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Sixty-two members of the Illinois General Assembly broke the law over the course of six years by awarding free tuition to the state’s public universities to 122 college students who didn’t live in the right legislative district.
The state lawmakers – several of whom serve in leadership positions – violated the law they had passed in the 1970s, the last time major changes were made to the century-old legislative scholarship program. Controversy over the program flared again this past year after a series of articles by ChicagoTalks that found repeated instances of scholarships being awarded to campaign donors, politically connected families and, in at least one instance, a lawmaker’s relative. ChicagoTalks also identified five legislators who require scholarship applicants to register to vote, a practice one constitutional lawyer called illegal.
More recently, the Chicago Tribune reported that a former state lawmaker gave nearly $100,000 in scholarships to the family of a longtime political supporter, raising questions about the loose enforcement of eligibility requirements.
Lawmakers doled out more than 6,000 scholarships totaling tens of millions of dollars from fall 2003 through summer 2008. ChicagoTalks checked the addresses of every student who received one or more of these awards by entering each into the Illinois Board of Elections’ district locator to confirm the student did in fact reside in that lawmaker’s district.
No state agency does these checks, although the Illinois Board of Education gathers basic information about each scholarship winner from lawmakers and keeps it in a database.
Matt Vanover, director of public information for the Board of Education, says that making sure a student lives in a lawmaker’s district is the responsibility of both the student and the lawmaker, not his agency. Until recently, no one at the state agency verified that students actually live in the right district.
Vanover said he is changing this policy in response to the Tribune’s recent article. He said along with processing the paperwork, the Board of Education will now verify recipients’ addresses. If the person checking addresses notices a student receiving an out-of-district scholarship, the lawmaker will be notified and responsible for correcting the mistake.
ChicagoTalks contacted the offices of all 62 lawmakers. Those legislators or staff who responded to interview requests confirmed they made mistakes and offered explanations like an aide for Rep. Karen May (D -Highland Park) did, saying the student received the scholarship because his application had been delivered by a guidance counselor from a school that was located in the district.
The student moved to a different district, but because he had started the school year at Highland Park he was able to finish the school year there. Since his application came from a school in the district, they assumed he lived in the district as well.
An aide to Sen. Larry Bomke (R-Springfield) said she assumed the senator had all of Rochester in his district, but now realizes that a portion is in another senatorial district.
“I look all of them up, and these two fell through the cracks,” said Lori Bottrell.
Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) said the five students who received scholarships outside of her district were overlooked because they lived on the borders.
“It’s an embarrassing situation, but sometimes those things happens,” said Althoff.
The senator also said that 2010 would be the last year she awards scholarships until the state’s fiscal condition improves. Althoff will be joining at least 14 other lawmakers, which ChicagoTalks found last fall, who do not participate in the program.
Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) sponsored legislation earlier this year that would place some restrictions on the scholarships. But in May, Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed his proposal, saying the program should be eliminated instead.
Rep. Daniel Burke (D-Chicago) and Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) both said they were going to start doubling checking addresses with the Illinois State Board of Elections to assure the winners they choose do in fact live in their districts.
Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) acknowledged giving scholarships outside of his district. He said he gives the unused summer school portions of the scholarship to educators who teach in his district but may not necessarily live there.
“We need to support the enrichment of our teachers,” said Ford.
He said he only gives scholarships to teachers who are committed to his district and believes the waivers would go to waste otherwise.
ChicagoTalks also tried contacting all of the students who received out of district scholarships. Only a handful of the students responded.
Most of the students willing to talk were unaware they applied and received a scholarship out of district. But, one recipient, Jasmine Lindsay, said Rep. Annazette Collins (D-Chicago) gave her the scholarship even though she knew Lindsay didn’t live in district. Lindsay said the representative told her father that students in her district were not taking advantage of the program.
“Annazette wasn’t getting reached out to so she reached out to me,” said Lindsay.
Lindsay said her father had interacted with the lawmaker a few times before she was told of and received the scholarship.
Collins was one of thirty-two lawmakers who were found to have given scholarships outside their districts, but she did not respond to inquiries from ChicagoTalks.
