Ok ok ok.....
I have had black men let me go in the door first but they were typically holding it for me. i have also been holding the door for others and had men stop take the door away from me and insist that i enter. i have never had the general "black population" let me do anything before them because i am a white female
there are very few places in the country that men still know that they are supposed to hold the door.
As far as the staff that works the grounds and cleans the school... yes they are minorities. grounds are primarily hispanic and the school crew is primarily black. the people who work the grounds don't necessarly speak any english at all but are all friendly enough not to blow leaves on you as you pass.
when i went for my interview at samford i was sitting waiting in the "lobby" and talked extensively with the man polishing the banister. he didn't act like we were anything but equal but there are some that do not speak very much (except to each other)
Ok now to your questions:
1) The airport is on the other side of the city according to mapquest it is 10.45 miles and that is not taking the interstates (probably shortest distance) most are going to take you by the interstates esp since you would want to go straight to a hotel and not the schools.
2)Yes there are shuttles. when you call to make your reservation i would ask about shuttle service. also i found this on samford's website.
http://www.samford.edu/shuttle.html they may also be able to get you to and from your hotel from samford. Cabs are cheaper here than they are in other cities that i have visited. I don't know how much that shuttle runs so sorry i can't help you there. just call and find out. it can't hurt.
3) hotels... here is a link from samford.
http://www.samford.edu/groups/admiss/hotels.html telling you area hotels.
when you are looking into it i would recommend staying in an area called "wildwood" i live in that area and my apt is exactly 3 miles from campus. also ask how far the hotels are from "lakeshore drive" and samford.
i recommend the la quinta or the best western carlton inn.
the hotels located on "state farm parkway" are just off the interstate and very very close to the school. i would not stay on "highway 280" or "31" you also do not want to stay at the "galleria" all these places are perfectly nice but rather far away.
when i priced hotels for a convention we just held they ran $59/night- $89/night.
The area that the hotels are in (there is also a walmart, old navy etc) are predominantly "minority" but everyone is nice and i don't typically notice it because we are all similar socioeconomic status and we all work hard for a living.
Addressing Dana's comments: I have been in areas of the city that I definitely felt discriminated against because i was white and "shouldn't have been there" It interests me that your husband noticed something like that and i will definitely have to keep a look out... i tend to let people go in front of me if i'm in no hurry and they do the same. maybe he just saw a lot of nice black people and rude white people
Also you have students that give you a tour of the facilities. You are encouaged to ask them anything at all. They will typically be first years with some 2nd and 3rd thrown in there too. Ask them anything you want to know. Is it hard, are the teachers mean, why should you go here above PBA or another school. They won't always know the answers but be rest assured they have no impact on whether or not you get in. no one even gets to hear their opinion but their friends.
If you do decide to come let me know the day and time and i will see if i have classes or if i can help you out at all with that transportation issue.
oh and one more thing... the campus is gated.. that kinda weirded me out when i went coming from no gates. the actually shut the front gates at 11 (i think that's when the undergrads are supposed to be in) and everyone has to drive through the side gate and be inspected by a security guard. They don't do this because its dangerous they do it because most people who go there as an undergrad have parents that want their kids to have a curfew etc. in otherwords.. don't live on campus.
