WEATHER DAMPENS CROWD, BUT NOT SPIRITS

The rain didn't dampen Mary Kasten's spirits. Standing beneath a red and white umbrella outside Kent Library, the state representative from Cape Girardeau greeted visitors to the Southeast Missouri State University campus Sunday afternoon.

Unfortunately, Kasten didn't have a chance to greet many visitors at the university open house, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's University Relations Committee. Kasten is a member of that committee.

James Biundo, director of university relations at Southeast and co-chairman of the event, estimated about 100 to 125 people visited the campus during the open house, held from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

He and other organizers of the event said they believe the turnout would have been higher had it been a sunny, fall day.

"We threw a party and we wished they would have come," said Pat Zellmer, a member of the chamber's University Relations Committee and co-chairman of the event.

"And they missed a good event," added Kasten.

A shuttle bus service was set up to ferry visitors from the Show Me Center parking lot to the hub of the campus, centered around Academic Hall. But there were few passengers.

The dreary weather, however, didn't deter Steve Rickard of Cape Girardeau. "I don't let weather affect me," he said.

Rickard said he visited the campus Sunday to get a first-hand look at the industrial technology laboratory in the Serena building, with its robotic and high-tech computer equipment.

"The thing I really want to see is the exhibit of industrial robots," he said prior to touring the industrial technology facility.

As of mid-afternoon, about 40 people had visited the industrial arts building. At the nearby University Museum, about 35 people had viewed Indian artifacts, faculty art work and other displays by mid-afternoon.

Pat Reagan-Woodard, museum director, said that for many of the visitors, it was their first visit to the museum.

"These people were saying that they never realized we were here," she said.

Reagan-Woodard said the museum is open every Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m., but generally only a handful of people stop by.

"I don't think they are in the habit of it (visiting a local museum)," she said.

Zellmer said some of Sunday's visitors to the campus were interested in particular programs or activities.

One man just wanted to meet Kala Stroup, Southeast's president, who was on hand to greet visitors at Academic Hall.

"I have noticed quite a few parents with children here," Zellmer said during the course of the open house.

The open house was designed to help showcase some of the programs and activities of the university. "There are so many activities on campus that are open to everybody," she said.

But, she added, many Cape Girardeau residents aren't aware of the services and programs offered.

For example, not just university students, but area residents can use Kent Library. "All you need is a state of Missouri driver's license," she said.

"They have an excellent restaurant in the University Center and they have a great bookstore," said Zellmer.

Faculty and staff, she said, enjoyed showing off the work of their academic departments. "They are proud of what they do."

Sunday's event was the first such open house at the university. Both Zellmer and Biundo said they hope to hold such an event again.

And both said that despite the rainy weather Sunday, fall is a perfect time to hold an open house at the university. "The campus is beautiful," said Zellmer. "The trees are gorgeous."

Both Zellmer and Biundo said the open house had focused on the campus hub where the buildings were relatively close together, making for an easy walk.

Stroup said, "This was an opportunity to open our doors to all the people in our region."

But, she added, the public is always welcome to visit the campus.

"We are proud of our campus and we want them to see what we do," she said.