Several lawmakers said they had checked to make sure their winners lived in the right district and when told they did not, blamed the problem on the Board of Elections’ district locator. They said they instead used their local election authority, which in most cases is the county clerk, to confirm students lived in their district.
Eric Donnewald, director of division training and resource development for the Board of Elections, said the map used for district locator is the same map created and approved by state lawmakers. He said there is a possibility that the software could have trouble placing students who lived on a district’s borders, and that local election authority should have the final say since they code voters.
All 12 instances of this happening were removed from the final number of out of district scholarships given.
Kent Redfield, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said no one regulates the program it’s up to lawmakers to police themselves. A better solution, he and financial aid experts say, is to have the state agency that doles out grants and other scholarships (Illinois Student Assistance Commission) to handle the program.
“Tuition and fees are going up, so we should be putting all our resources in need-based programs with guidelines,” said Redfield.
Here are the 62 lawmakers who awarded scholarships to students outside their districts, as well as the recipients of the waivers:
1. Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-2 Chicago)
– Daniel Guerrero (2004)
- Nichola Guerrero (2008)
2. Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-32 McHenry)
– Kathleen L Atwater (2003)
- Matth Brummond (2006)
- Lindsey Ludwig (2004)
- Tyler Munson 2006,2007)
- Katherine Strand (2005)
3. Rep. Maria A. Berrios (D-39 Chicago)
– Emmanuel Serna (2008)
4. Rep. Michael J. Boland (D-71 East Moline)
– Sarah Bowlin (2003)
- Madeline Mason (2005)
- Sarah A O’Klock (2004)
5. Sen. Larry K Bomke (R-50 Springfield)
– Audra O’Brien (2005)
- Benjamin C Owen (2004)
6. Sen. Michael Bond (D-31 Grayslake)
– Jennifer Wolff (2008)
7. Rep. Michael Bost (R-115 Murphysboro)
– Carly James (2006)
- Brooke Miller (2004)
8. Rep. John E Bradley (D-117 Marion)
– Jennifer Krelo (2004)
9. Rep. Daniel J Burke (D-23 Chicago)
– Marcelo Sahagun (2006, 2007)
10. Sen. Bradley J Burzynski (R-35 Rochelle)
– Christopher Haab (2005)
11. Rep. Linda Chapa-LaVia (D-83 Aurora)
– Drew Nielson (2006)
12. Sen. James F Clayborne Jr. (D-57 Belleville)
– Andre Hodges (2004)
13. Rep. Annazette Collins (D-10 Chicago)
– Alana Biggers 2008)
- Candace Cosby (2006)
- Clarisa Ecrezarreta (2006, 2007)
- Brittany Fowler (2008)
- Torrance Giles (2003, 2004, 2005)
- Andre Holland (2003, 2004, 2005)
- Jasmine Lindsay (2006, 2007, 2008)
- Joseph Pocztowski (2005)
- Jack Washington (2006)
- Asif Wilson (2003, 2006, 2007)
14. Rep. Elizabeth Coulson (R-17 Glenview)
– Lauren Yang (2007)
15. Sen. Daniel Cronin (R-21 Elmhurst)
– Candice Jones (2003)
16. Rep. Tom Cross (R-84 Oswego)
– Rachel Solomon (2004)
17. Sen. John J Cullerton (D-6 Chicago)
– Jacqu Grossnickle (2008)
18. Rep. Shane Cultra (R-105 Onarga)
– Deidre Evans (2008)
19. Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-25 Chicago)
– Birtile McDaniels (2003)
20. Rep. Monique Davis (D-27 Chicago)
– Erin Collins (2007)
- Jocelyn Davis (2003, 2004, 2005)
- Ryan Fields (2008)
- Cydnee Kennedy (2009)
- Cornel J McKay Jr. (2005, 2006)
- James McKay (2006)
21. Sen. William Delgado (D-2 Chicago)
– Ruth Venegas (2008)
22. Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-5 Chicago)
– Lauren Jackson (2007, 2008)
23. Rep. James Durkin (R-82 Western Springs)
– Destinie Lambert (2007, 2008)
24. Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-12 Chicago)
– Elizabeth Oppert (2007)
- Gretchen Watson (2003, 2004)
25. Rep. Mary Flowers (D-31 Chicago)
