Scores of families will flock to Hanover this weekend as the campus prepares for both First-Year Family Weekend and Mother's Day.
Many members of the Class of 2008 will have the opportunity to show their parents around campus and attend a plethora of events planned by the First-Year Class Council.
"We are hoping that now that the Class of 2008 is adjusted to life at Dartmouth, we can show the families the enthusiasm and excitement that we experience on campus every day," First-Year Family Weekend co-chair Ashley Mas '08 said.
Registration for parents will begin at noon on Friday in the Collis Center, with events planned from Friday to Sunday.
"Some of the highlights [of the weekend] include the President's Welcome at the Top of the Hop on Friday afternoon, a Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream social on Friday night, a cookout and Dartmouth football scrimmage on Saturday afternoon and a Mother's Day brunch in Collis Sunday morning," First-Year Family Weekend co-chair Edward Kalletta '08 said.
Kalletta is a member of The Dartmouth's business staff.
Other plans for the parents include campus and building tours, hikes sponsored by the Dartmouth Outing Club, information sessions and lectures.
In addition, a number of cultural events have been planned, including a performance titled "Native Voices" in Spaulding Auditorium by Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai and Native Hawaiian guitarist Keola Beamer. This concert will be presented in conjunction with the Native American Pow-Wow planned for the weekend.
"I bought my mom a ticket to the 'Native Voices' show at Spaulding," Robert Lim '08 said. "She grew up listening to Keola Beamer, so it should be a nice surprise."
Students who have not made special plans for their mothers will be able to attend the Mother's Day brunch from nine to noon in Collis Commonground. Live entertainment and free flowers will be provided for all mothers, and a Class of 2008 slideshow will be shown.
Not all first year students plan on participating in the weekend's events, however.
"My mom is coming up for the weekend, but we're skipping out on Dartmouth because there isn't much to do here," Jeffrey Schechtman '08 said. "Instead we're going to Boston."
Despite this, many parents will still stay in the Hanover area to experience some of what Dartmouth has to offer.
"I'm very excited for the weekend and hope the parents can get a taste of what being a student at Dartmouth is like," Kalletta said.
