Recently by Whitney Bruce

    Sara Schwener's new engagement ring catches the brightly lit law school study room.  The large deep blue sapphire is surrounded by smaller diamonds and set in a white gold band.  She casually rotates it around her finger as chats with two male friends about her upcoming wedding.

    "I am totally using that online ordaining thing, the church pastor is not for me," she said turning to her friend, "Sebastian, actually you should get ordained and conduct my wedding."
   
    All three of them grin in response.

    "That would be the most blasphemous thing ever, I totally will do it, and then wear one of those white things the preachers wear," he replies and the laughter spills out of the room and down the quiet hall. 

    Sebastian Orosco and Joseph Jarvis, law students at the University of Kansas, are both gay.  Schwener is straight. 

    In Kansas Schwener's friends can attend weddings, but cannot have their own.

    All three of these friends belong to the law school's organization called OUTlaws & Allies, an outreach group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transsexual students (GLBT).  Schwener is the president of OUTlaws & Allies and sees it as a chance for students to have a platform to discusses issues.

     One of those issues this semester the students discussed was the campaign in California to outlaw same-sex marriage. The church campaign was successful, leaving same-sex couples across the U.S. discouraged that such a liberal state would ban homosexual marriages.  Even in the liberal atmosphere of Lawrence, the homosexual community continues to struggle for acceptance within the town's Christian community. 

    Lawrence is acclaimed for its progressive ideals.  Historically Lawrence was founded as community that disagreed with slavery.  College towns like Lawrence tend to follow the example set by the university, and the community has adopted the academic mentality of KU in pursuing knowledge and truth. 


    "I feel more comfortable here in Lawrence than in western Kansas.  There are other heterosexuals who support homosexuality like me," said Schwener.

    Unlike some communities Lawrence has made a slight effort to combat the 2005 same-sex marriage ban that Kansas passed, Jarvis said.  Lawrence allows domestic partnerships. 

    A domestic partnership is an agreement between two people who live together and are not related. This information becomes public record and can be useful to employers as proof of living situations.  It costs $75 to register, but provides no legal rights such as Social Security benefits.

    "Unfortunately we have a long way to go in this highly conservative state. I feel that as the country starts progressing, it will move Kansas along; however, it is likely that in order for the changes to be made in Kansas it is probably going to have to require a federal (constitutional) amendment or decision handed down by the Supreme Court," Schwener said.
 
    Some conservative Christian churches in Lawrence feel they have to be cautious about being critical of homosexuality for fear of turning away some members, said Chad Donohoe, Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church college youth pastor.

    "I definitely believe that KU has influenced the culture of Lawrence as well as the churches within Lawrence," Donohoe said. 
    Even typically liberal states like California face a controversy over the issue of same-sex marriage.  On the November 4th ballot the citizens of California approved Proposition 8 that prohibited same-sex marriage.
 
    "When Proposition 8 was passed, it was almost a grieving session in California and around the U.S. for gays," said Jarvis, "This discrimination should not exist."

    Jarvis' extended family choose to get married before election day.

    The homosexual community felt that Proposition 8 took away civil rights from them.  Many same-sex couples who were married before Proposition 8 passed, questioned if their marriage was still considered valid, Jarvis said. 

     "Proposition 8 is an example of the majority oppressing the minority, the homosexuals in this case," Orosco said.

    Many people believe Proposition 8 was passed solely due advertisements that the Knights of Columbus and the Church of the Latter-Day Saints put together, said Jarvis.
 
    "Over $75,000,000 went into advertising to pass Proposition 8, and the ads were pretty much like propaganda where they said anything in order to get votes," said Jarvis.

    Professor Paul Zimdars-Swartz of the Department of Religious Studies with a specialty in Christianity agreed with Jarvis' ideas on the effects of the advertisements for Proposition 8.  He said that the black churches in California raised large amounts of money and placed it towards advertising.  Not only did Proposition 8 have the financial support from the black Christian community but more importantly it had their vote.
  
