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March 31, 2012

School funding stays healthy for most

State board reports majority of area districts doing well

Gay issue reignites at ONU

Former student president comes out, points to problems
By Dimitrios Kalantzis
dkalantzis@daily-journal.com 815-802-5144

Inside
COMMENTARY

Protecting home backfires on exfelon. A2

Ron Jackson

BUSINESS

Consumer spending verifies strengthening economy. B1

LIFE

Homemade ice cream worth the effort. C1

SPORTS

Area high school softball, tennis previews. D2, D4

The Daily Journal/Scott Anderson

THINK

Alexa Grant makes goop to study polymers in her eighth-grade science class at Manteno Middle School earlier this year. By Jon Krenek
jkrenek@daily-journal.com 815-937-3370

Catholic Charities lifeline for veteran. E1

OUR WORLD

MasterCard, Visa warn of data breach. F11

Classied
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Keeping schools afloat financially is painful in a challenging economy, but the Illinois State Board of Education has determined most local school districts are still doing the job. The state boards annual report on school districts financial health shows 19 of 24 in The Daily Journals six-county coverage area have earned its highest rating. Five other school districts fell under financial review for downward trends, but none were placed in the state boards two lowest categories. The report measures several key factors annually, including a school districts debt load, level of savings and how much each district spends compared to what it receives. Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 is among those earning recognition in the report. This school board for a long time has taken our fiscal

Where does your school district stand financially? A3

responsibility very seriously, said Rob Rodewald, District 53 school board president. As things have come along, weve done what we can to make sure the fiscal outlook looks good. But Rodewald said the task has been painful. The school board cut $1 million from its budget for the 2010-2011 school year. While it pulled the district out of financial review and into recognition status this year, it meant the loss of jobs. School districts across the state have shared similar pain. They have been forced to cut staff, forgo supplies, delay facility repairs and outsource operations in order to cut costs, said Gery Chico, Illinois State Board of Education chairman. As of last week, the state owed school districts more

than $729 million in education-related bills. But the state board adjusts the ratings so school districts arent penalized for late state payments. Rich Decman, Herscher Community Unit School District 2 superintendent, said the adjustment can draw a skewed picture of a districts financial health. Herscher is owed nearly $1 million in state transportation aid alone half of the $2 million the school district spends on bussing annually. While it didnt hurt the districts rating, the school board is eyeing options, such as closing Reddick Grade School and even a referendum to help balance its budget. The districts $19 million in savings had dwindled to about $10 million in the past six years, Decman said. And that doesnt bode well for the future. I do think its an inaccurate picture of our current situation, Decman said. All the reserves weve built up over the past 20 years are being eaten up at an alarming rate.

Last year, a small group of Olivet Nazarene University students risked ridicule and social exile when they outed themselves in the schools online newspaper. A groundswell of support for ONUs underground gay/straight alliance followed. Then it simmered. Then it ended. Until now. Earlier this week, supporters of the Illinois Defense of Marriage Initiative were soliciting signatures on campus to place on the November ballot a referendum that would limit marriage to heterosexuals. At the same time, Mike Haley, a motivational speaker and self-proclaimed reformed homosexual, was scheduled to speak on campus. In response, one student turned to Facebook and posted a petition calling for tolerance of gays and an open forum on campus to discuss what remains a controversial issue, especially at a conservative Christian university that does not support homosexuality. No one could anticipate what would happen next. Ive stayed quiet too long, read the very first post. As the former ONU student body president, I am ashamed to say that my alma mater and its mother denomination are miles Karg from equality for its students and members. But, I am proud to say that I am a gay Christian, and that there are many, many churches where all are welcome. It came from Evan Karg, a poster child for the Nazarene community and one of the most celebrated alumni in recent years. I grew to secretly hate myself, Karg said in a phone interview from Wisconsin. He described years of internal torment capped by suicidal thoughts. For years, Karg thought his homosexuality would go away. It didnt. He came out to a small group of people last year and has since left the Nazarene church, though he still plans on becoming ordained in the Episcopal Church. Policies that indirectly indict homosexuality create an environment of violence, Karg said. The sermons, over and over, start to create a mob mentality, he said. I dont want people to commit suicide. I dont want people to hate themselves. And I dont want people to hate other people. Olivet does not discriminate against individual students for any reason, said Heather Day, a university spokesperson in a prepared statement. We do not ask about a students sexual orientation in the admissions process, when determining housing assignments, or at any time while he or she is a student on our campus.

