Parents' Weekend Produces Joy, Terror

Junior Parents Weekend strikes directly at the heart of the class of 1999, provoking a spate of mixed emotions.

There's joy at seeing beloved giftladen relatives and excitement about a weekend of activities that include an inverse relation between classwork and good food. But above all, students said they have felt a nagging fear about just what might happen when their parents hit the Yard.

"We want everyone to be part of the weekend, even if their parents don't attend. Because while the weekend is focused on the parents it is equally important that they have a chance to meet our friends," Danielle A. Hootnick '99, co-chair of the Junior Parents' Weekend committee, said.

All juniors interviewed named the Masters' Receptions--held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Master's residence of each house on Friday--as their priority among the weekend's events.

"I want [my mother] to meet the masters," SarahK. Earp '99 said. "I really get along well withthem."

"The next time they'll see [the Masters] is atCommencement when things will be all crazy," saidone Currier House junior.

Earp mentioned that her mother plans to eatdining hall food during her visit--just for theexperience. Parents like Earp's who plan to dinechez Harvard should not base their evaluation ofcampus culinary offerings on a weekend sample.This is especially true given the fact that aspecial antipasto lunch on Saturday might discounta student's two-and-a-half years of complaints.

"The key part of Parents Weekend is that youget taken out to restaurants and don't have to eatin the dining hall," Andrew I. Shulman '99 said.

In fact, every student interviewed says food isthe most welcome gift from home, a gift that trulykeeps on giving-if horded properly.

"My mom's bringing a bunch of things for all myroommates," Kelly M. Flynn '99 said. "She tookrequests."

While Flynn extolled the heartwarming value ofchocolate chip cookies, Heather C. Chang '99 lustsafter something more. Like many students, Chang'sparents are unable to attend the weekend event,and she will be left yearning for traditionalChinese food, the stuff mom makes at home.

"It's one of the things I miss the most," Changsaid.

In addition to food, Felix Tollinche '99 said"basic household supplies that college studentsnever buy but are always in need of," such aslaundry detergent and jumbo-garbage bags arealways in demand come Junior Parent's Weekend.

With little time for visits to Star Market, (oreven CVS) students may have to rely on theirparents' intuition. From Master's receptions toroommate dinners and events hosted byextracurricular organizations, if Weekendorganizers have their way, most parents will spendthe weekend on the go--just like the averageundergrad.

In fact, many students said that the rapid paceof events will put them behind in their normalwork schedule, and their academic lives will, as aresult, be waylaid on the road to mid-term exams.

Some said that they would not tell theirparents about the normal sleep habits that keepthem going--late to bed and late to rise--but willinstead adopt a faux sleep schedule to putparents' minds at ease.

From honest attempts to impress to the hidingbad behaviors, some students have been thinkinglong and hard about just what activities theweekend should entail. These include the committeeof volunteers (at least two from each house) thathave been planning the weekend since November.

"The great thing about Junior Parents Weekendis that they know the place," said Julia G. Fox,Parents' Association director. "They know whatthey like and what they don't like. They want tohighlight what Harvard means to them."

Despite eagerness to witness student lives inaction, most juniors suggest that parents waituntil after noon to show up unannounced in orderto avoid the trauma of seeing their offspringsleep the day away. One junior added that midnightis a good time for parents to leave because"people start coming over then."

And if they wish to attend Friday morningclasses, students suggested that their parents doso--then meet them for lunch.

For a real slice of Harvard life, parent'smight try large Sanders Theatre classes likeSocial Analysis (Ec) 10 and Literature and ArtsC-37, "The Bible and Its Interpreters," whichboast enrollments of between 900 and 1,000students--exactly the number of family membersexpected to visit juniors over the course of theweekend, according to Fox.

Due to a last minute schedule change, however,these visitors will already be able to experiencethe joys of Sanders--one of the only campus spaceswhich can accomodate such large crowds.

"We have moved Robert Coles' welcoming talk toSanders Theatre at 1 [p.m.] on Friday," Fox said."It was originally scheduled for the ScienceCenter but we didn't have enough space for all thepeople who wanted to attend."

But if being with the kids prompts parents tolong for the good old days, house intramuralsoffer a chance for further regression. Shulmanextends an invitation to his and any parentsinterested to attend this weekend's intramuralbasketball games (it's semifinal season).

"Parents will come relive the Little Leaguegames," Shulman said by way of invitation.

With so many social obligations, parentaletiquette is key. For most, questions aboutrelationships such as "Do you have a boyfriend?"are understandably taboo, just as asking a child'sroommates about living situations is off-limits.However, some have little faith in their parents'ability to anticipate problematic lines ofquestioning.

One member of the class of '99 gave severalexamples of perilous questions his parents mightpose to his roommates.

"What do you do on weekend nights? Has myson ever stumbled into the room not knowing wherehe was? What's that bruise on my son's neck? Thosewould all be bad questions," he says.

Many questionable weekend routines--from 1 a.m.trips to the Hong Kong to repeated cigarettebreaks--will remain hidden from visiting parents,although most stop short of saying they willactually put on a show of utter responsibility.The majority of juniors will stay sober--andrelatively honest this weekend.

