Friday, November 9, 1984

Continuing a tradition that began in 1947, the University of Arizona will crown its 37^th Homecoming Queen tonight at a party at the Ramada Inn, 404 N. Freeway.

The Homecoming Queen and Kind and their court will also be presented at tomorrow night’s UA football game. The wildcats will host the Stanford University Cardinal.

Five senior women are being considered for the title, which is sponsored by Bobcats, a senior men’s honorary at the UA.

The women were told they were finalists on Oct. 29. Since then, they have visited local civic organizations, appeared on local television and attended rallies on the UA Mall.

The nominating process began several weeks ago. After being nominated by a UA group or organization, the women filled out an application. After an informal interview at a reception, 20 semifinalists were chose from the original pool. After formal interviews, the final five were chosen.

Each candidate has at least a 3.0 grade point average; the combined average of the candidates is 3.58.

The five candidates are profiled below:

• Karen Campbell is a 21-year-old senior majoring in general studies and is planning to go to law school. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and was nominated by Sigma Chi fraternity. Campbell is the vice president of Mortar Board, a senior honorary, and a member of Golden Key National Honor Society, Campbell is also a UA hostess and a Panhellenic delegate.

 ””I’m very honored and very surprised,”” Campbell said. “”It’s been really exciting.””

“”I’m excited to have the opportunity to give back to the UA some of what I’ve received,”” she added.

• Deanie Elsner, 21, is a senior majoring in marketing and entrepreneurship. She is a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and was nominated by the Student Athletic Board and Chain Gang. Elsner is the president of Gamma Phi, and was Greek Woman of the Year in 1983. She is a member of the Order of Omega, a Greek honorary; and is a “”Little sister”” at Sigma Chi fraternity.

“”I’m overwhelmed and surprised,”” Elsner said. “”It’s exciting to be recognized by my peers to be eligible to hold that kind of position.””

• Allyson Foran, a 20-year-old senior majoring in general studies, was nominated by Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, of which she is also a member. Foran is the president of Mortar Board, a hospice volunteer and a volunteer in the Office of the Student Advocate.

“”You don’t go into the university anticipating this is going to happen to you, and when it does it’s kind of fun,”” Foran said. “”I think I was in shock when I first found out,”” she added.

• Betsy Monroe, a 21-year-old member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, was nominated for queen by the UA Honors Student Association. She is a senior with a double major in accounting and management information systems. She has received the 4.0 award and has been on the Dean’s Distinction List for six straight semesters.

“”I’d like to represent the school,”” Monroe said. “”This is one of the most exciting things I’ve ever been honored with.””

• Claire Rodriguez, a 27-year-old senior majoring in political sciences, was nominated by the UA Minority Action Council. Rodriguez founded and is the director of the council. She is a member of Alum 21 and Golden Key Honor Society. A student recruiter for the UA. Rodriguez is also a New Start counselor and created and advised the New Start Senate.            

“”No one is more surprised about this than me,”” Rodriguez said. “”I’m shocked and happy.””

“”This is also a great way for me to get the students I work with – who may not have been involved in homecoming otherwise – into the festivities,”” she added. “”It’s been great fun.””