Gay ONU students call for equality A11

Obituaries
A5
Peggy Bledsoe ............Bonfield Harry Bottorff Jr. ........Onarga Mario DalCanton....Limestone Herman Falkenhan Jr...Bradley Thomas Gleeson ......Kankakee Joseph Klette ..............Bradley Edwin Piper Jr. .........Manteno Linda Smith ........Bourbonnais Loriene Wilson.....Cissna Park

Family familiar with rejection

Bids to land on reality TV come up empty 25 times
By Dennis Yohnka
dyohnka@daily-journal.com 815-937-3384

Index
Business Calendar Comics Life Local Faces B1-7 C7 F8-9 C1-8 B8 Our World Puzzles Sports Theaters Think F11 F10 D1-7 A14 E1-4 Classified F1-10

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Members of the Irwin and Bonnie Bradley family of Bourbonnais are not aware of any official records for painful turndowns, but this resilient group of five feels it has earned a dubious new distinction. They could be Americas most rejected family. Irwin announced his family will hold a press conference Sunday (April 1) to provide more details, but he offered some limited information Friday, including the familys official record: After 25 attempts to be on a reality TV show, they have 25 rejections. Our first attempt was to get my husband on Survivor, Bonnie said in a telephone interview from Las Vegas, where she was hoping to be seen on an upcoming episode of Pawn Star. They said Irwin was turned down for that show [Survivor] because of his fear of spiders. And I guess thats hereditary, she said. That was one of the reasons our son, Grant [19], was kicked off of Fear Factor. That, and hes afraid of the dark and the water.

Submitted photo

Turning their backs on their four living room TVs for a minute, the Bradley family, of Bourbonnais, posed for what they call a portrait of Americas most rejected family. The family includes (from left) sons Cliff and Grant, father Irwin, daughter Anne and mother, Bonnie.

Looking back, that show was kind of a longshot for him, she said. Irwin refused to name all of the shows his family tried, but daughter Anne, 17, admitted that filling the house with junk to lure the camera crew from Hoarders was their most discouraging effort. We really worked hard for that one, and I thought we had a shot, she said. But, then, I also thought I came

close to making The Voice. But, then they saw the tapes from when I tried out for American Idol. I think Ive improved since then, but ... (Anne has provided that tape to The Daily Journal. It can be seen at www.daily-journal.com.) Irwin noted that he and Bonnie prepared for the challenges of The Great Race, as well as Wife Swap and Renovation Realities, but said their interest in reality TV is not

based on a need to expose his family to ridicule. I think were just like every other American family, he said. And it seems like everyone else has been on TV. Why not us? Two researchers from the staff of the Loofing Institute in Rochester, Minn., Benjamin Thare and Daniel Thatt, reported that they have included the Bradley family in a soon-to-be-released study on the effects of reality TV. The Bradley family typifies a new standard for American society, they wrote. We bare our souls to strangers on social media. We offer every half-thought we have on Twitter. And we embarrass ourselves with YouTube videos. Is it any wonder that this family and many others feel the need to air their personal foibles on national TV? Its a natural escalation. The Bradleys youngest son, Cliff, 16, noted that his most difficult rejection was for the Biggest Loser. But that was my fault. I really didnt know it was a weight loss show, he said. Other than that one, I thought it was sad when mom didnt make it on Cupcake Wars or Americas Worst Cooks. I mean, we wouldnt have even tried to get on Renovation Realities if mom hadnt burned down the kitchen trying to make mac and cheese for one of her audition tapes.

DID YOU KNOW?

Baltimore is the place baseball great Babe Ruth was born and famed author Edgar Allan Poe died. Source: www.baltimoretourguide.com

Lifes Little Getaways visits Baltimore C4

Saturday, March 31, 2012 The Daily Journal A11

More local news

Bourbonnais

Editor: Tim Yonke 815-937-3372 tyonke@daily-journal.com

Gay ONU students call for equality

Olivet denies claims of discrimination
By Dimitrios Kalantzis
dkalantzis@daily-journal.com 815-802-5144

