The traditions associated with Parents' Weekend and Homecoming could not be any more different from one another. One weekend is the time to behave like the "ideal" Tufts student, while the other appeals to the basic instinct of a collegiate - the instinct to party.
Next academic year, however, the two events will be combined into one weekend, and most students denounced the decision as, simply, a bad idea. "I don't think it's smart, because it means students will have to choose between hanging out with their parents and getting drunk with their friends," junior Peter Downes said.
Another student said the essential problem is of parents' perceptions of Tufts on a weekend when so many students go wild. "I think it's ironic that parents come to their kids' college to see how their kids live, and it just so happens that it falls on the weekend that shows how they live on the biggest weekend all year," freshman Caitlin Gallagher said.
Besides the obvious reasons for possible problems during the weekend, overcrowding is another concern. "There are going to be way too many people at Tufts if they have both things going on," junior Christine Offerman said. "Tufts can't handle that many people."
For some, having their parents far away is one benefit concerning the combination of weekends. "My parents are 3,000 miles away, so they're not coming," sophomore Ben Torrence said. "I'm not going to be influenced much by the change."
Students expect that the overall Homecoming social scene will be different because of Parents' Weekend. "In terms of parties, everything will definitely be diminished," Downes said.
"There will be a lot less drinking, and parties will be smaller," Torrence said.
Tradition is hard to beat, though: "I'm sure people will still tailgate without much conflict," Offerman said.
One student showed concern over the school's image as a result of the combination of the weekends. "Homecoming is not an accurate representation of student life here, and the school might try to change the festivities, which would change the whole homecoming experience," freshman Katie Wysham said.
Some students wondered whether the move was really for the coincidental reasons cited by the administration, or if it was because of the possible downsizing of drinking and parties. "I have a feeling that the idea of fewer parties might have been part of the school's motive," Offerman said.
