Ronda Churchill / APWhen I was in high school, my class took trips to museums and plays. During college, field trips were few and far between and included visits to hospital wards or the marine lab, depending on one's major.
Trips are a little more interesting at Randolph Macon College, a private liberal arts school in Lynchbug, Va. who, as of last year, only admitted women. Students toured the Chicken Ranch, a legal bordello outside Los Angeles, as part of a course on working girls.
"I think it's fascinating; this is fun for me," said junior Nicki Amouri, who posed for a picture in front of one of the fluffy beds big rollers pay to use. "Not many people get to do this," she said.
The Chicken Ranch, one of Nevada's 27 legal brothels, encourages publicity and awareness.
"We're always open to trying to educate the public about legalized prostitution," said Chicken Ranch general manager Debbie Rivenburgh, who stated it was the first class tour request she'd received in 21 years on the job.
According to Julio Rodriguez, director of Randolph Macon's American Culture Program, the tour was a perfect fit since the class teaches students "don't just study America - live it."
Each semester the course examines an aspect of culture and goes on a relevant field trip. In the past they visited post-Katrina New Orleans, Walt Disney World and the Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery, Ala.