PERFECT SERVICE CARRIERS FEBRUARY 2012

AROMA PARK Bowers, Williams David, Gage ASHKUM Edwards, Karyn Beaverville Choin, Brian OConnor, Crystal BEECHER Tarnroos, Lucas BONFIELD Green, Christopher Kuipers, Kurtis BUCKINGHAM Witheft, Aidan BUCKLEY Schumacher, Floyd CABERY Margewich, Glen Wooton, Austin CHEBANSE Beane, Breanne Beane, Jason Cahan, Dawn Hoggins, Caleb Hoggins, Cory Kuhar, Anton CISSNA PARK Schumacher, Floyd CLIFTON Edwards, Karyn Kennell, Melissa Lewis, Jaden Prairie, Brandon CRESCENT CITY Spade, Lanetta CULLOM Kelley, Danielle DANFORTH Conn, Amber GARDNER Arnstrom, Gus GILMAN Brown, Dorathy Davis III, Guy LaPorte, Perry GRANT PARK Benson, Chad Reichel, Kody Ulloa, Melanie HERSCHER Bertrand, Rachael Brozis, Alexis Brozis, Amanda Pleckham, Henry Pleckham, Samuel IROQUOIS Somerville, Bill KANKAKEE Benfield, Jasmine Bradford, Devin Cadle, Cody Coy, Scott Dean, Michelle Devereaux, Zachary Fisher, Sheila Frey, Robert Gaddis, Jace Gilbert, Aidan Gilbert, Reginald Hack, Ethan Hannay, Noelle Kelly, Jimmy Kilbride, Gerry Kirchner, Denise Kurien, Ruth Lane, Isaiah Leach, Joshua Menard, Tracy Moreno, Eugenia Nelson, Crystal Ostrowski, Travis Pastorel, Dawson Ponton, Rodney Ronstadt, Michela Schmitz, Chris Simon, Ryan Sitze, Lucas Sterioti, Anthony Strickland, Ranisha Tall, Laura Thompson, Jeremy Thompson, Linda Williams, Cheryl KEMPTON Kelley, Danielle MANTENO Baker, Dominique Campe, Alexander Goldsby, Lenon Heron, Joseph Heron, Olivia Hoff, Susan Matherly, Brandy McCormick, Connor Sanchez, Francisco Smith, Allen Smith, William Sutton, Krista Windeler, Justin MILFORD Martz, Schvon MOMENCE Spencer, Baker DeMuth, Tom Littrell, Caroline Littrell, Johnny Pickel, Amber ONARGA VadeBoncoeur, Terri PAPINEAU Shoufler, Sylvia PEOTONE Heron, Joseph Schweigert, Ian REDDICK Swartz, Donna SAINT ANNE Bowers, Linda Bowers, William Kelly, Jimmy Koster, Timothy Mellish, Dakota Shegog, DMartin Williams, Kelly Wright, Debbie SHELDON Lowhorn, Tony Somerville, Bill THAWVILLE Betourne, Autumn WATSEKA Ealy, Jeff Ealy, Michael Flota, Cassie Fisher, Leon Lease, Terrance Lingafelter Jr., Paul Martz, Schvon Pace, Marcus Patrick, John WILMINGTON Ganno, Woodrow Warriner, Vernon MOTOR ROUTES Bertrand, Deanna Bowers, Dolores Buente, Owen Carpenter, Ira Ealy, Jeff Ealy, Nelcine Eich, Gary Hoffeditz, Jessica Jackson, Tom McHugh, RaLeigh Urban, Dave Whitaker, Laurel Woodard, Sandra Simon, Luke Sterioti, Jesse Strange, Constance

Just before 9:35 Thursday morning the chapel at Olivet Nazarene University swelled with students. Twice each week the entire student body converges there to listen to guest speakers discuss spiritual and community issues. Attendance is mandatory. Some students arrived hand in hand. One couple sat in an embrace. Not unusual on a college campus, even at a conservative Christian university. That may not have been the case, however, if those were same sex couples. The university does not support homosexuality though its officials say it does not discriminate against students who are gay. Thursdays speaker was Mike Haley, a self-proclaimed reformed gay man who has in other interviews likened homosexuality to alcoholism. His scheduled appearance and an unrelated visit to campus by supporters of the Illinois Defense of Marriage Initiative a movement to limit marriage in Illinois to heterosexuals, only prompted members of an unofficial gay/straight alliance at Olivet to petition for tolerance and an open discussion about homosexuality. Perhaps more unexpectedly, it brought a onetime student leader, Evan Karg, to the center of the debate when he came out as a gay man. Using the Facebook page created for these students, it was the first time Karg announced his sexual orientation to so large an audience. Not long after Kargs announcement Wednesday night, someone started a Twitter account using Kargs image and began posting anti-gay comments and linking them to the university using the hashtag #onuchapel. The school denounced the act but is not pursuing those responsible. These comments stand in direct opposition to our values as a Christian university and do not reflect the viewpoint of the majority of our students, faculty and staff, said spokeswoman Heather Day in a prepared statement. At this time, we have no way of knowing who posted those comments, or even if those involved have any affiliation with Olivet. For Karg, there is a much larger issue. Olivets counseling, disciplinary and housing policies are discriminatory, Karg said in a telephone interview. And now he is calling on the university to embrace equality for all students, gay and straight. Its time for laws to protect students even in private universities, Karg said. I want to say, Hey, this needs to stop. Olivet officials deny Kargs claims saying in the prepared statement that the university does not at any time ask a student about sexual orientation. When it comes to the issue of sexuality, we believe that the Bible is very clear, Day said. Gods design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Any sexual activity outside of marriage shortchanges his plan for our personal and spiritual fulfillment. We also believe that sexual depravity is no more, no less sinful than greed, lust, slander or hatred. But former and current gay students and their allies say inviting Haley and allowing anti-gay political groups on campus create an environment in which gays are marginalized.

