After four weeks of classes, many Ohio University students might feel a little closer to home during Parents Weekend.
OU has planned events from Friday-Sunday to encourage parents and students to become involved on campus — including activities such as sporting events, movie screenings and a presentation on financial stress and debt management by OU professor Debb Thorne.
“I think what we try to do is have a full slate of events (so students can) take part in different activities,” said Chad Barnhardt, coordinator of Parent Outreach and Special Projects.
Thorne will speak at The Front Room at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
“(The lecture) will be fun for parents to get a taste of a lecture (from a) recently named university professor (who) teaches big lecture hall classes,” said Jenny Hall-Jones, interim dean for Student Affairs.
Instead of a lecture, many students can take their parents to various sporting events, which tend to be popular, Barnhardt said.
Students can attend the hockey game against John Carroll at 7:30 p.m. Friday or Saturday at Bird Arena. They can also see the football game against Norfolk State at 2 p.m. Saturday at Peden Stadium.
Families can also spend time participating in outdoor activities such as a golf outing at 9 a.m. Saturday at the OU Golf Course, a night of marshmallow-roasting at The Ridges on Friday or a guided hike through Old Man’s Cave from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
Although there are many ways for students and their families to stay busy for the weekend, there are also low-key events such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail screenings at 7 p.m. Friday as well as at 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court St. A pancake breakfast will be held in Baker Center at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and the event will include live entertainment and raffle prizes.
“With a wide range of options, many students are excited to spend time with their families over the weekend and show them around campus,” Hall-Jones said. “There are so many things for people to do. It always is a fabulous, energetic weekend.”
kf398711@ohiou.edu
