6A the university daily kansan
news
thursday, december 11, 2003
Grades, health concerns keep freshman off-balance
By Johanne M. Maska
jimaska@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The semester hasn't been kind to La*Pouchea McConico.
In and out of love, down and out with grades, McConico was overwhelmed to begin with.
But the kicker was the health issue: McConico had an abnormal pap smear and will have a colopscopy, a test for various cancers and abnormalities in women's reproductive organs.
While other students finish the semester praying for passing grades, McConico is wishing for another chance next semester. It didn't have to go this way, she said.
Her health worries have kept her from her studies.
"The only Christmas present I want is my health back," McConico said.
In the first week of school, McConico joined Black Student Union, Inspirational Gospel Voices and basketball intramurals.
She got a job working for the Freshman Sophomore Advising Center. She found a group of friends. As part of various tutoring and support programs including Hawk Link, McConico was ready to succeed. Lately her health concerns have overwhelmed her.
"I think I'm all cried out," McConico said of her failed expectations. She's to the point where she're-evaluating.
"If I pass with C's in every class, I don't care," McConico said. "I'm just happy it's over."
"The only Christmas present I want is my health back."
La'Pourchea McConico Bonner Springs freshman
When she leaves for break, McConico says she's going to calm down. She's getting the colopscopy, resting and preparing to focus on school in the next semester, pending her diagnosis. It's a scary time, she said.
Her friends, including a few supportive men, have helped McConico through, she said. McConico met a man this summer who moved to Texas, and she's been talking to him until recently.
"I loved that man," she said.
But he's fallen out of contact.
Now McConico is worried that she's falling in love with a new man.
"He reminds me of my father," she said.
But she's not sure about a relationship. She wants to focus on her school work.
Lately, McConico's grades have steadied. She's taking one incomplete, but she's pretty sure things are going OK elsewhere.
Regardless of grades, McConico said she's excited to be done. Next semester, as long as she's healthy, she's prepared to do better.
"I don't like to fail," McConico said.
← Edited by JJ Hensley
La'Pourchea McConico, Bonner Springs freshman, looked over sociology material earlier in October when she was trying to improve her grades. She is now troubled by undiagnosed health problems.
Arial Tilson/Kansan file photo
Gratitude keeps bell-ringer busy during holiday season
By Alex Hoffman
ahoffman@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The wind whips into her face and the rain falls intermittently.
Bundled up in a heavy coat and stocking cap, the cold and progressively nasty weather doesn't keep Mary Sheppard, Lawrence resident, from ringing her bell.
The Salvation Army's annual holiday bell-ringing officially began Nov.14,but donations are picking up as the holidays near.
She greets and gives parting words of, "Have a good holiday," to customers at Dillons, 1015 W. 23rd St.
It is Sheppard's fifth year collecting money, and her bucket usually gets full enough that she needs to use another during her shifts.
When Sheppard first moved from New York state, Salvation Army was there for her by helping with the rent at a new apartment.
When she lost her job and couldn't continue paying the rent, the organization helped her again by finding housing.
Sheppard sometimes rings for full 12-hour shifts out of gratitude for the help the Salvation Army has given her. But lately she is going for eight hours as she recovers from pneumonia. For Sheppard, any work for the people at Salvation Army is good work.
"If it weren't for them, I'd be out on the streets like all these other people." Sheppard said.
"I'll just have to see how the weather looks," she said.
Kaelyn Fox, Pittsburg senior and co-director of the Center for Community Outreach, said her organization frequently kept in contact with the Salvation Army. The center connects students seeking volunteer opportunities. Ringing bells is one that it advertises. Fox said.
As of now, five students have signed up to be bell ringers, said Rochelle Montgomery, administrative assistant for the local office, 946 New Hampshire St. Last year 23 students volunteered.
Salvation Army's goal is to raise $75,000 by noon on Dec. 24, Montgomery said. Volunteers are ringing in 19 locations around Lawrence.
"We are doing very well, and we're ahead of last year," Montgomery said.
Edited by JJ Hensley
Palestinians ready for peace, blame Israeli forces for violence
The Associated Press
JERUSALEM — Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat yesterday dismissed as meaningless the Israeli premier's hints of evacuating some Jewish settlements, while a meeting of Israeli and Palestinian foreign ministers raised hopes for renewed peace talks.
After seeing Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Geneva, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom traveled to Rome for talks with his Palestinian counterpart, Nabil Shaaah, the highest-level meeting between the two sides since Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia took office two months ago.
The diplomatic flurry reflected renewed efforts toward peace negotiations, with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon considering as yet undefined unilateral moves if talks on the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan fail. The
plan starts with a cease-fire and leads to a Palestinian state in 2005.
Violence continued early today, with Israeli troops battling Palestinians in a Gaza Strip refugee camp on the Egyptian border early today. Residents said two Palestinians were wounded.
Palestinians said Israeli forces entered the Rafah refugee camp before daybreak and surrounded the house of a Hamas militant. Palestinians opened fire on the troops and threw hand grenades from the roof of the building, and the Israelis sent attack helicopters in as reinforcements, they said.
Israeli military officials said the purpose of the mission was to arrest a wanted Palestinian, and there were exchanges of fire at the scene.
Efforts continued toward arranging a first meeting between Qureia and Sharon, though the failure of contacts in Cairo among
Palestinian factions last week appeared to delay the summit plans. Qureia and Egyptian officials tried unsuccessfully to secure a declaration from the militants that they would stop attacks against Israelis, clearing the way for a demand that Israel reciprocate.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Shalom told Shaath that Israel is interested in renewing peace negotiations "without preconditions." At a joint news conference, Shaath called for implementation of the road map, "the only way to achieve the peace, a comprehensive and just peace."
Earlier, after meeting Mubarak, a key mediator, Shalom said, "My name is peace and we believe in peace," referring to the English translation of his last name.
Palestinians charge that Israeli military operations and restrictions are responsible for the relentless violence.