8 - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
COVERSTORY
THURSDAY,DECEMBER 12,2002
Break enjoyed by all
Professors spend time off working, traveling
By Kelly McNearney
kmcnearney@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
After finals week, Lawrence will be a ghost town.
Most of the 26,000 students enrolled at the University of Kansas will have headed home for the holidays. They will have dispersed from Lawrence to other cities in Kansas and beyond for a long winter break.
While students are excited about their own vacations, few consider their professors and what they do during four weeks without classes.
Most professors said they would spend some time during the break doing research and preparing for spring classes.
While some teachers will relax and stay in Lawrence, others will bounce around the country traveling.
Stephen Ilardi, professor of psychology will travel east to catch up with his family for a week and a half. His parents-in-law are his only relatives nearby.
"If I'm a good girl I might get some reading done for a course next semester where I've assigned some new books."
Janna Knittel Lecturer in history, English and women's studies
"As soon as I give my last final and turn in my grades I'll be out of here," Ilardi said.
Janna Knittel, lecturer of history, English and women's studies, will travel home to Oregon for the holidays to see her family and friends.
She said she had spent the past couple of years in Lawrence on her own, sad and lonely.
Knittel will also fly to New York for a job convention to interview for a professorship at the University of Denver.
"If I'm a good girl, I might get some reading done for a course next semester where I've assigned some new books,"
Knittel said.
Many professors plan on doing nothing at all.
Mark Joslyn, professor of political science, said he didn't have any big plans.
"I plan to relax, do some reading, catch up on some research and watch my kids grow." Joslyn said.
He said the semester was long for professors and students alike, so he looked forward to the break.
Times have changed for professors who have given up living it up on New Year's Eve as they've aged.
Ilardi said he missed the party days of his youth a little, but wouldn't trade his life now for his past. He plans to spend a lowkey night at home with his wife and daughter, Abby, ringing in the new year with champagne.
"We'll let the little girl stay up late, but she never makes it up until midnight," he said.
- Edited by Christina Neff
Make your own Jayplay ornament
Editor's note: As a special treat to our Jayplay readers, the Kansan is offering the opportunity to make your own Jay play Christmas ornament. We've included a diagram and ideas for what to do with your ornament. Enjoy.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR JAYPLAY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
1. Tear off the Jayplay cover.
2. Crumple it into a ball.
4. Wrap one strip vertically around the ball and staple or tape the ends together.
3. Cut out the strips on this page.
5. Wrap the other strip horizontally around the ball and staple or tape the ends together.
FIVE THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR JAYPLAY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
5. Give it to your parents.
Such a cheap gift might compel them to give you money.
4. Hoarde several ornaments to use as packing material for gifts.
3. Give it to your sweetie. Nothing says I love you like a crumpled ball of paper.
2. Until it snows, two words — snowball substitute.
1. Save it as an heirloom to pass down to your children and your children's children. They will cherish it through the ages.