let your voices be heard,” she said.
President Thomas J. Haas addressed the crowd calling the
elimination of the scholarship, “stealing from our future to pay for
the present.” Haas said Grand Valley has the greatest percentage of
students with the scholarship than any other public university.
The Michigan Promise scholarship would have provided up to
$4,000 to eligible college students.
VIDEO: WWMT-TV's coverage of the event can be viewed here.