    The outcome in California was discouraging to Lawrence homosexuals who fear if liberal California won't do this than conservative Kansas never will, Zimdars-Swartz said. 

    Conservative church leaders in Lawrence supported the ban on same-sex marriage.

    "When given the chance to vote, I would vote to ban gay marriage," said Seth Davidson pastor of Vintage Church, "I do not want to live my life protesting gay marriage or any other singular issue.  I want to raise the banner of Jesus for all those who are sinful and far from God myself included."

    Christian leaders in Lawrence who oppose same-sex marriage and supporters of same-sex marriage seem to both agree that church and state should be divided.

    As a law student, Schwener said she felt like she understood the legal foundation of the nation and the tradition of church versus state.

    "Marriage to this day is one of the few times when religion and state overlap, and that is unconstitutional," Schwener said.


    Although Christians would prefer the law to follow their Biblical laws, church leaders understand this is unlikely, said Davidson.

    "I'm for the separation of church and state because when the church and state are married, the state wins and the church loses.  We as Christians are peculiar people, and therefore, I think we should stand outside of the state and politics," Davidson said.

    Zimdars-Swartz says the real question when it comes to same-sex marriage in relation to state is if same-sex marriage is a civil right.  If you believe that same-sex marriage is a right then the Supreme Court should not outlaw it he said.
 
     "My personal belief is that same-sex marriage is definitely a civil right.  And as a liberal Christian myself, that is not a view you typically hear a Christian say," said Zimdars-Swartz.
   
    Stephanie Thompson, Lenexa, junior feels torn between her Catholic ideals and her family member's choices.

    "I guess it is hard for me, I know what the church teaches in regards to homosexuality, but my aunt is a lesbian.  Do I think she should have more legal rights? Yes I do. But I believe God says homosexuality is wrong," she said.

    Only Massachusetts and Connecticut allow same-sex marriage.  Although these two states allow same-sex marriage the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed in 1996 under President Clinton's administration says that states that oppose same-sex are not required to recognize same-sex marriages conducted elsewhere.

    It seems ridiculous that some states allow same-sex marriage but yet other states do not, Orosco said.
 
    "It's a weird niche to be gay and a law student.  We're specializing in how people get rights and coincidentally we need them as well," said Jarvis.
 
    Schwener said she understands the difficulty religious people face when considering the issue of same-sex marriage.

    "I consider myself lucky," she said, "I am not split on religious ideas and personal thoughts.  Although I consider myself closest to agnosticism and I believe that religion and state can coexist."

    Pastor Davidson likes the separation.  He tells Christians to consult God first, and not be consumed with the ideas that society presents on an issue.
 
    "My faith informs my political beliefs, and not the other way around," he said, "I am first a citizen of heaven and then a citizen of America."

    The law can state one thing about homosexuality, but the conservative Christian Church  still turns back to scripture for the answers on controversial issues.
 
    Pastors Donohoe and Davidson believe that marriage is an institution that God created, and defined between one man and one woman.
 
    "Though I don't agree with the lifestyle nor with gay marriage, I don't think I can stand in the way of civil unions for homosexuals.  Humans are given free will, and those who do not have faith in Christ are not under His yoke or commands," Davidson said.
 
    However, Zimdars-Swartz says the liberal Christian viewpoint is different.

    "Liberal Christians, like myself who support same-sex marriage, do not have as much of an opportunity to speak in the public eye, simply because we are more tolerant," he said, "You don't get good publicity by being tolerant."


    Historically monumental church leaders like Augustine and Luther affirmed that marriage is between a man and a woman, but rarely discussed how the church should respond to homosexuality.
 
    Zimdars-Swartz studies' of sexuality within Christianity has lead him to the conclusion that Christians really object to male homosexuality because they are concerned that it feminises one of the males and this goes against nature.

    Depending on what scripture you use you can defend the liberal or conservative Christian viewpoints, Zimdars-Swartz said.
 
    "For the churches, this is such a hot topic in our day, and the culture in Lawrence is so quick to label you as a homophobe or bigot if you disagree with gay marriage," Donohoe said.

