Drew Freshmen Get Special Look at Rose City

Over 500 incoming freshman at Drew University were able to see their new hometown upclose on Thursday as part of orientation.

Members of the Madison community worked as tour guides, showing 19 different groups what the Rose City's downtown has to offer. Each tour guide worked with a hometown buddy, a student who has been on campus at Drew for more than one year, to point out some of the things that are unique to Madison.

"It's a very quaint, small town; I like it," freshman Arianna Gonzalez of Middlesex said. "I'm from central jersey where it's more city-like. People are more friendly here, they're not as hostile."

Gonzalez walked around with a group of students led by sophomore Gabriel Guerrero of Dallas, Texas, and telecommunications consultant Ken Toumey of Schooley Mitchell. Many of them felt it was good to get out and become acquainted with their surroundings.

"I think it was good because we got to familiarize ourselves and get to know where everything's at," Ebonie McCoy of Townsend, Del., said. "It makes it easier instead of going out there by ourselves."

It was even something a student who is fairly familiar with the area enjoyed.

"The town itself is definitely similar to downtown Summit because it's all about the downtown shopping, they have lots of restaurants, and it's that area where you can walk around," Antoine Bregman of Summit said. "It's such a great community."

Local shop owners, councilmembers and DDC members made up many of the tour guides, and the business community was happy to be able to bring the new students to downtown.

"The Drew downtown tour is a great way to jump start the relationship between students and Madison merchants that will be positive, beneficial, and long-lasting for all concerned," said Chamber of Commerce President and owner of Stewart-Morris Awards, Gifts & Flags John Morris.

Another Madison business owner, Judy Mullins, who runs Poor Herbie's with her husband Dennis, was excited to have the students get to know their business.

"Poor Herbie's has been a traditional part of the downtown in Madison since 1980–'Cheers' in the heart of Madison," Mullins said. "We know that young people are looking for a place where they can be comfortable, have something great to eat–like our burgers, our hot wings–and chill out. We want them to think of us when they have 'down time' and when mom and dad are in town! This is a great opportunity to give them that message... and a house salad!"

Students moved in on Wednesday, when they were greeted by other students like Guerrero who helped move them in. The weather wasn't quite as inviting for their arrival, so the students were happy to walk around on a day when the sun was shining.

Guerrero said the experience wasn't as enjoyable last year, when it rained the entire day.

"No one wanted to get wet and everyone was soaked," he said. "I really liked it this year a lot more because it's sunny, it's a great day, it's windy; it's really nice. It was nice last year, but I really wish they would have done it on a day that it didn't rain."

The weather was pristine Thursday, when Toumey said he and the students enjoyed their tour, saying it was very well organized.

At the end of each tour, students participated in a downtown Madison scavenger hunt. The hunt included 13 clues that led to individual stores where the freshmen needed to get signatures from shop employees to have a chance to win prizes.

The day was just one of the things the business community is hoping will help build a relationship with the students, as Morris said the Chamber just published its new 'University Savings Book,' which contains special offers and coupons from Madison merchants, restaurants, and service-providers that are tailored to students. He said the book is free and has already been distributed on the campuses.

"We want all students to know that this is very much their downtown, too," Morris said. "We hope students will enjoy downtown Madison as much as we do."