When Gail and Ed Schultz dropped their daughter Melanie off in September to begin her freshman year, they hoped that she would find her place at Tufts. When they saw their daughter during Parents Weekend, they knew that hope had been fulfilled.
"We're really happy to see that Melanie has settled in so much," Mrs. Schultz said.
"We're all very happy that things are working out the way we thought they would," Mr. Schultz added.
Melanie was pleased to see her parents as well, and the three spent time together in Boston. But many others, like freshman Ben Thayer's family, took advantage of the Parents Weekend program.
"We enjoyed the speeches," Polly Thayer said. She described Gittleman's address, "Tufts University Amidst the Wonder of American Higher Education," as "enlightening."
Jay Thayer felt that the value of Parents Weekend was getting a feel for the campus and meeting the students with whom Ben interacts every day. "I think it was good to meet his friends and their parents. Tufts seems like a really close community," Mr. Thayer said.
Thayer also used Parents Weekend to show off his newly-decorated dorm. "It was fun to show them my room since we set it up," he said.
For freshman parents, knowing that their sons and daughters were adjusting well to campus life has taken on greater meaning following the attacks in New York and Washington. The Shatzman family was pleased to see that their daughter Andrea has a supportive network of friends.
"Knowing that she was in the [Jackson] Jills made me feel better," Allan Shatzman said, who added that seeing his daughter settled in and comfortable was also gratifying. "We feel very happy that this is the right place for her."
Even the logistics of travelling to campus have changed since Sept. 11. First-year parent Larry Fischel believes that new airport security measures make arriving at Tufts a greater challenge for many than in years past. Despite a 90-minute delay at the airport, Fischel was glad to arrive at Logan safely and felt that the longer wait was worth it to see Tufts.
A detailed schedule of activities ensured that parents would be able to see as much of Tufts as they could. The weekend officially began Friday morning, when parents were invited to attend classes with their students. Next came opportunities to tour and visit Tisch Library, the Olin Center, and Dowling Hall.
History department members Pierre-Henri Laurent and Jeanne Marie Penvenne led discussion-style seminars entitled "Europe and the US: Competitors and Allies" and "Whose History Is It Anyway?," while Elizabeth Remick of the political science department and anthropology professor David Guss led discussions "China in the World, 2001" and "From the Amazon to the Andes: Fieldwork in Latin America."
The biggest Friday event was the evening Sesquicentennial Concert, "Sesquicentennial Surprises: Musical Treasures Celebrating 150 Years at Tufts University," that featured the performance ensembles of the music department presenting selections from around the world.
Some had the added pleasure of hearing their kids perform with one of Tufts' a cappella groups. Eitan Hersh and and Eliza Gordon-Lipkin's parents were treated to a Shir Appeal concert after Friday night dinner at Hillel. The chance to see their children perform added to what the parents agreed was a successful weekend.
"I had a great experience. It was well-organized, with many options to explore the University," Ken Hersh said. "It was my great pleasure to see Eitan sing with Shir Appeal."
According to Eitan, he enjoyed having his father around as much as his father enjoyed being here. "It's nice to show him around and give him a tour of what I do on a regular basis," he said.
And despite the chilly weather an overcast skies, Ken Hersh could see through the weather to a vibrant student life underneath. "It's a very warm-feeling campus," he said.
Likewise, the Gordon-Lipkins enjoyed getting their own sense of the Tufts community. "It's great to meet [Eliza's] friends," Paul Lipkin said. "It's great to see her room clean!"
Saturday events included welcome speeches from Parents Program Director Ellie Short and President Larry Bacow, followed by Gittleman's address. These were followed by presentations from a number of departments, including biology, history, English, the Experimental College, political science, economics, physics, UCCPS, sociology, art history, mathematics, psychology, and child development.
Following an afternoon of athletic events versus Trinity College, parents were invited to seminars on studying abroad, engineering, and international relations. Saturday afternoon was marked by the President's reception on the library roof, with entertainment provided by the Tufts Jazz Band, the Jackson Jills, the Amalgamates, and the Beelzebubs. The evening featured performances by members of the drama and dance department.
After a Sunday morning that included Catholic mass and Protestant worship services for some and convocation at Tufts Hillel or a second address from Gittleman for others, many parents met with their children for a final brunch in one of the dining halls before making the trip home.
While first-year students were excited to show their parents how they had settled into their new community, some parents felt that their students had ulterior motives.
"We brought cookies, so he let us in," Jay Thayer said.