    "Sadly, the Christian church doesn't seem to be very accepting of gays and lesbians.  We accept fornicators, gluttons, and the prideful, but not homosexuals.  There is a difference between acceptance, approving of homosexuality, and accepting the people who are involved in the life-style.  We need to love and accept homosexuals and encourage them in their faith," Davidson said.

    Gays and lesbians tend to put a barrier up towards religious people due to the lack of acceptance.
 
    "After awhile I assume that a religious person will just not agree with me.  I can't tell you how many times I have been told I am going to hell because I support same-sex marriage," said Schwener.
 

   Different beliefs on homosexuality have caused a schism between church denominations, in Lawrence and nationally.
 
    For instance the Unitarians, and the United Church of Christ typically support same-sex marriages, according to Zimdars-Swartz.

    In the next few years Zimdars-Swartz believes that the Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians will all split internally over this issue.  In fact one  Episcopalians church already has a gay preacher, said Zimdars-Swartz.
 
    The differences within congregations on issues such as same-sex marriage are dividing members and causing large church discussions. 

    Donohoe believes that many members of his own congregation may not know what they really believe when it comes to homosexuality.

    "There's tremendous pressure to give in to the culture and the culture is very much in favor of gay marriage.   Some Christians look at the passages in the Bible and see the verses as being culturally conditioned and that they don't think sexual orientation is mandated for all people in all time," Davidson said.

    Students who support rights for homosexuals, see the potential for change. 

    Jarvis, who once lived in a gay community in Washington D.C., returned to Kansas with the hope of shaking up the uptight views on homosexuality, he said.

    "I mean honestly what I could I do, surrounded by all of my gay friends in Washington.  They all already support same-sex marriage," Jarvis said.  

   
Turning off the buzzer, Jami Flynn slowly pulls a pan of steaming hot cinnamon rolls out of the oven.  The smell of sugar and cinnamon fills the entire kitchen.

    Flynn clenches her strong jaw as she carefully set the pan down to cool.  Her expression breaks into a wide smile.  Baking, always reminds her of Edna, her grandmother, and biggest role model. 

    "She loved to bake, every morning she would get up and fix us breakfast and be singing, so joyful.  I mean singing, in the morning, such precious moments," said Flynn.

    Those mornings of baking are gone now.  Edna died a few years ago at the age of 92.  But her legacy lives on through Flynn.

    "My grandmother was a person who lived intentionally, she lived her life serving other people, and I want to live that out in my own life," she said.

          Garrett Childers, Overland Park sophomore, thinks that is just what she has done.

    "Jami is different compared to other moms because she truly cares for people.  In today's society it is so common for parents to lose their priorities, and forget about their kids.  Not only does Jami love her children, but she loves all those around her," he said.

    Flynn wouldn't tell you that she has touched many young people's lives here in Lawrence.  But those who have been influenced by her say they will never forget her.

    "My hope is that they would see me living my life authentically, transparently, as an example and a role model.  I want them to know that I struggle with stuff too.  That's my hope," said Flynn.

     Flynn grew up in a small home in Derby, Kan., with two busy parents.  Her mother was a nurse, and her father spent long hours coaching football so Edna took care of Flynn and her older sister. 

    Despite her grandmother's Christian influence Flynn shied away from religion.

    "I always thought I would do the God-thing when I was old and sick," she said.

    But her mother's unexpected and sudden death at the age of 43 caused Flynn to question religion, God, and how that applied to her life.

    After the death of her mother, Flynn turned to her grandmother for guidance and support and she taught Flynn how to have a personal relationship with God.

    Although her grandmother played the piano at church and would read the Bible daily, as a child Flynn never realized that her grandmother's kind-hearted nature came from her love for God.

    "She was never mean spirited, and she always told the truth.  She told me the truth about God even when I didn't want to hear it," said Flynn.

    Flynn recalled Edna always brought new mothers bouquets of red roses to the hospital.

    "She lived her life serving other people, and doing it joyfully not just because someone asked her to, but because she desired to serve," said Flynn.