File photo

Olivet Nazarene University graduate Evan Karg was honored as ONUs Lincoln Laureate for 2010.

Pushed to the fringes, these students are fighting back in unprecedented ways. I felt like I had to save the churchs and universitys reputation, said Karg of keeping secret his homosexuality during his time at Olivet. But I felt thats not honoring my dignity and humanity. Less than seven miles away, a different story is playing out at the areas only other postsecondary institution. Students at Kankakee Community College are prepping for a performance of The Laramie Project, a play about the Wyoming town in the aftermath of the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man. I didnt just want to see it on the stage, said Tyler McMahon, one of the shows organizers. I wanted to get its message out. Last year, in another show of support for the gay community, KCC invited Greg Baird, a gay man who advocates tolerance on college campuses. Back at Olivet, Haley, in a 30-minute speech mixing McMahon humor and Bible verses, told a tale of sexual abuse, spiritual depravity and his ultimate return to the church he once vehemently denied. I very quickly got involved in [the gay] community, Haley said. I jumped on what I call the gay treadmill, and its not a whole lot different than the treadmill I see a lot of young women buying into today where they believe they have to be a certain size and look a certain way to be attractive to men. For 12 years, Haley said, he lived a life of carnal pursuit. Finally, at his lowest point, he said he returned to his faith and made a difficult admission to his family. Im miserable. My life is out of control. Its based on a lie, he recalled saying. Brett Carmouche, an Olivet graduate and gay man, watched Haleys speech online. He took issue with Haleys position that homosexuality is unnatural and that gays can reorient themselves. I find that to be very problematic, he said. At least 150 students signed on to what is being called the love petition. Where these students go from here remains unknown. Carmouche said he hopes students could use last weeks momentum to pressure the university to adopt policies that foster security and compassion for a group often left vulnerable and damaged. When an unjust law or policy exists, it must be broken so that justice might prevail, he wrote in an unpublished response to last weeks events. You must remember that you have the power and it is a real power to change not just unjust policies or laws, but the world. Olivet is but the first step in that journey.

BOURBONNAIS Allen, Spencer Arthur, Twila Bertrand, Bradley Bertrand, Tiffani Blochowski, Zachary Burge, Austin Colbert, Rebekah Elimon, Dwight George, Joshua Gill, Riley Hodges, Christopher Jensen, Joshua Johnson, Nicholas Johnson, Teresa Kempf-Kutemeier, Amanda Kinney, Cameron Kinney, Chloe Latty, Kacy Mattson, Eric McBurney, Soni Pierson, Nicole Pietraszewski, Emily Pietraszewski, Riley Porter, Ashley Ravens, Angelica Ravens, Timothy Raymond, Kristina Roberts, Krystal Rosenthal, Charity Rosenthal, Dela Seed, Joshua Shapkauski, Joseph Whitaker, Ashley Whitaker, Matthew Whitwell, Zach Wilkinson, Lucas BRADLEY Arthur, Twila Barnhardt, Dawson Brenneisen, Joshua Carstens, Amanda Chaney, Hannah Chaney, Morgan Evans, Michael Gooding, F. Peter Hamilton, Michael Harwell, Taryn Johnson, Andrew Johnson, Michael Koziol, Gage Kuban, Alexander Lagesse, Corbin Lance, Hannah Lanie, Rianna Memenga, David Posing, Claudia Rapier, Ed Rozak, Jacob Salisbury, Lake Sigler, Behany Trusty, Nicholas Verdoza, Natalie Weber, Trevin Weidner, Kaitlynne BRAIDWOOD Gutzman, Brad

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