On Sunday at the Thompson Center, Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill to reinstate the Illinois Monetary Assistance Program, also known as MAP, while college and university students across the state participated in a rally outside the capital building. The bill, which lawmakers voted on Oct. 15, recovers $205 million for qualified students.

Dominican and Concordia students were among the 138,000 that almost suffered the spring shortfall in grant funds. Dominican made the trip to Springfield on behalf of its 700 MAP recipients; Concordia has 287 recipients, but was not able to round up enough students available during the school day.

Tim Keenan, a Dominican University student, political science and history major, was one of the 80 Dominican University students at the rally.

Keenan said he was surprised that lawmakers swiftly moved the bill to Quinn's desk.

"It was kind of a bonus it was voted on while we were down there," Keenan said. "We were hoping they would vote on it because we had been down there, not necessarily while we were there."

Like many other students, Keenan was asking where the money will be sourced from.

State Representative Deborah Graham, from Oak Park, said she supported the bill.

When Quinn signed the bill Sunday, he mentioned two possibilities: inter-fund borrowing and taxes. Inter-fund borrowing would source a portion of the money to be borrowed from other state funds that have a surplus.

Quinn released a statement after the bill left his desk with approval.

"I look forward to continue to work with the legislature to find revenue to support this critical program," the statement said.

Wherever the money comes from, it would allow students to continue their education without taking additional loans or cutting back on classes.

Vanessa Ramos, s Dominican University student with an early childhood education major, said she would have considered looking at alternatives to cover MAP grants if it had fallen through.

"I would have to look for a private loan to pay the difference," Ramos said. "And that would have to come out of my pocket."

Students like Ramos also considered transferring to other schools to cut costs.

"I'd hate to transfer during my last year," Ramos said. "I love the [Dominican] community, faculty and staff."

While students will have their MAP grants next semester, democratic challenger for governor and current State Comptroller, Dan Hynes, has been vocal about the issue, saying that Quinn had resources to fund the program through discretionary funding.

The office of Dan Hynes could not be reached for comment before deadline Monday.

David Dolence, a political science professor at Dominican University, said the passing of the bill was "clear that the politics between the assembly and the governor played wonderfully into the hands of MAP supporters."

Dolence said the General Assembly was testing Quinn as "the MAP hero role," by passing the bill without a form of funding.

"The assembly definitely thought the governor was playing a little off the bottom of the deck by being such a vocal supporter of the funding and making it look like they were the villains," Dolence added.

As far as the democratic primary race goes, Dolence said, "Quinn looks pretty good right now" compared to Hynes.