    In 1987 Flynn moved to Lawrence from Hutchinson with John Flynn, her husband.  John wanted to pursue music and after walking down Massachusetts St., they decided that Lawrence would be their new home.

    Besides playing in a band that performed in Kansas City, Kan., the Flynns led worship music at Cambridge Church in Overland Park.

    That is where Childers, as an eighth grader, met the Flynns.  "Jami has had an overwhelmingly positive influence on me.  She has been like a mom here in Lawrence to me, always providing me with sound advice, and telling me the things I need to hear."

    The Flynns now lead worship music at Vintage Church, here in Lawrence.  It's a Christian church that is designed to appeal to young people. Childers now attends Vintage and occasionally plays the base guitar with the Flynns, and their son Isaac plays the drums.  Childers also stays connected with the Flynns by working for John who is the co-owner of Mass St. Music.

    "I feel like a major lesson that Jami and John continue to teach me is one of humility.  Watching them lead worship at Vintage Church is an amazing thing, as you come to realize that they want none of the glory, but are on that stage solely to glorify God," said Childers.


    Isaac, 17, still remembers when his mom started leading a Bible study with his friends in the fourth grade.

    "My mom has always been so firm in her faith, and so passionate about others that it only made sense to me that she would be the one leading Bible study," he said.

    Flynn started getting a group of boys together to talk about God and to have fun together on Saturday nights.

    "I asked myself if there was anything else I could do to help my son while he was living life, and how to help him to make good decisions," she said.

    Flynn would cook dinner, bake cookies and then read a Bible story to the boys.  "When we were kids everyone loved coming over because she would cook us food, and then hit us with a powerful message," said Isaac Flynn.


    Flynn believed it was extremely important to teach the boys the value of serving.  We did a variety of activities such as caroling, collecting canned food on Halloween, and donating clothes she said. 

    One year when the boys went caroling Flynn asked each one of them to bring an ornament to give to the elderly.  "I wanted the ornament to be related to the true Christmas story, not that anything is wrong with Santa or snowmen, but I think this helped the boys to understand the Biblical Christmas story," she said.

    After caroling a few houses, one boy asked Flynn if they could pray for the elderly after they sang.

    "Oh wow, that was a powerful moment.  I told him we could ask if they would mind if we prayed.  The next house we went to we prayed for the elderly couple and they wept with joy, I don't think any of us will ever forget that," she said.

    "I know my mom inspires a variety of people. She inspires me, and I know she has influenced the lives of many students at KU.  She has also influenced many of my friends," said Isaac Flynn.


    Although both of Flynn's children are boys she made an effort to reach out to the teenage girls of Lawrence.  Flynn positively influenced Holly Maygers and Molly Flyer, both Lawrence sophomores at KU.

    "I remember in ninth grade we asked Jami probably 50 different questions about God all at once.  And she actually cared enough to answer all of them," said Maygers. 

    Flynn conducted a weekly Biblical study with the girls that lasted all the way through high school.  "She greatly helped shaped my high school career, and she honestly made a positive difference in my life," said Flyer.

    "I wanted to encourage the girls when they made good decisions, and come along side them when they made poor choices," said Flynn.

    Flynn's own high school experience in Derby is a constant reminder of why she believes it is essential to spend quality time with high school kids. 

    "Now I am a totally different person than I was in high school.  I was so unbelievably wild. I really do have scars from things that are left behind from choices that I made and the thing that I love about different Bible studies, is being able to tell people the only good that came from that is I get to tell you nothing good comes from it," said Flynn.

    "My mother is just a well known person around the halls of Free State High School.  Most kids who know her would say that she really cares about them and about the decisions they make.  Other than that I think almost everyone knows that she makes good cookies," said Isaac Flynn.
  

    Flynn's determination to leave a positive legacy on students in the Lawrence community is obvious.  I know that my passion for sharing the Gospel stems from my grandmother; I know that she planted the idea about God in me and I hope that even if the seeds are dormant in some of the students I have talked to that someday they too will turn to God, she said.