"[My mother will not see me doing myhome-work," Earp said.

But Lee H. Green '99 said he wants to impresshis parents with his erudite lifestyle.A-6FAMILYCrimsonSamantha A. GoldsteinMarie E. Hicks

"I want [my mother] to meet the masters," SarahK. Earp '99 said. "I really get along well withthem."

"The next time they'll see [the Masters] is atCommencement when things will be all crazy," saidone Currier House junior.

Earp mentioned that her mother plans to eatdining hall food during her visit--just for theexperience. Parents like Earp's who plan to dinechez Harvard should not base their evaluation ofcampus culinary offerings on a weekend sample.This is especially true given the fact that aspecial antipasto lunch on Saturday might discounta student's two-and-a-half years of complaints.

"The key part of Parents Weekend is that youget taken out to restaurants and don't have to eatin the dining hall," Andrew I. Shulman '99 said.

In fact, every student interviewed says food isthe most welcome gift from home, a gift that trulykeeps on giving-if horded properly.

"My mom's bringing a bunch of things for all myroommates," Kelly M. Flynn '99 said. "She tookrequests."

While Flynn extolled the heartwarming value ofchocolate chip cookies, Heather C. Chang '99 lustsafter something more. Like many students, Chang'sparents are unable to attend the weekend event,and she will be left yearning for traditionalChinese food, the stuff mom makes at home.

"It's one of the things I miss the most," Changsaid.

In addition to food, Felix Tollinche '99 said"basic household supplies that college studentsnever buy but are always in need of," such aslaundry detergent and jumbo-garbage bags arealways in demand come Junior Parent's Weekend.

With little time for visits to Star Market, (oreven CVS) students may have to rely on theirparents' intuition. From Master's receptions toroommate dinners and events hosted byextracurricular organizations, if Weekendorganizers have their way, most parents will spendthe weekend on the go--just like the averageundergrad.

In fact, many students said that the rapid paceof events will put them behind in their normalwork schedule, and their academic lives will, as aresult, be waylaid on the road to mid-term exams.

Some said that they would not tell theirparents about the normal sleep habits that keepthem going--late to bed and late to rise--but willinstead adopt a faux sleep schedule to putparents' minds at ease.

From honest attempts to impress to the hidingbad behaviors, some students have been thinkinglong and hard about just what activities theweekend should entail. These include the committeeof volunteers (at least two from each house) thathave been planning the weekend since November.

"The great thing about Junior Parents Weekendis that they know the place," said Julia G. Fox,Parents' Association director. "They know whatthey like and what they don't like. They want tohighlight what Harvard means to them."

Despite eagerness to witness student lives inaction, most juniors suggest that parents waituntil after noon to show up unannounced in orderto avoid the trauma of seeing their offspringsleep the day away. One junior added that midnightis a good time for parents to leave because"people start coming over then."

And if they wish to attend Friday morningclasses, students suggested that their parents doso--then meet them for lunch.

For a real slice of Harvard life, parent'smight try large Sanders Theatre classes likeSocial Analysis (Ec) 10 and Literature and ArtsC-37, "The Bible and Its Interpreters," whichboast enrollments of between 900 and 1,000students--exactly the number of family membersexpected to visit juniors over the course of theweekend, according to Fox.

Due to a last minute schedule change, however,these visitors will already be able to experiencethe joys of Sanders--one of the only campus spaceswhich can accomodate such large crowds.

"We have moved Robert Coles' welcoming talk toSanders Theatre at 1 [p.m.] on Friday," Fox said."It was originally scheduled for the ScienceCenter but we didn't have enough space for all thepeople who wanted to attend."

But if being with the kids prompts parents tolong for the good old days, house intramuralsoffer a chance for further regression. Shulmanextends an invitation to his and any parentsinterested to attend this weekend's intramuralbasketball games (it's semifinal season).

"Parents will come relive the Little Leaguegames," Shulman said by way of invitation.

With so many social obligations, parentaletiquette is key. For most, questions aboutrelationships such as "Do you have a boyfriend?"are understandably taboo, just as asking a child'sroommates about living situations is off-limits.However, some have little faith in their parents'ability to anticipate problematic lines ofquestioning.

One member of the class of '99 gave severalexamples of perilous questions his parents mightpose to his roommates.

"What do you do on weekend nights? Has myson ever stumbled into the room not knowing wherehe was? What's that bruise on my son's neck? Thosewould all be bad questions," he says.

Many questionable weekend routines--from 1 a.m.trips to the Hong Kong to repeated cigarettebreaks--will remain hidden from visiting parents,although most stop short of saying they willactually put on a show of utter responsibility.The majority of juniors will stay sober--andrelatively honest this weekend.

"[My mother will not see me doing myhome-work," Earp said.

But Lee H. Green '99 said he wants to impresshis parents with his erudite lifestyle.A-6FAMILYCrimsonSamantha A. GoldsteinMarie E. Hicks