Parents and Family Weekend festivities a success this year

This year, between 400 and 500 parents and family members came to Oberlin

During the summer, while students were still scattered all over the world, the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs was preparing to welcome their parents to Oberlin.

Parents and Family Weekend is important because it "gives parents a chance to see what Oberlin is like," Assistant Director of the Annual Fund Liesl Strickler said. "It is a good excuse for parents to come to campus and visit," she said.

Between 400 and 500 parents and family members registered their visit with the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, Strickler estimated. Many more were on campus but did not register.

Planned events were provided for visiting parents on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Campus tours and sporting events were attended by many parents. But because of the change in weeks, most varsity teams had planned away games. Only men's' soccer and volleyball played home games during the weekend.

A series of arts events were also planned. Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul and Mary, gave a concert on Saturday afternoon in Tappan Square.

First-year Jamie Ruf's parents enjoyed the planned concerts. "Music at Oberlin was largely why we sent Jamie here," Anita Ruf said.

The most popular planned event of the weekend, according to Strickler, was the breakfast with President Nancy Dye as the featured speaker. The breakfast, which is usually a sparsely attended event was sold out because "people are really excited about Nancy Dye," Strickler said.

The weekend was `fun from our end,' Strickler said.

The weekend was fun from a student's perspective as well. Jamie Ruf described her parents' stay as an opportunity to let "them see my life here [which] gave them an appreciation of my independence."