– Matthew Koll (2003)
- Chaka Washington (2003, 2004)
26. Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-8 Chicago)
– Jennifer Eng (2007)
- Marcie Gutierrez (2008)
- Lauren Lee (2007)
- Carolyn Ojikutu (2007)
27. Rep. Jack Franks (D-63 Woodstock)
– Carrie L Burdette (2003)
- Robert Ohr (2003)
- Dakota Pawlicki (2004)
- Danielle Slater (2007)
28. Rep. Julie Hamos (D-18 Evanston)
– John Rosinski (2007, 2008)
29. Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-5 Chicago)
– Alison Favors (2005)
- Jason Steward (2004)
30. Rep. Thomas Holbrook (D-113 Belleville)
– Jacob Long (2005)
31. Rep. Chuck Jefferson (D-67 Rockford)
– Amy Chavez (2005)
- Tyler Davis (2008)
- Rosa Labak (2003)
- Brenno McElrath (2008)
- Kayla Schumacher (2003)
- Kenosha Seaberry (2007)
32. Sen. David Koehler (D-46 Peoria)
– Trey Tennel (2008)
33. Rep. Renee Kosel (R-81 New Lenox)
– Lisa Evans (2003)
34. Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-33 Park Ridge)
– Xuyu Xiang (2008)
35. Sen. Chris Lauzen (R-25 Aurora)
– David Dalpiaz (2005)
36. Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-4 Maywood)
– Michael B Romain (2003)
- Jessica Smith (2004)
37. Sen. Terry Link (D-30 Vernon Hills)
– Rachael Jacobs (2007, 2008)
- Antoine Winbush (2007)
38. Sen. David Luechtefeld (R-58 Okawville)
– Beth Smoker (2003)
39. Rep. Karen May (D-58 Highland Park)
– Van Ceu (2006, 2007)
40. Rep. Michael McAuliffe (R-20 Chicago)
– Alycia LaPonte (2006)
41. Sen. James Meeks (D-15 Calumet City)
– Deon Posley (2006)
42. Rep. David Miller (R-20 Chicago)
– Myka Bell (2004)
- Kyla Wilson (2006)
43. Rep. Gerald Mitchell (R-90 Sterling)
– Mallorie Clark (2005)
44. Rep. Bill Mitchell (R-87 Forsyth)
– Abigail Miller (2007)
45. Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-57 Northbrook)
– Jacqueline Farrell (2003)
- Priti Patel (2007, 2008)
46. Sen. Michael Noland (D-22 Elgin)
– Valerie Brej (2007)
47. Rep. JoAnn Osmond (R-61 Antioch)
– Hayley Janney (2006, 2007, 2008)
48. Sen. Carole Pankau (R-23 Itasca)
– Ashley Bjork (2005)
- Bernard Healy (2006)
- Jacquelyn Jacob (2005)
49. Rep. Raymond Poe (R-99 Springfield)
– Murray Bryson (2008)
- Robert Nika (2006)
50. Rep. David Reis (R-108 Willow Hill)
– Jenny Power (2005)
51. Rep. Dan Reitz (D-116 Steeleville)
– Robert Rushing (2005)
52. Rep. Al Riley (D-38 Olympia Fields)
– Amia Ashford (2007)
53. Sen. Dale Risinger (R-37 Peoria)
– Justina Welchel (2005)
54. Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-12 Chicago)
– William Fudacz (2006)
- Edwin Gonzalez (2007)
- Mathew Lopresti 2006)
- Nicholas Perrone (2008)
- Melissa Smith (2006)
- Anna Taconi (2006)
55. Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-8 Chicago)
– Jennifer DeStefano (2004, 2005, 2006)
- Mi Shewakramani (2005)
56. Sen. Donne Trotter (D-17 Chicago)
– Joy Clemons (2003)
57. Rep. Michael Tryon (R-64 Crystal Lake)
– Kelsey McGrath (2008)
- Katrina Schuette (2008)
58. Rep. Arthur Turner (D-9 Chicago)
– Alisa Thomas (2006)
- Jennifer Wilder (2005)
59. Sen. Louis Viverito (D-11 Burbank)
– Jody Farrell (2003)
- Matthew Hecker (2006)
- Danielle Herman (2006)
- Antho Robertson (2005)
60. Rep. Eddie Washington (D-60 Waukegan)
– Phillip H. Christmas Jr. (2004)
- Carla DeLafuente (2004)
- Lee England (2003)
- Trishondr Holmes (2007)
- William Sexton (2006)
61. Rep. David Winters (R-68 Shirland)
– Gregory Morrison (2004)
62. Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-7 Maywood)
– Marquis Davis (2003)
- Roger Steele (2006, 2007, 2008)
]]>The 164 members of the Illinois General Assembly who participate in the program doled out 1,571 scholarships in the 2008-2009 school year. That’s up $1 million from the previous year, when lawmakers awarded 1,509 scholarships. Although lawmakers select students, it’s the 12 Illinois state schools that cover the costs.