    R. Lee Allen slowly walks to the podium.  The elderly man is dressed in a red polo with a subdued plaid overcoat. His thin white hair is combed over to one-side and he is carrying a yellow notebook.  He peers down at his notes and begins.

    His demeanor changes from a calm gentleman to a livid upset citizen. The whole room is silent as he loudly exclaims, "How can you put a new softball field 40 feet away from homes built in the 1880s?"

    Tension fills the entire room.  Nerves are high on the issue of new sport facilities for the Lawrence Secondary Schools.

    This controversy dominated the Oct. 13 Lawrence School Board meeting.  But, it is one of the last arguments Superintendent Randy Weseman will face as superintendent.  Weseman plans to retire at the end of this year.

    The School Board has a busy few months ahead of them.  Members are facing the challenge of selecting a new superintendent with the help of a search firm.

    Rick Ginsberg Dean of the University of Kansas School of Education call this process crucial because the community and the Board both want the new superintendent to provide exceptional expertise in running the education system.

    "Hiring a superintendent should be the most important part of a school board members job," said Ginsberg.

     Weseman has worked in the district since 1975 and became the superintendent in 2000. "One day I was deputy superintendent and the next day I was superintendent," said Weseman.  "I didn't even move offices.  I stayed in the same chair."

    This time the Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Bruce Passman, is also retiring.  In an effort to find a new and qualified superintendent the Board decided to hire a professional search firm.

    Craig Grant, Lawrence School Board President, formed a committee of Board members to begin looking for education search firms.  The committee consists of Board members Rich Minder, Linda Robinson, and Director of Human Resources for Lawrence Public Schools David Cunningham.

   
    "Search firms are good at bringing up the numbers of candidates to select from," Ginsberg said.

    Ginsberg also said that he knows of 15 to 20 different people who are interested in the Lawrence superintendent job.
   
    Cunningham developed an initial list of 40 to 50 different search firms that were possibilities for the Lawrence School District.  The school district narrowed down the companies to firms specifically based in the Midwest.  Cunningham selected three search firms to give presentations to the Board on Oct. 20.

    After those presentations the School Board eliminated one firm based on their lack of experience in working with districts the size of Lawrence.

    The Board will have a variety of concerns about the search firm, but Cunningham said that cost was not a deciding factor in the selection of a firm. 

    Rich Minder Lawrence School Board member said, "The search firm will cost the School District between $5,000 to $50,000.  We will likely be in the middle of this range."

    Once a search firm is selected it will identify qualities that the School Board wants in a new superintendent.

    Minder said that he personally wants the new superintendent to have qualities of longevity, political savvy, emotional intelligence, charisma, and administrative experience.

    Ginsberg said the new superintendent should try to continue the stability that Weseman brought to the School District.  Also he said that the superintendent must be someone who is comfortable leading an educated community such as Lawrence, where everyone has an opinion about how the schools should be run.

    The new superintendent needs to be able to deal with the long-term issues of the Lawrence School District.  Weseman said the new superintendent will be thrown into making decisions about the configuration of the schools.  He or she will have to decide if the ninth grade students should be moved to the high school or continue to attend the junior high schools.

    Another challenge the new superintendent will face is making the budget work said Weseman.  "There is never enough money, that's been a challenge for the last 30 years."

    Ginsberg agreed.  He said that the superintendent constantly must work to find a balance of what to do with taxpayers' money.  You don't want to increase the taxes too much but then you don't want to not provide for the schools.

    "Even the simplest decisions for a superintendent can create havoc.  Opening or closing schools due to weather, for example, people tend to go ballistic no matter what you decide, either way you cannot win," said Ginsberg.  

    Cunningham said fundamentally the most important thing about the new superintendent is strong leadership capabilities.

    "Being a superintendent engulfs your life.  You are never off the hook; this is a 24 hour job," said Weseman.

    The School Board wants the Lawrence community to be included in determining the type of leader to be hired.

    The School Board will decide at the Oct. 27 meeting between the search firms Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, Ltd. and Ray & Associates, Inc.  Both search firms stressed the importance of the community input on creating a criteria list for the search for the new superintendent. 

