First-Years' Parents Spend a Weekend in the Yard

First-years took a break from the normal Harvard routine for Freshman Parents' Weekend this weekend, both attending special campus events and taking their families outside the Yard.

While they have been at Harvard for less than two months, some students said seeing their parents again made them feel like they had been here for much longer.

In anticipation of the event, many first-years scrambled to clean up their rooms and complete neglected chores. Stephanie E. Butler '04 said that preparing her room to look presentable for her parents was "the worst part of the weekend."

But others said they just allowed their parents to see what living at Harvard was really like. Tim S. Caito '04, for example, said he "did absolutely nothing" to prepare for his mother's visit.

"A lot of people seemed stressed out that their parents were here, but overall they were still happy," Caito added.

Harvard offered a variety of activities for parents Friday and Saturday morning, including panels on campus health concerns and academics, receptions and performances.

Many students, however, chose to go beyond Harvard's gates with their parents. Activities included dining out, sightseeing and shopping.

Alexie D. Harper '04 said she was "pleasantly surprised at how much people wanted to do with their parents, or at least acted as if they wanted to be with them."

Lis W. Lambert '04 said the best part of her weekend was going to church yesterday morning and eating out afterwards. While eating at Spice Restaurant, her family and the other patrons were forced to evacuate the building.

"The lights started going out, a [firefighter] ran in and then out, and then eventually told us we had to evacuate the restaurant because of a nearby underground explosion," she said.

Lambert's experience was unique, but other students were still excited by this weekend's events. John Neil T. Thompson '04 said he loved yesterday's snow. Others said the best part of the weekend was when their parents took them out to dinner or attended their performances and athletic practices.

Many parents also took advantage of the opportunity to experience Harvard dining in Annenberg Hall, creating long lines and crowded serving areas in the first-year dining hall. After parents left, students said Annenberg seemed calm even in its rush hour.

While many students enjoyed their parents' visit, they also said they were glad to see them leave.

"I'm glad they're gone, but I enjoyed having them here," Butler said. "I like my independence, and there had been a constant nagging when my parents were here. They overheard a conversation I was having about grades, and they gave me the same speeches they did when I was in high school."

Those students whose parents did not visit had a different perspective on the weekend.

"Parents' weekend ruined my weekend," Ryan N. Wilkes '04 said. "All the [first-years] had to put on a facade for the parents, which really cramped the style of the [first-year] class. I felt that the place was defiled, because it is supposed to be a young people's place."

Charles Duan '04, however, said he was indifferent to the parents' presence, but that he tried to avoid the long lines at Annenberg.