A ChicagoTalks investigation of the controversial program published late last year found repeated instances of scholarships being awarded to campaign donors, politically connected families and, in at least one instance, a lawmaker’s relative.
The journalists, working in collaboration with Illinois Statehouse News, also identified five legislators who require scholarship applicants to register to vote, a practice one constitutional lawyer called illegal.
There’s virtually no regulation of the scholarship program; it’s left up to each of the lawmakers who choose to participate to police themselves. The odds of winning a scholarship vary widely, depending on which district a student lives in and whether a lawmaker chooses to publicize the lucrative awards, worth an average of $8,300 in 2007-2008. The average value of a scholarship increased to about $8,600 in 2008-2009.
That means students who have the hardest time paying for college too often get left out, critics say. Supporters say it’s helped thousands of students attend college over the decades. And they note that legislators take pains to ensure the selection process is as fair as possible, requiring students to fill out applications and using special committees in many cases to choose the winners.
Although lawmakers handed out 62 more scholarships last year over the previous year, an official speaking for the three University of Illinois campuses said the bigger sum came from increased tuition.
The cost shifting is one reason some lawmakers don’t participate.
Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville), one of 14 state lawmakers ChicagoTalks identified last fall as not participating in the century-old program, is hoping this will be the year the legislature does away with the scholarships. Sixteen lawmakers have signed on to Bill HB4633, which Black introduced in the fall. An aide for Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said late last year the senator wants to either reform the program or abolish it altogether.
Randy Kangas, the associate vice president of planning and budgeting for the University of Illinois system, has his doubts.
“These bills are put in every year,” he said, “I don’t know how much umph it has in the General Assembly.”
Kangas said the state owes the University of Illinois schools $439 million, and that employees will be taking furlough days to conserve cash. The three schools – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Chicago and University of Illinois at Springfield – waived $9.3 million in tuition for the 2008-2009 year.
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]]>For the 2007-2008 school year – the most recent data available – the state’s public universities gave 1,509 legislative scholarships worth an estimated $12.5 million, according to the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Almost 70 percent – or $8.67 million, according to Randy Kangas, the associate vice president of planning and budgeting for the University of Illinois system – was waived at the three U of I campuses.
Last year, 582 legislative scholarships or tuition waivers were given to students attending the state’s flagship school, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, while 211 waivers went to students studying at the University of Illinois at Chicago and another 21 waivers covered tuition for students at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The legislative waivers come out of each institution’s budget, leading to tuition hikes for the rest of the student body not lucky enough to nab the little-known scholarship.
Not all schools raise tuition to cover waiver costs, but students pay in other ways.
“We are not reimbursed by the state for the cost of the scholarships, so our available spending is reduced,” said Julie DeWees, the budget director for Western Illinois University in Macomb.
Some university officials are reluctant to talk publicly about the century-old scholarship program for fear of angering legislators who decide how much state funding to give universities each year. But some of the 14 lawmakers who choose not to award the scholarships are willing to talk for them.
