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SPORTS: This year's college football bowl matchups, finalized yesterday, have some teams upset, Page 7.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
VOL.102,NO.73
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7. 1992
(USPS 650-640)
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KU student is Rhodes Scholar
Lawrence woman ends University's 10-year drought
By Delin Cormeny Kansan staff writer
Pam McElwee's parents have more than one reason to be happy about their daughter winning the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
"They don't have to pay for graduate school," the Lawrence senior said, while laughing.
McElwlee found out this weekend that she became the first KU woman and the first KU student in 10 years to win a Rhodes Scholarship, which will
pay for a two-year stint at Oxford Uni
versity in England.
She is one of 32 recipients chosen from among 100 national semi-finalists, which were chosen from among countless regional and state finalists.
"It's just incredible." she said. "I'm incredibly excited."
"You've got to have a very clear sense of what you want to study," she said, "My interest is in developing countries and biology."
But McElwee considered luck to be an element.
"I'm not the best student to pass through in the past 10 years," she said. "It was just the right time."
The 21 year-old said she will graduate from KU in December with a bachelor's degree in political science and
"I need to find something to do for another year," she said, because the scholarship will pay for two years of study. "I may study geography or biology. I'll have to wait and see."
environmental studies. At Oxford, she plans to complete a one-year master's degree program in forestry.
She said her goal was to work for a United Nations agency or an international development agency, possibly in Kenya, as an environmentalist.
McElwee has finished her course work for her degrees and is a research assistant to Vice President-elect Al Gore's environmental policy adviser in Washington.
She said that although she was pleased about winning the scholarship, she was also a bit nervous about
living up to the title of Rhodes Scholar.
"Obviously, I always put pressure on myself to do well," she said. "And now I have to prove that I deserve this scholarship, so it's going to be hard."
McEIlee's mother, Margery McElwee, said Pam was simply continuing a family tradition by studying science. Both parents are scientists.
Margery McElwee teaches chemistry, math and physics at Eudora High School, and Carl McElwee is a professor of geophysics at KU.
"I'm overwhelmed she won," Margery McElwee said. "I'm still in a state of shock."
The Rhodes Scholarships are awarded annually in honor of Cecil Rhodes, a South African statesman.
--the checkers parking lot at 23rd St. The Luncheon Opnists will sell at the Dillon's on 23rd Street and on 6th Street. Both lots opened Nov. 25 and will offer many varieties of trees in all sizes.
Have you bought your tree yet?
Fake and fabulous firs form heart of Christmas
By Sara Bennett Special to the Kansar
The Christmas tree is one of the most visible and cherished symbols of Christmas. In homes around the world, children search for treasures under its branches while lovers snuggle in front of it, bathed in the glow of multi-colored bulbs.
Reader's Digest estimates Americans buy 34 million trees a year. Even the space lab astronauts had one. The Christmas tree is such a holiday staple that many say the season just wouldn't be the same without decorating a sweet smelling pine.
"We pick out a tree on our land, and then each person has their own decorations to hang up," said Blake Weichborn, Norman, OK, junior. "That makes it feel like you're contributing to the Christmas spirit of the family."
The Christmas tree has inspired traditions since the seventeenth century when, according to German folklore, Reformation leader Martin Luther decorated a tree with candles to represent a winter night's sky. The tradition spread throughout Germany and gained international popularity when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert placed a decorated tree in Buckingham Palace.
The Christmas tree actually has its roots even earlier. A number of legends surround its obscure origins. One says that when St. Boniface destroyed a sacred sacrificial oak, a young fir sprang up in its place as a symbol of a new, pure faith. Another legend holds that, at Christ's birth, the trees in Bethlehem blossomed amid ice and snow.
The Christmas tree still evokes tradition. One tradition families look forward to each year is choosing a tree. Lawrence tree sellers say people usually start shopping for trees just after Thanksgiving.
For some, only the real thing will do. "Of course we get a real tree because the meaning of a tree at Christmas is everlasting newlife," said Sarah Grob, Wathena senior. And a real tree because it smells so good," said Douglas Schultz.
For those who want to cut their own trees, there are a growing number of tree farms. The Greenforest Tree Farm, located 2 miles west of Lecompton on County Road 1023, is open every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas for customers to claim and cut their own tree.
"We have a lot of people who've been coming out for years," said Christie Seetin, owner of the farm. "It's just not Christmas for them if they don't."
Seetin said the farm has several varieties of Scotch pines ranging in size from 3 feet to 8 feet and priced at $3.50 per foot. Saws are provided for customers who want to use their own muscle, or farm employees will cut the trees themselves.The tree is then dragged back to a barn heated by a wood stove where customers can warm up while enjoying a cup of hot chocolate.
For shopkins who don't want to go to the trouble of cutting their own, many Lawrence organizations sell live trees that have already been cut.
The Breakfast Optimist Club will sell trees at
The Optimist Clubs donate proceeds from their annual tree sales to such area youth organizations as Headstart, Toys for Tots, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Special Olympics.
Demis Snodgrass, director of the Breakfast Optimists, said their trees are popular because people enjoy the tradition of picking out a tree while helping area youth.
"It's nice to know the money is coming back to the children of Lawrence," he
For those who have allergies or who don't want to pick up the needles from a real tree, fake trees are an alternative.
Wal-mart is one of many Lawrence stores selling fake Christmas trees. Dave Roberts, seasonal department manager, said trees made to look like Douglas firs, fired fake trees and a model which comes decorated are all popular sellers.
Christmas tree season is almost here. Whether they buy a predecorated, fake tree or prefer to personalize a real one, by making a Christ-
ple everywhere will be preserving a well-loved holiday tradition.
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Daron J. Bennett / KANSAN
n while playing Santa
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Brooks, a Boulder, Colo.
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$^{10}$ HOLIDAY EDITION * $K$-you * December 4: 1992
Richard Devinki / KANBAN
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