    The selected search firm will gather input from a full range of stakeholders including parents, teachers, administrators, city and county officials in order to gather community opinion about the superintendent's role in the Lawrence School District, said Minder.

    Denise Berland a Lawrence mother of high school, middle school, and elementary school children said, "I hope the new superintendent is straight forward and does not work only on his agenda.  I want to get to know them, and as a parent for them to hear my concerns."

    "I think that Lawrence as a University town will attract the right candidate for Lawrence.  Lawrence has demonstrated a track record of community support for public education,"said Minder.

    Meanwhile Superintendent Weseman looks to his own future.  "I plan of living peacefully and playing my guitar after I retire," he said.

"Rock and roll...O yeah!" yells Ophra Leyser's 2-year-old son, "He is going to be a musician, I just hope not a drummer," said Leyser. She watches her son rock back and forth, on the teeter-totter plastic puffin, belting out a song he made-up. "He loves it here," she said with a smile.

Leyser is a full time student at the University of Kansas as well as a full time mother. Her son is one of the children who was accepted into KU's Hilltop Child Development Center. Some families are not as lucky.

Despite a $2,000,000 expansion to the Hilltop facility, there are still over 100 families waiting to enroll their children according to Gina Byrd-Stadler Hilltop Program Director. "We added forty new children this year as a result of our expansion," said Pat Pisani Hilltop's Executive Director.  The addition will not be completed until August 2009. After the addition, the building licensing requirements will only allow 290 children to attend Hilltop. That will make room for only 50 more children, leaving families searching for other daycares.

A protest by women students launched the first University daycare program on campus.  In the 1970s the February Sisters Movement occupied a campus building demanding daycare options and other rights for women. The University responded setting aside $20,000 to begin Hilltop on Jayhawk Blvd. Hilltop relocated in 2000 to its current location, next to Burge Student Union, to provide extra space for the expanding daycare.

Dalrymple Construction Co., Inc. began building the addition in Jan. 2008. The first stage includes three classrooms for toddlers and 2-year-olds. Leyser's son attends class in one of the new rooms. "The construction has been frustrating at times because my son's room wasn't ready on time. They were one to two weeks late. And that's extra money, I had to pay for babysitters," Leyser said.

Hilltop tried to use the project to teach the children about construction. Annie Sears, Lenexa junior and Hilltop part-time worker, said the addition was a hassle to work around but the benefits out weighed the negatives. "The construction workers talked to the kids about the different tools they use and the kids all received hard hats and Fisher Price tools," Sears said.

The kids will be able to watch the development continue throughout the year. When the project is completed there will be a new staff room, office, and conference room.  Also a kindergarten room, and two more preschool rooms will be built said Byrd-Stadler. "We will need to hire four more teachers when the second part of the expansion happens next year," said Pisani.

Student fees helped pay for the center's addition. Pisani said the addition was paid for by: KU student fees, general University funds, and $250,000 from Hilltop. The Student Senate used $40,000 from the Child Care Facility Construction Fee, a part of student fees, to help pay for the Hilltop addition. Student fees for each KU student are $414.17 per semester. With enrollment over 30,000, student fees generate nearly $12.5 million.

Although the number of families interested in enrolling their children at Hilltop is growing, the University has no data on the number of student parents, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Planning. "I have no idea how many student parents there are at KU," said Pisani. At Hilltop around 140 children out of 240 enrolled, are children of KU students, said Pisani. Enrollment also includes children of KU faculty and Lawrence residents, but KU student parents receive first priority into Hilltop daycare classes.

In efforts to make daycare affordable to all types of parents in the Lawrence community, Hilltop uses a sliding fee scale that depends on the parents' income.

"Hilltop is a non-profit organization and is a more cost effective option for parents with a constrained budget, like students," Sears said.  If needed, Byrd-Stadler said, Hilltop provides scholarships to families based on need and income. "Our priority is to those student families, helping them finish their education in any way we can," said Byrd-Stadler.