UCSC offering guided tours of ethnic neighborhoods

Guided tours of the city's ethnic neighborhoods will be available through the Chicago Community Orientation Series, a new program sponsored by the University Community Service Center (UCSC).

The first outing, a tour of South Side and African-American neighborhoods, will depart at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, from the UCSC at 58th Street and Woodlawn Avenue. Space is limited and registration is necessary. To register, call 753-4483.

The series was conceived as an extension of Orientation Week. "We think Jean Treese (Director of Orientation) and the University do an excellent job," said Omar McRoberts, Director of UCSC. "But we wanted to expand orientation to include other areas of the city. We hope to introduce students to the complexities of Chicago and to encourage them to be oriented toward the city on a long-term basis."

The program has been arranged with the assistance of the Urban Life Center, a local organization that helps newcomers get acquainted with Chicago. Tours will be led by community representatives, who will discuss political, social and cultural issues relevant to their areas. Although the excursions are free, participants should bring money to buy lunch in a neighborhood restaurant. Tours will conclude at approximately 4 p.m.

The Saturday series will continue with a trip to Pilsen and the Hispanic neighborhoods on Oct. 30; an introduction to public transportation and Chicago's cultural sites on Nov. 13; and a tour of the Southwest Side and Lithuanian neighborhoods on Nov. 20. All tours will begin at 10 a.m. at UCSC.