Families Weekend offers parents a taste of Rice

BY AMY HODGES
Rice News staff

Scavenger hunts, barbecues and even homework assignments kept the families of Rice students busy last weekend as they gathered inside the hedges for the university’s Families Weekend. The annual affair included a number of lectures, exhibits, presentations and other events to introduce families to all things Rice.

Sanjula Jain, a Brown College junior and the student coordinator for Families Weekend, said the activities allowed families to not only spend time with their students, but to experience Rice’s unique culture.

“I think what makes the weekend so successful year after year is that there really is something for everyone,” Jain said. “We try to make events interactive so that students will want to engage along with their parents.”

Engage they did. Whether it was their first visit or their fourth, families across the Rice campus could be seen catching up with their students, interacting with other families and enjoying the weekend’s activities.

“We love Families Weekend,” said Kathy Ulman, mother of Sid Richardson College junior Libby Ulman. For the last three years, she and her husband Craig have traveled from the Washington, D.C., area for Families Weekend. “We love all the enthusiasm and activity, and enjoy the opportunity to see the campus and meet other parents and Libby’s classmates.”

But it wasn’t all fun and games for the families – a number of students brought their parents and siblings to their classes so they could experience firsthand what life is really like for Rice students.

For Abby Wright, a Jones College freshman, it meant turning the tables on her mother, a Houston-area teacher. Wright brought her mother to her chemistry class with Dean of Undergraduates and Professor of Chemistry John Hutchinson.

“I’ve had her as a teacher before, so having her sitting right next to me in class was a little weird,” Wright said. “I’m used to having her in the front of the class! But she did a great job understanding the material.”

Brown College sophomore David Nichol brought his mother, Carolyn, to his mathematics class with Rice professor Frank Jones ’58. “I think my mom will be able to handle the course load for the day,” Nichol said confidently.

Carolyn Nichol, a lecturer in Rice’s Department of Chemistry, didn’t seem so sure about revisiting college math. “I’m a little bit nervous about the class,” she said, laughing. “I hear Dr. Jones calls on every student, and I haven’t done partial differential equations in a quite long time!”

But Jones did more than ask questions of the parents — he assigned homework too. “It will be due Monday and will be graded, and the parents’ grades will go on the students’ records,” he said with a chuckle.

Homework aside, families truly seemed to enjoy the time spent with their students and the opportunity to learn more about Rice.

“We’re honored to be here,” said Don Woo, father of Sid Richardson College junior Christian Woo. “I can’t tell you how ecstatic we are that she’s here. I’ve got two children who are seniors in high school, and I really hope they come here too.”