In an effort to increase minority student enrollment among its freshman class, Notre Dame will welcome over 150 minority high school seniors to campus this weekend for Spring Visitation.

The program, which is sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, brings high school seniors who have already been accepted to the University but are undecided about whether they will enroll to Notre Dame for a taste of student life. Students began arriving on campus Thursday, said Iris Outlaw, director of Multicultural Student Programs and Services, which helps coordinate the Spring Visitation program with the admissions office.

"The numbers look really, really good," said Outlaw. "Our challenge now is to convince the students that Notre Dame is for them."

Three student coordinators, Margaret Mason, Richie Dang and Stephen Arevalo, have worked with MSPS and the admissions office to plan activities that emphasize diversity at Notre Dame. Dang and Arevalo could not be reached for comment and Mason refused to comment.

Over the weekend, the visitors will attend workshops on financial aid and student life at the University and talk with administrators and alumni about Notre Dame. A student organization fair highlighting campus cultural clubs will be held this afternoon from 3:30 - 5 p.m. in the LaFortune Ballroom.

Additionally, many social events sponsored by campus groups are planned for this weekend, which began Thursday evening with "Lumpia Night," sponsored by the Filipino American Students Organization.

Students will also have the opportunity to attend "Latin Expressions" tonight at the Century Center in downtown South Bend and the Black Cultural Arts Council's Fashion Show, themed "Tell It Like It Is," which will be held Saturday evening in the Stepan Center.

Though these events are usually held sometime in the spring, MSPS works with student cultural clubs to plan the events during Spring Visitation so that minority students are presented with a wide variety of activities for the weekend, said Outlaw.

• SMC students win recognition
  
• Foley outlines Student Senate achievements
  
• Engineering, ROTC professors deployed to Iraq war
  
• Groody bound for national championships
  
• Visitation welcomes students
  
• Saint Mary's rises to goal in Lilly Challenge
  
• College plans to add $200 technology fee