Pass:

Temporary MAP funding relieves some student stress

Monetary Award Program grant students can breathe a bit easier now that some funding has been approved by the state. MAP grants will be paid for by the state with a $600 million short-term fund. After a 10 month budget impasse, this funding is a saving grace for multiple institutions including NIU.

Although the funding is temporary and possibly not as large an amount as people wanted, the fact that funding will be provided at all lifts a huge weight off many students’ shoulders. The uncertainty of whether MAP grants were to be paid back or not raised many concerns. For students about to graduate, this is one less thing to worry about. Hopefully, this temporary budget is a sign of further cooperation among legislators.

Fail:

Food insecurity on campus requires further research

Student food insecurity is a problem that deserves more research and future solutions. A survey by freshman business major Jenee Carlson revealed that 96 percent of respondents to her felt food insecurity one or more times throughout this semester, according to a Thursday Northern Star article. Based on this information, I feel it is the university’s job to do further research and actively seek out a solution. While the Huskies Student Food Pantry does provide meals to NIU students, the amount of students the pantry is able to serve may not be enough when compared to how many students feel food insecure. I applaud Carlson’s hope to expand the pantry, but it should not be a student’s responsibility. Finals and turning in assignments on time are things students should worry about — not where they will find their next meal.