‘People people’ give tours of North Campus to prospective University students

By NATHAN SOLHEIM
Staff Writer

Out behind the barn has a different meaning for those who work in the University Visitor’s Center.

"This building started out as a dairy barn, but in recent years it was a chicken coop," said Fran Lane, the director of the Visitor’s Center. "It was a place where they kept chickens for research."

The Visitor’s Center, located on South Campus on College Station Road, offers tours for all kinds of tourists from future students to alumni. It’s the first place future students see and also offers a few small displays showcasing the University’s attractions and famous alumni.

"We have tours for everyone," Lane said. "But the vast majority of people who take the tour are prospective students."

Lane said tours, which are given for all kinds of groups, ranging from high school students to third graders, are conducted by University students.

"The type of student who works here are students who show an inclination toward showing off the University," Lane said. "You know, people people."

One of those students is Peter Dale, a junior from Athens.

"It’s a great group of people to work with," Dale said. "I really like to show off the University."

Tour groups cover the entire campus with transportation in vans, except for a walk from the Arch to Sanford Stadium.

"We walk them through North Campus because it’s a prettier part of campus," said Patrick Lucas, a senior from Cochran and University tour guide. "There is also so much history here."

One of Lucas’ favorite tour topics is Old College.

"Old College is modeled directly after Connecticut Hall at Yale," Lucas said. "There are one and a half doors on Connecticut Hall because the English had a tax on doors. They did that on Old College as well."

Dallas Pride, a senior from Augusta, said she likes working at the Visitor’s Center because of all the people.

"They look at you like you’re the ideal college student," Pride said. "The University may be old to you, but it’s new to tourists."

March, April and May are the busiest months for the tour service.

"It’s when high school seniors are making their final decisions, and high school juniors are starting to look at schools," Lane said. "I think the tours give the students a definite picture of what goes on here. We hope it’s a positive experience."