The Class of 2003 is set to begin welcoming their parents and relatives to campus for the annual freshman family weekend on Friday. The weekend boasts the theme, "Come and Knock on Our Door, You're '03s Company."
Five hundred twenty families are scheduled to descend on Hanover to partake in activities such as tours of Baker Tower and Robinson Hall, lectures by members of the faculty, a cappella performances, slide shows and a charity run.
Katie Sholly '03, one of the chairs of the 2003 Class Council committee that planned the weekend, said the purpose was to help parents and siblings better understand what going to Dartmouth is all about.
"I think there are a lot of kids whose parents haven't had a chance to see Dartmouth much and get to know what their life is like here," she said.
Dan Chang, Class of 2003 president, agreed, saying the organizers attempted to recreate some of the atmosphere that surrounded freshman orientation last fall to get parents acquainted with the Dartmouth experience.
"What we tried to do is get the overall experience of Dartmouth so there are social as well as academic activities," said Jessica Walters '03, another one of the committee chairs.
Registration for the weekend begins Friday afternoon and continues Saturday morning. The weekend festivities officially commence with reception and welcoming remarks from President James Wright in Alumni Hall at 5 p.m. Friday evening.
The two major " and free " social activites are an All-Ivy a cappella concert hosted by the Aires on Friday night and a performance by "extraordinist" Craig Karges on Saturday, Coordinator of Student Programs Karen Whittet said.
Walters said she is looking forward to the '03 Family Weekend Dance in Collis Common Ground at 9 p.m. on Saturday, featuring a performance by The Flames, which will give her a chance to spend time with both her friends and her parents.
Sholly also plans to attend the dance. "I think it's going to be really fun because it's a really good opportunity for parents to meet their [childrens'] friends and socialize and get to know them," she said.
Sunday's Dartmouth Outing Club slide show in Collis Commonground is also something both Walters and Sholly are anticipating too, especially since their parents will have a chance to learn the Salty Dog Rag afterwards.
The academic activities will center around six faculty lectures scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Psychology chair Howard Hughes will be speaking about "The Long and Short of Human Memory," while history professor Jere Daniell '55 will talk about the history of the College.
French and Italian professor John Rassias, one of Dartmouth's most renowned faculty members will also be speaking. His lecture is entitled "Frankenstein Meets Your Children."
Rassias said that with his talk he hopes to leave parents with an idea of what college is like for their children, something he believes is important for them to understand.
Walters said her committee also tailored activites that would allow students to spend time with younger siblings, including a Saturday morning showing of Disney's "Toy Story" and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament during the afternoon.
Other events taking place over the course of the weekend include a student services fair and a photographer in Collis Commonground on Saturday and a variety of receptions, including one in the East Wheelock Cluster and one in the Hood Museum.
