Friday, October 1, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B- Page 11
Homecoming
Visitor center to welcome home alumni
By Audrey McKanna
Kansan Correspondent
The University of Kansas Visitor Center will be in the spotlight this weekend as it welcomes alumni for the first homecoming since its opening eight months ago.
The center helps the University greet its visitors in comfort,style and modernity.
The University of Kansas Visitor Center is gearing up to show alumni the new visitor center. Photo by Aaron Lindberg Piazza/KANSAN
"For 133 years, people have been coming to the candy counter in the Kansas Union to find out where to go," said Margey Frederick, coordinator of the center.
Although the center's staff is not planning any special activities for homecoming, Frederick said they were expecting many alumni to tour the $2 million center.
The center houses the offices of admissions and scholarships and provides general information about the campus and the University.
It caters especially to preregistered guests, prospective students and their parents. After a regular orientation schedule, which runs twice on Mondays and Fridays and once a day during the rest of the week, students and guests are introduced to the campus in an informal meeting at the 116
"For 133 years, people have been coming to the candy counter in the Kansas Union to find out where to go."
Margye Frederick
Visitor Center coordinator
seat auditorium. They then are bused to where the heart of campus beats: Jayhawk Boulevard. KU Ambassadors escort them on campus tours, and admissions counselors coordinate personal meetings with members of the faculty and staff relevant to the interest of each student.
Traditional junior and senior days, which were the first introductions to the University for many alumni, still are held regularly at the Union.
"For prospective students and their families, the new facility is easily accessible and leaves a great lasting impression," said Nate Stange, Wichita junior and KU ambassador.
The center has been host to about 12,000 visitors since it opened, and Frederick said she expected
the end-of-the-year tally would be between 40,000 and 50,000,a standard number for a university with Kansas' population.
Frederick said most of the weekend foot traffic in the center came from directional inquiries, visitors seeking venues for sports events and other activities.
Currently, the University is working closely with the Kansas Turnpike Authority and the City of Lawrence to put up more
signs advertising the center's location.
Aumni and guests visiting the center this weekend can see various displays that showcase University departments and activities, rest their feet from hilly campus hikes in one of several lobby lounge areas, and learn about the city and the University of Kansas Medical Center from electronic kiosks sponsored by those organizations.
A wall of brochures, maps.
viewbooks and posters offers a barrage of facts and figures for those preferring the printed word.
A 23-toot bird-like pteranodon skeleton suspended from the ceiling greets visitors and advertises the museums as well as the mascot.
"We like to say we've got the world's oldest mascot." Frederick said. "And with that comes the longest running tradition."
—Edited by Chris Hutchison
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