Family Weekend at the University comes twice a year, in the fall and spring. But at both events, the University fails to offer any real opportunities for parents and students to spend time together with University-sponsored activities. The Office of Student Life needs to take a cue from Oregon State University, where Mom’s and Dad’s Weekends are cherished and promoted to no end.
OSU’s Mom’s Weekend earlier this month featured brunch, dinner and tea, a wine-tasting, a poetry and essay contest, a “Mom & I Look Alike Contest,” a gardening presentation, free carriage rides, and the real zinger — the Wayne Brady Comedy Show. Granted, Wayne Brady did not do his show at OSU solely to cater to Beaver moms, but OSU scheduled the gig to coincide with Mom’s Weekend.
OSU has a history of scheduling big-name entertainers for its parents. Bill Cosby and Jeff Foxworthy have done shows for Dad’s Weekend. Next fall, OSU dads will get even better treatment with a Dad’s Weekend football game scheduled for Oct. 26. Beaver dads get to purchase tickets for $28 and watch the Beavs rumble with California.
So how does the University’s Family Weekend compare to OSU’s special treatment?
It doesn’t. Parents visiting last weekend had the option of attending a Eugene Symphony performance, taking a tour of Autzen Stadium or participating in a golf tournament at Laurelwood Golf Course — all off-campus events.
Duck moms and dads had the option of making dinner reservations through the Office of Student Life — a nice courtesy, but the University isn’t exactly dedicating a sporting event to the cause.
And the one event scheduled to coincide with our parents’ weekend this year? An awards luncheon where family and friends had to pay $15 a head to see their student win a University award.
Family Weekend at the University needs to be improved, and the Office of Student life should take more interest in finding creative ways to promote the event. Scheduling a big-name entertainment act to coincide with the weekend could invite more parents to participate.
Although teas and fashion shows may seem old-fashioned, at least these events give parents and their kids an opportunity to spend time together. And renewing that child-parent relationship is what family weekends should be about in the first place.