The excitement of Spring Visitation weekend has come to an end, with the departure of 160 visiting minority students. This annual event introduces minority students to life at Notre Dame, in hopes that they will choose to attend the University. Spring Visitation weekend began over 20 years and is filled with events that try to relate to the students on many different levels. Many current Notre Dame students, like juniors Stephanie Marshall and Nicole Rogers, served as hosts. "The first night my recruit and I toured campus because she wanted to walk around and take pictures," Marshall said. "My recruit went to the BCAC Fashion Show and Latin Expressions without me because I had to work. She seemed to enjoy herself and to be having a lot of fun." Latin Expressions and the BCAC Fashion Show are the major events that take place during the weekend. To most, these events serve as an introduction to what can happen at Notre Dame. Rogers said the weekend influenced her decision to choose Notre Dame. "Spring [Visitation] definitely confirmed my desire to come to Notre Dame after seeing the people here," said Rogers. "The activities during the weekend are the most exciting because of the minority presence. It is a good recruiting tool to promote diversity." But the sentiment also exists that the weekend is not an accurate representation of life at Notre Dame. "I also think it is important for the incoming students to know that Spring [Visitation] weekend does not accurately reflect the complexion of the student body on an everyday basis," Rogers said.Marshall did not attend Spring Visitation when she was in high school, but said if she had it would have helped her."I didn't go to Spring [Visitation]," Marshall said. "I see now that if I had it would have made the transition better in terms of meeting people and making friends."Several organizers and student hosts said the weekend was a success, producing great events and a weekend of excitement on campus. They added that they heard many positive comments from the prospective students. "I think she was pretty close to making a decision to come to Notre Dame," Rogers said of her prospect.
