TL20040205_001 "The Tower light Baltimore's #1 College Paper - Published Twice-Weekly - www.thetowerlight.com fl ^r Thursday, 2/5/04 Tenants petition for better access TU finalist vies for seat with Regents Exhibit honors lifetime of works ll 13 'Bounce' leaves viewers deflated 313 Departments Opinion 2 News Police blotter.... Arts : Sound Bites Entertainment briefs Sports 20 In this corner. 20 Bank Shots 19 Classifieds 16 Need-based aid set to increase Ehrlich scales back HOPE Scholarship program; award funds could be redirected Sarah Breitenbach The Towerlight Gov. Robert Ehrlich has halted new applications for the HOPE Scholarship program, a move that could redirect funds toward need- based financial aid for Maryland students. As part of Ehrlich's proposed 2005 budget, applications for 2004/2005 academic year will not be accepted. However, students who currently benefit from the merit- based aid program will continue to receive their awards, pending they meet award standards. Maryland's HOPE Scholarship program originated in 1998 under the administration of Gov. Parris N. Glendening. The program rewards Maryland students attending state colleges and universities with up to $5,000 annually in aid. In an effort to keep talented students in state, after graduation recipients are required to work full-time in Maryland one year for every year they received the scholarship. To be eligible for the award, students must have high school GPAs of 3.0 or higher and family income that does not exceed $95,000 annually. To keep the award students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and full- time status in college. Because of high numbers of renewals for HOPE Scholarships recently, the state has lacked the funding to keep the program running at full speed, explained Vince Pecora, director for financial aid at Towson. """"What has happened in the last two years is they haven't been adequately funded to bring new people into the program,"""" Pecora said. Currently almost $40 million, or half of state aid, is distributed based on merit. If Ehrlich's proposal is approved by the General Assembly, HOPE funding would be translated into need-based efforts, adding $16 million annually for need-based aid once the HOPE Scholarship program is phased out. After this year SanKofa 'Life Forces' collide on stage 9& \ *9l j /r^""""^ ^ ?""""V I """" 1 I ? i '?***'* ??"""",7K ' W/ 4 <fc. I n W X 1 Saul Stoogenke/The Towerlight Members of the SanKofa Dance Theater jump while acting out """"the matching of a couple destined to be together"""" during a performance of """"Life Forces"""" Wednesday evening in the Stephens Hall Theatre. alone, $4.2 million more would be available for need-based aid. Pecora said that while need-based aid is important to TU, scholarship programs like HOPE are essential """"I believe that there should be an emphasis on need-based programs; I think our state should help our needy students. The majority of state funds should go for that purpose,"""" he said. However, HOPE is necessary to """"keep our brightest and best here and to help meet occupational shortages."""" For the 2002/2003 academic year, HOPE Scholarships helped to finance the education of 1,069 Towson students, granting over $4 million in aid in science and technology, general academic, teacher and transfer scholarships. Percora explained that in light of demand for more need-based aid, merit-based programs like the HOPE Scholarship need to be modified, not eliminated. """"You shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water,"""" Pecora said. """"I think there are ways to put more money into need... without increasing our budget, but by mov- See HOPE, page 8 Monday High 33 Low 19"
