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ÂÜÀòÉç’s freshman orientation course, called Flashes 101, leads new students through essential campus resources. Flashes instructors are encouraged to make a May 4 Visitors Center tour part of that experience. In Fall 2025, we hosted 115 of those tours, totaling 2,461 freshmen learning more about May 4. 

Our Flashes 101 tour route got a big update for this academic year. We trained with our student guides over the summer on how to give outdoor tours around the National Historic Landmark Site. Instead of just touring the indoor Visitors Center exhibits, freshmen now get to walk through the events of May 4 in the exact spots where they took place. They learn about the landmarks they pass by every day on their way to class, and our student tour guides explain why they are important and preserved as part of the site. Emma Ulbrich, a junior studio art major and student tour guide at the May 4 Visitors Center has "found the outdoor portion of the tour to be more captivating for students. From a physical perspective, being able to move around and be outside engages the students more than being crammed into a small museum space." 

Since updating the Flashes 101 tour, we have seen a rise in students returning to the Visitors Center with their families to share what they learned on tour. We’re excited to finish out this semester strong!