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BY JESSICA HAMILTON

In print | Published April 13, 2006

This past weekend, Swarthmore hosted its annual spring Family and Friends Weekend. From Friday April 7 through Sunday April 9, visitors and students alike enjoyed the schedule of events designed to showcase Swarthmore.

According to Danielle Shepherd, director of the Parents Program, the weekend was a success. “We had over 285 families that actually registered. We think there were close to 600 parents and friends here, but it’s hard to tell,” she said.

Parents and friends attended from all over the country, including a large number from the West coast. “There was a large contingent of families with freshmen. It’s a great time to get to know the school,” Shepherd said.

“The parents enjoy the campus in the spring,” Shepherd said. “The nice weather gives them a chance to look around and experience the college. The only thing that would’ve made [Parents Weekend] better was if it didn’t rain,” she said, in reference to the rainy weather Saturday that prevented families from participating in several outdoor activities.

Despite the rain, parents’ sprits were not dampened. “They seemed very excited and pleased,” said Bob Gross, dean of the college.

According to Shepherd, the President’s Forum, faculty talks, musical productions and the Crum Regatta boasted the largest turnout.

The President’s Forum, featuring brief speeches by President Al Bloom, Dean Bob Gross and Provost Connie Hungerford, gave parents the opportunity to ask a range of questions addressing issues of administrative policy and student life.

According to Gross, a couple hundred of people attended the event.

“There were a lot of questions that had to do with policy toward recruiting low-income students, probably in response to Amherst’s new grant,” said Gross. The questions focused primarily on these issues of policy, ignoring questions regarding the alcohol policy completely, Gross said.

The faculty lectures, given by psychology professor Barry Schwartz and biology professor Amy Cheng Vollmer, were also very well attended. Schwartz’s lecture, concerning the theories presented in his book “The Paradox of Choice,” was so full that parents and students spilled out of the Scheuer room.

Vollmer’s was also very popular. “My parents really liked the talk,” Scott Brainard ’09 said. “They thought it was very well done.”

According to Shepherd, the parents’ office received excellent feedback about all of the musical groups as well. "Overall, the parents were so impressed with the high quality of the musical productions [the concerts by the College Chorus and Orchestra and the College Wind Ensemble] and the performance by Drama Board [of “Lucky Stiff”]," Shepherd said.

The weekend culminated with the annual Crum Regatta. With Martin Warner, the college registrar, dressed as commodore, the event began on Sunday morning at 10:30.

“It was hugely successful. I’ve never seen that many boats,” Warner said. “Usually there are between five and eight, but this year there were twice as many.”

The Crum Regatta had a record 15 boats enter into the “competition.” A large crowd of parents and friends assembled on the bank to watch students race in hand-made boats to the finish line. The boats were made of everything from linoleum to a bathtub.

“This is one of the oldest traditions still being practiced that has nothing to do with academics. It’s just for college-life fun,” Warner said. “I enjoy being part of something with roots, light-weight and open to everyone.”

After all 15 teams crossed the finish line, Warner handed out monetary awards for the first and second place teams, the most creative costumes, most innovative design and the last place team.

The first place team, who named their craft the Martin Warner II, built a canoe over a two week time period prior to the race. When someone in the crowd asked them, “How does it feel to be champions?” the three members of the team, Benjamin Blonder, Colin Sowder and Bryce Wiedenbeck, replied, “Dry!”

All participants that did not receive one of the five awards received honorable mention and T-shirts. “The only thing I wish I could’ve done more was to recognize all of the boats because they were all wonderful,” Warner said.

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