DeKALB | The Student Association Senate will be hosting a budget and Monetary Award Program rally 4:30 p.m. today in the MLK Commons.

The rally is being held to give those affected by the decreased state budget an outlet to express their discontent about the issue, according to a SA Senate press release.

“The refusal to work on a bipartisan basis in order to come to an acceptable compromise and the political shenanigans causing the gridlock is disgraceful,” said SA Senate officials in the press release.

This is the second year NIU has not received fully funded state allocations, the last of which was $91.1 million in Fiscal Year 2015.

More than 5,000 undergraduate students at NIU receive MAP grants, which for some is the only way they can attend NIU, according to the press release.

“Think of it as having 37 percent of our student population gone; that’s how big of an impact this is,” Wang said during an Oct. 16 SA Senate meeting. “I want all of you to come out to this rally. I want you to support those students to say ‘I am with you on this issue, and I do support your future’. ”

During the rally, NIU and DeKalb community members, such as President Doug Baker, representatives from Hope Haven and MAP grant recipients, will be attending the event. Mayor John Rey, Rep. Bob Pritchard (R-Hinckley) and representatives from institutions including Elgin Community College and University of Illinois will also be making appearances.

There will be a table where students can vote early and write letters to state legislators about their concerns regarding the state budget and MAP grants.

“I will be attending the rally in support of my fellow students,” said Estefani Rosas-Almanza, freshman pre-physical therapy major. “I think this is important. I’m glad [SA] Senate is supporting this issue, and I’m excited to write letters to the state legislators most of all.”