Page 8 • Thursday, November 6, 2003
NEWS
The Pendulum
University guides important,
yet imperfect admissions tool
Matt Belanger / Photographer
University guide Sarah Deixick starts a tour in Moseley Center Wednesday afternoon.
Tour guides are often asked by prospective students and parents to discuss issues such
as Greek life and alcohol use during their tours.
Matt Belanger
Asst. News Editor
Just as Elon’s No. 2 ranking on Princeton
Review’s list of beautiful campuses draws
so many prospective students, Elon’s tour
guides play a role in marketing the univer
sity. Recently, concern has been raised
among students regarding the accuracy of
infonnation delivered by tour guides to
prospective students.
“I definitely think the way tour guides
present infonnation is sugar-coated,” said
sophomore Keisaundra Henderson. “I think
it’s ail accurate, but they don’t necessarily
show the negative aspects of what they are
saying.”
This is not the first time that concern has
been raised over the extent that the Office
of Admissions controls prospective stu
dents’ image of the university.
Controversy was sparked on Elon’s cam
pus when the Nov. 6, 1989 edition of The
Pendulum was removed from its stands by
Admissions before an open-house weekend
because of drug-related coverage on the
front page. However, a number of students
and faculty did not agree with the office’s
censorship of infonnation. The office’s
actions were later deemed inappropriate and
the same infonnation was allowed to be re
printed and distributed to the campus com
munity the following week.
However, a number of students have
pointed to factual inconsistencies in some
tour guides’ presentations, blaming them
for creating an inaccurate image of the uni
versity. Many students on campus feel that
the role of alcohol and involvement in
Greek life on campus is downplayed during
lours.
Dean of Admissions Susan Klopman
said that Admissions has a number of pro
grams in place, including extensive training
and feedback systems, to help keep all of
the guides on the same page.
“So, do you hear crazy things? Yes you
do, because we only have so much control.
We do everything we can with feedback and
training to make sure prospective students
get an accurate picture of Elon,” she said.
“But if we wanted this to be perfect, we
wouldn’t have student tour guides.”
Klopman said that student guides offer
an invaluable perspective to students taking
the tours. However, she said tour guides are
expected to memorize an incredible amount
of information about every aspect of the
university and often that makes it hard to
keep things consistent. Klopman said keep
ing everyone in Admissions informed who
may be questioned about any situations on
campus helps to prevent uncomfortable sit
uations from arising during the tour
process.
“We really trust our student guides,” she
said. “Sometimes our .students are placed
into very difficult situations and they need
to have the information they need to handle
it effectively.”
Klopman explained that some tour
guides may choose to avoid bringing up
sensitive topics during tours to avoid being
placed into uncomfortable situations. This
raises concern because it may omit some
information about the university that is cru
cial for prospective students to get an accu
rate picture of Elon.
“You know, sometimes to let sleeping
dogs lie is a good idea,” Klopman said.
Still, university guide Kate LaVanger
said she tells parents and students on tours
that Elon is not a dry campus, but still fol
lows the North Carolina state laws for alco
hol consumption.
“We don’t lie about it. We say that Elon
is a wet campus,” LaVanger said.
For training on how to handle questions
about alcohol, Director of Substance
Education Resa Walch gives periodic pre
sentations to the tour guides about Elon’s
stance on drinking. Throughout the year,
tour guides receive additional training and
updated information from a variety of
sources, including updates to the university
guide training manual. Tour guides also
have a fact book that states how the guides
should handle tough questions.
“In tour guide training we bring up dif
ferent issues and discuss them as a group
and talk about how to truthfully answer
them but not give an inaccurate portrayal,”
said Nan Perkins, vice president for institu
tional advancement.
According to Elon statistics, 98 percent
of the current freshman class visited Elon’s
campus at some point before enrolling.
Kelly Herndon, who coordinates prospec
tive student’s visits to campus, said that tour
guides are one of the most important
aspects involved in selling the school to
prospective students.
Nevertheless, Perkins, explained the
importance of giving prospective students
an accurate portrayal of the school.
“The last thing they want to do in
Admissions is mislead students,” she said.
“If you tell them things that are not true,
once they get here you are going to have a
number of unhappy students.”
Contact Matt Belanger at
pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.
Changes in effect for game day and homecoming weekend parking policies
The following parking lots must be vacated by 8 a.m. Saturday:
Jordan Center #1 (SWV tags may remain), Harper Center, Moseley Center,
McMlchae! Science Center and McMichael Lot #2
Students may move their vehicles anytime after 5 p.m. on Friday to the
following locations;
Danleley Center, Elon East, Railroad Tracks, Whitley Staff Lot, Elon Elementary and
Ivlooney Staff lot
Individuals using the library need to use visitor’s parking only.
The remaining spaces in Moseley Center, McMichael Science Center and Greek
Courts parling will be used for homecoming events.
Students are advised that if they have visitors on campus they must also move
their cars to one of the approved lots.
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