Allow me to set the record straight. Contrary to Handzel's assertion, Lt. Gov. Kustra did not give $20,000 to Cook County Recorder of Deeds Jesse White. The contribution was to the not-for-profit Jesse White Tumbling Team in an effort to establish a higher education scholarship fund for the tumblers. It was not a contribution to a political committee or candidate. It was a contribution to help kids go on to college. As Kustra stated at a news conference announcing the scholarship fund, "The challenges and opportunities created by the tumbling team have kept thousands of at-risk kids on the 'straight and narrow' and allowed them to become productive members of our society. I am pleased that I can help Jesse's kids continue their education beyond high school." Secondly, Handzel chooses to attack Lt. Gov. Kustra's loyalty to his party. This is absurd. For more than two decades, Kustra has been in the trenches working for Republican candidates throughout Illinois, raising money, giving speeches and energizing voters.

Handzel needs to get a clue and his facts straight.
Christopher L. Alien
Press Secretary
Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Correction
Grace Mary Stern did not graduate from Wellesley College, as was reported in the June issue. Jack Suber, her son, says she was expelled during the spring semester of her senior year allegedly for not returning a library book. "She was never embarrassed about it," he says. Instead, her ability to succeed without a college degree led her to adopt a "hands-off" policy when it came to handling her children's education. "She let us decide for ourselves about college, a parenting tactic that proved successful." Meanwhile, he adds, "we felt pride in Mom for bucking the establishment. And it allowed us to do some [bucking] ourselves."

How to write us
Your comments on articles and columns are welcome. Please keep letters brief (250 words). We reserve the right to excerpt them. Send letters to:

Letters to the Editor
Illinois Issues, K-10
P.O. Box 19243
University of Illinois at Springfield
Springfield, IL 62794-9243
e-mail address on Internet: Ilissues@uis.edu;
Editor: boyer-long.peggy@uis.edu

40 ¦ July/August 1998 Illinois Issues