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New MC students get a “retail feel”
with N. Manchester excursion
As Manchester College welcomes its new students this fall, so will North
Manchester’s businesses by helping acquaint them with their services. On
the afternoon of Aug. 29, about 175 Manchester first-year students will
explore the downtown as merchants welcome them in for a look around.
For many students starting college, it is their first time on their own
away from home. As the college seeks to help the new students feel at
home on campus, it also is important to help them settle into their new
community.
“The Merchant Tour is a great opportunity for the students to see what
the merchants have available. This way, as they need things during the
school year, students will have a better idea of where they can go to
get them,” said Jennifer M. Vincent, director of student activities and
orientation.
More than two dozen businesses participate in the annual Merchant
Tour. This year, the students will arrive downtown at 3 p.m. and visit
merchants in small groups until 6 p.m. For the event, some merchants
conduct mini-tours of their businesses, others hand out pamphlets or
brochures, and some offer the students coupons and free items. At the
same time, the students likely will redeem many of the merchant coupons
they received in their orientation packets. Because of time constraints,
the tour is limited to the downtown; other merchants are invited to set
up displays along the tour route.
Classes for the 2005-2006 school year begin Wednesday, Aug. 31.
New-student orientation is Aug. 28-30.
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