“It hurts the budget and adds to the reason tuition goes up because it’s an unfunded mandate,” said Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, a Democrat from Urbana whose district includes the University of Illinois.
Each year, every one of the state’s 177 legislators can give two four-year scholarships. But many of the 163 participating lawmakers choose to give eight one-year scholarships to help more students, a team of Columbia College Chicago journalists found in a three-month investigation done in collaboration with Illinois Statehouse News. The winners, chosen by lawmakers or special selection committees they’ve created, get tuition waived by the state school of their choice.
Instead of participating in the program, Jakobsson gives a $500 scholarship to one senior from each high school in her district. The money comes out of Jakobsson’s pocket.
“It’s not hurting anyone but my own budget,” Jakobsson said.
Two other non-participating lawmakers have universities located in their districts. Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Collinsville) represents Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, while Rep. Lisa Dugan (D-Bradley) represents Governor’s State University.
Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) said she cannot in good conscience give the scholarship because other students and their families have to pay the costs.
“I remember what it’s like to be in college and to be struggling,” said Gordon.
Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville) said he does not participate because lawmakers don’t set aside money to pay for them, forcing the public universities to cover the costs.
Kangas said although the numbers for the current academic year aren’t yet final, the three University of Illinois campuses will waive over $9 million in tuition. The Illinois Board of Higher Education is not sure when it will release its annual waiver report for this year.
Like other officials at universities around the state reluctant to publicly criticize the legislative scholarships, Kangas would not say much beyond noting that saving that money would be beneficial but is “not really an option” because “this is state law, and we follow state law.”
Cindi Canary, executive director of the political watchdog group Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said there is good reason for university officials to say little about the scholarship program, which her group opposes.
“If I was a university administrator, I might be very concerned with the cost benefit analysis. How much will I agitate the legislators in relation to how much of a burden this is?”
In recent years, the state’s public universities have faced funding cuts from the Illinois General Assembly.
Ken Zehnder, the director of state and local relations for Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, said the state used to fund 50 percent of his school’s annual operating costs but now funds only 25 percent. He said with growing pressure put on state resources, lawmakers are forced to pass on the costs to the universities. And that, he said, leads to higher tuition for students.
“Although (the scholarship program) has helped individuals, overall it has appeared to be more of an issue than a benefit,” said Zehnder.
But the benefits for those who get the free tuition are great, say many of the more than 60 scholarship recipients interviewed.
Jamel Darling, a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, said the scholarship saved him from having to take out loans. Darling, who got no tuition bills for two years courtesy of Rep. Constance Howard (D-Chicago), said he’s trying encourage his younger brother, who did not receive the scholarship for his freshman year, to reapply.
Tamara Trowers received the scholarship for four years and only had to pay room and board. Trowers was so grateful for the free tuition she volunteered at Howard’s office. She’s also encouraging her younger siblings to apply.
Still, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D-Orland Park) says, the tuition waivers hurt more than they help.
“Giving four people a gift and having 300 people pay for it, it’s not fair,” said McCarthy, who’s never given the scholarships since being elected in 1997.
Christopher Broaddus, who attended Northern Illinois for two years but didn’t receive a legislative scholarship, agrees.
“Being one of two children to a single mother and having to pay my tuition completely out of loans, (the program) really irks me.”
Laura Lane contributed to this story.
Contact: [email protected]
View more than 6,000 scholarships awarded by current lawmakers.
Other stories from Day Two:
Some Lawmakers Turn a Right into a Requirement
Nobody’s Watching: Illinois Lawmakers Alone Decide How to Give Millions
No Method to the Madness: State Scholarships Award Some Students More than Others
Stories from Day One:
One Scholarship, 163 Ways to Dole It Out
Evasive State Legislators Dodge Questions About Scholarships
Clout or Coincidence? Some Legislators Keep General Assembly Scholarships All in the Family
Scholarships for Some Grad Students a Big Burden for State and Schools
Stories from Day Three:
State Legislative Scholarships Could Be Eliminated
For Richer or Poorer? Legislative Scholarships Should Target the Needy
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