8A the university daily kansan
news
monday, October 13, 2003
KU freshman struggles despite high school success
By Johanna M. Maska
jmaska@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Editor's Note: This is the third in a series of stories about La'Pourchea McConico, a Bonner Springs freshman at the University of Kansas. Kansan staff writer Johanna Maska is checking in with her throughout her first semester.
La'Pourchea McConico is quickly realizing there are no guarantees in college.
In high school McConinco had a 3.75 grade point average, played basketball, joined clubs, and had a job.She was also relatively stress free.But college has been different. She failed her first round of tests.
When she came to the University of Kansas, McConico joined HAWK Link, a program for minority students designed to ease the transition to college life and ensure success. Despite efforts to avoid rough transition, McConico has struggled. She's worried about her grades, health, and her friends and family. The weight of responsibility is taking a toll on her.
"I think if people had my woes, they would commit suicide," McConico said.
Monico started school early in Freshman Summer Institute. She
joined HAWK Link and Thematic Learning Community, a residence hall program that places students on floors with other students who share similar academic schedules. She was prepared to succeed. But last week, McConico was reflecting on failed expectations. Particularly traumatic, McConico said, was getting her first test back.
"The first two pages were flawless," she said. "But the last page screwed me over."
A sea of red ink scared McConico.
"I don't see how I missed that many on just one page." she said.
Much of McConico's course load is set by the Learning Community. She's taking an introductory math class, biology with a lab, Earthquakes and Natural Disasters, and an introductory sociology class. The Learning Community required members to take Earthquakes and Natural Disasters.
"It's just hard to understand," McConción said.
Studying together hasn't helped. Neither has HAWK Link, she said.
HAWK Link provides drop-in tutor programs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. every weekday. But McConico usually works until 5 p.m., and she said she liked to eat at Oliver Hall about 5:30 p.m.
"Some people suggested packing my dinner," McConico said.
"But at the end of the day, I just want to sit down and relax."
Rebecca Bailey, program assistant at the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said the HAWK Link program is not at fault.
"If she's not going to the dropin study times or seminars then she's not taking advantage of the program." Bailey said.
But Bailey also said that because of funding, HAWK Link is only able to provide personal tutors for about 80 of the more than 300 students who signed up for the program. When McConico enrolled in the summer, she wasn't among the first 80. She's on the waiting list.
McConico will get a tutor, Bailey said. HAWK Link will make her a priority because her grades are poor. And McConico vowed to improve her effort.
Last week, she prepared for a test. Her professor posts old tests, and she's taking advantage. But she's not putting any money on a grade.
"I don't say whether I did badly or did well," she said. "I wait until I get the scores."
McConico's problems were normal. Bailey said. Students expected to do well easily, she said, and they had to reevaluate.
"It's just a matter of getting over it," Bailey said. "It's normal, get past it. Use that for motivation."
Edited by Doyle Murphy 0
La'Pourchea McConico, Bonner Springs freshman, studied in Oliver Hall yesterday afternoon. McConico enrolled in University programs that were designed to aid students academically, but she has foundered in her classes.
Arial Titson/Kansan
MEDITATION: Zen Center focus is on "the great question" of life
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
Lawrence community.
"He is very clear and very direct in his teaching." Chen said.
The 27-year-old was born in Nepal and began studying Buddhist philosophy at age 13.
The meditation and contemplation retreat will be Rinpoche's first visit to Lawrence. The Buddhist population is larger in the Kansas City area, Chen said.
Liatris Studer, a student at the Kansas Zen Center, said it was hard to tell how many Buddhists there were in Lawrence.
The fluctuation in participants comes from students and community members who want to try out meditation and only come a few times, Studer said.
The Zen Center, 1423 New York St., has anywhere from seven to 20 participants at the Sunday sessions.
She said the benefits of meditating depended on a person's reason for doing it.
Members of the Zen Center focus on "the great question" which encompasses many questions such as who am I and what is the meaning of life, Studs said.
"You are not supposed to practice Zen Buddhism with the idea of getting anything out of it,"
"People often worry that they are doing it the wrong way and it becomes like a chore."
Ling-Lun Chen
assistant anthropology professor
on meditation
Studer said.
She said she saw few regular student participants because the need for meditation comes from life experience.
"You need to have a few life crises," Studer said. "And I think it is harder for younger people to get into something that looks like drudgery."
Rinpoche's visit is meant to give people a chance to learn the benefits of meditation if they have not practiced before, Chen said. For those already practicing, she said, the program would give some re-guidance in the practice.
"Meditation is about no pressures, no worries," Chen said. "People often worry that they are doing it the wrong way and it becomes like a chore."
All events are free and open to everyone except for the meditation retreat at the Tall Oaks Cen-
Mingyur Rinpoche will be teaching a meditation workshop at the University of Kansas from Oct. 31 through Nov. 3. Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist high lama. ter in Linwood. Chen said theitation need a quite, uninter- center was an excellent place for rupted environment," Chen said meditation.
Contributed Pho
"Those who are learning med
—Edited by Erin Riffey
DAYS: Resident-hall excitement
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
tom of the slide at the end of the course.
Stephen Moles was one of the first people to go through the course, but the Lawrence sophomore said he was more excited about the karaoke booth.
"It gives you the opportunity to make a fool out of yourself in front of all your friends." he said after belting out "Respect."
The karaoke selection included pop hits such as Britney Spears' Oops I did it again and Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Want to Have Fun, as well as classics such as the Temptations' Sugar Pie Honeybunch. Moles said the only drawback was the music selection was limited because the machine couldn't use CDs. Music had to be downloaded from the Internet.
The event also had a face
painting and hair coloring booth and offered popcorn, snow cones, pretzels and funnel cakes.
Attendance in the early after noon at the fair was low, which Jennifer Meitl, one of the event's organizers, attributed to the Chiefs' game going on at the same time. After the Chiefs' victory, attendance picked up. About 200 to 250 people attended the event, said Meitl, Association for University Residence Hall's vicepresident for programming
To advertise the event, members of the Association of University Residence Halls made signs at their meeting Tuesday and people handed out fliers to people walking to and from Mrs. E's.
Meitl said she thought the event, which will return next year, was a success.
— Edited by Abby Sidesinger
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
TICKETS: Students need drivers
cutor to discuss the case.
Rob Farha, owner of the Wheel Cafe said students stopped on 14th Street to pick students up was fairly common occurrence.
"Hats off to students who call designated drivers," he said. "The problem is they just stop and sit there. They need to know the side streets."
Hatfield said he was concerned tickets like this would scare people away from the greek designated driving programs.
"The thing about BADD and SADD is they are not required," he said. "If we're going to get tickets, that's 4,300 people who don't have designated drivers."
—Edited by Shane Mettlen
kansan.com News Now
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