While some students may still be recovering from the scorn of spurning lovers today, other students may be falling in love – with Eastern.

The number of students on Eastern’s campus will grow today as the university hosts the first open house of the semester.

Karenlee Spencer, special events coordinator for the office of admissions, said Eastern usually does five open houses for prospective students and one for admitted students each year.

“Generally, the open houses host 500 to 600 students – plus their families – equaling about 1,500 to 1,800 people,” she said. “There are a lot of different sessions and we allow them to choose a session.”

The students will start out with a welcome in Lantz Arena by President Bill Perry and other faculty.

Campus tours will start at 7:30 a.m. and last the entire day.

Other sessions include housing, financial aid, tours of Greek Court from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a student panel with current Eastern students at 9:45 a.m. in the first floor study lounge of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

An informational fair with all majors and minors represented will take place in the University Ballroom and the Grand Ballroom of the Union.

“When they leave, they should know who we are and what we offer,” Spencer said. “Hopefully, when current students see these students, they will be friendly and show what it means to be EIU.”

Blair Lord, provost and vice-president for academic affairs, said Eastern has a target for new student enrollment each year.

“It is approximately 2,900 new students in all categories,” Lord said. “Students choose their majors as they arrive and we try to accommodate them.”

Brenda Major, director of admissions, said students should visit Eastern and experience the culture instead of reading about the campus in a catalogue or a Web site.

“Our open house programs showcase our students, faculty, staff, programs and facilities,” Major said. “It’s a great opportunity to learn about every aspect of the university.”

Students can also come for daily visits, special visits with their school or Saturday visits with their families.

Eastern students are encouraged to reschedule their meal times to avoid the dining halls during lunch, when visiting students may be eating.

For a full list of events, http://www.eiu.edu/-admissions/ohsched.php.

Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or at [email protected].