University “student” Daisy D. Millrace has studied abroad in Japan, lived in the residence halls, run for ASUO office, and needs one more term to complete the requirements for a journalism major and receive her diploma this spring. She has accomplished all this in just one year at the University.
Daisy who?
Daisy D. Millrace is a fictitious student invented by the Business Affairs Office as part of its “Mystery Tour.” Employees from the business office take Daisy, a yellow stuffed duck, around to various offices on campus and “help” her through the various processes and activities students take part in, as a way of better understanding what the average student goes through.
The purpose of the tour is to give employees from the business office an opportunity to experience student life at the University. David Musgrove, the business affairs office manager, said the idea for the tour was formulated after employees from the business office attended a series of retreats.
“While we were on our retreats we found out that people wanted to learn more about what goes on the University,” Musgrove said. “They wanted to learn more about how the campus operates and try to gain a better understanding of what it is like to be student at the University.”
And so Daisy D. Millrace was born. Every month, employees from different departments in the business office participate in the tour.
During the first tour prior to the beginning of classes, Daisy did almost everything a new University student does. She visited the residence halls, got her student ID and met with an adviser from the journalism school to discuss her class schedule and major requirements. Daisy has also studied abroad in Japan and in preparation for her trip, paid a visit to University Health Center to hear about what shots she needed to travel abroad.
Employees from the payroll department participated in the last tour, which took place during the ASUO election, with the goal of learning more about the process. They filed Daisy as a candidate and completed all the required paperwork. To fully experience the student election process, they even did some campaigning and visited the Emerald to discuss election coverage.
Wednesday marked the beginning of the current “Mystery Tour,” and employees from the collections office received their first clue about what the tour will teach them.
As a graduating senior, it is time for Daisy to get ready for spring graduation. With Daisy in hand, Katia Jimenez and Bruce Abrahamson embarked on the “graduate tour” and made their way from Oregon Hall to the University Bookstore. The first day of the tour included attending the first University graduation sale. Jimenez and Abrahamson took Daisy to look at announcements, diploma frames, rings and, most importantly, to try on a cap and gown.
Both Jimenez and Abrahamson said they found some of the prices to be more expensive than expected, but said it was a great opportunity to learn what students go through to get ready for graduation.
“I learned that it costs graduating students a lot of money if they want to get everything that’s involved,” Abrahamson said.
Both Jimenez and Abrahamson found it to be a very interesting process.
“It’s a neat way for us to find out what’s happening outside of Oregon Hall,” Abrahamson said. “We gain a better understanding of the many hands that play a part in the student process. It’s a great way to interact with the rest of the University community.”