Nearly 2,800 expected for Parents’ Weekend Feb. 21-22

Nearly 2,800 family members are expected to attend Parents' Weekend, Feb. 21-22. The event, sponsored by the Office of the President and Provost and coordinated by University Communications, is designed to give parents of undergraduates a glimpse into their son's or daughter's life on campus.

Ryan Foley, Parents' Weekend coordinator, said registrations are running about the same as last year, which was one of the largest Parents' Weekends since the event was enhanced in 1998. Parents' Weekend is considered one of the university's "Big 5" events, along with Reunion Homecoming, Commencement, Admit Weekend and Orientation.

"We're particularly excited this year about new events being sponsored by students themselves, especially the brunch on the Bay for seniors and their parents on Sunday," Foley said. Seniors still can sign up for the event by contacting Mary Saunders, vice president of publicity for the Class of 2003.

Visitors are expected from 18 countries, including Ghana, India, New Zealand and South Korea, and 49 states, territories and the District of Columbia. About half of the participants are related to freshmen, 20 percent to sophomores and the rest evenly divided among juniors and seniors.

Foley said Parents' Weekend is still recruiting staff and student volunteers willing to lend a hand with everything from driving golf carts to registering family members. "We greatly appreciate the efforts of the hundreds of faculty, staff and students who help with this event," he said.

The weekend begins Friday, Feb. 21, at 9:30 a.m. with a welcome from Provost John Etchemendy. Following that talk, parents of freshmen are invited to a talk by Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education John Bravman and Dean of Freshmen and Transfer Students Julie Lythcott-Haims. The parents of continuing students are invited to a talk by Dean of Students Marc Wais and Senior Associate Vice Provost Ellen Woods.

Parents also will have the opportunity to hear from President John Hennessy. Hennessy's annual Parents' Weekend address on Friday afternoon includes a question and answer period.

Among the most popular aspects of Parents' Weekend are "Back to School Classes," taught by some of Stanford's most recognized faculty. This year's faculty includes:

c Luis Fraga, associate professor of political science, who will speak about "Race, Ethnicity and the Future of California";

c Brad Osgood, professor of electrical engineering, whose class is called "Secret War, Secret Science"; and

c Annamaria Napolitano, senior lecturer in Italian, whose class is called "Eating Life: Our Relationship to Food in a Social Context."

After classes, parents will be invited to attend receptions hosted by student residences and community centers.

Saturday begins with campus tours, including special looks at Memorial Church, the Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden, Stanford Libraries, campus sculptures, Stanford's natural wonders and Hoover Pavilion.

In the afternoon, Lythcott-Haims will lead a session called "Perspectives on the First Year, Midway Through," while Career Development Center Director Lance Choy gives advice about "Choosing a Career."

The weekend will draw to a close with an encore of last year's "Entertainment Extravaganza!" Sponsored by the Stanford Parents' Club, the show stars Mixed Company a cappella, the Fine Line jazz ensemble, the Savoyards and Jam Pac'd. Proceeds support student scholarships at Stanford. The annual Parents' Club Reception, co-hosted by the Stanford Alumni Association, will again be held in the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center. Volunteers will offer parents tours of the center's library, business center, family room and garden.

For more information about Parents' Weekend, call 725-0649 or visit the website at http://parents.stanford.edu/weekend/. SR