Parents of Frosh to Hit Yard Today

Vacuum cleaners hummed from Pennypacker to Weld yesterday as first-years prepared for the more than 1000 parents who will occupy the Yard this weekend.

Today and tomorrow mark this year's official Freshman Parents Weekend, sponsored by the Harvard-Radcliffe Parents Association.

Parents can attend classes, tour buildings, attend receptions, go to football games or stare at the Museum of Comparative Zoology's famed glass flowers for two days, according to association director Ellen Hatfield Towne.

A new addition to this year's schedule is a panel discussion of Harvard's academic program.

The class of 1998 luncheon at the Gordon Track and Tennis Center tomorrow may be the most popular event, Towne said. She predicted that 1300 to 1400 parents will attend.

As the first wave of parents arrived yesterday, students rushed to prepare--and clean their rooms.

"There are so many dustballs here it's amazing," said Nitin Nayar '98. "My parents will be here in half an hour. They'll say 'It's so like you' if I keep it messy."

Dorm crew employee Jake R. Murrow '97 said twice as many vacuum cleaners as usual were checked out yesterday. He said he expects even heavier demand for them tomorrow.

Another dorm crew worker, John J. Abbott '96, said it is ironic that although first-years often try things their parents would object to, students ultimately focus on appearances. "The thing they're concerned about is the clean rug," Abbott said. "Forget the tattoo or the boyfriend."

The event is being held later than last year's October 15 weekend because that was too close to the start of the academic year, Towne said. "The parents had just left and we were inviting them back."

Margaret M. Marcus arrived yesterday from Austin, Texas, to visit her son David W. Marcus '98. Since then she has been trying out life as a first-year.

"I went to his Expos class. I did my homework before, and dutifully read 'Othello,'" she said. "I sat in the back and was enlightened with great pearls of wisdom spewing forth."

The elder Marcus also tried some "spectacular food in the Union: a half grapefruit, a glass of water and a piece of...something."

But most first-years say they plan to take advantage of parental funding this weekend and eat out as much as possible.

Jill A. Denny '98 reiterated a typical first-year's shopping and dining goals for parents' weekend. "I'm planning to mooch off them," she said.

Many parents are more than happy to treat this weekend. "She's allowed to have us take her wherever she wants to go," said the parents of Cricket M. Raspet '98. Dave and Jan Raspet are visiting from California.

A few parents had more unusual plans for the weekend. Susan J. Garcia, the mother of Kristy L. Garcia '98 said, "Basically [I plan] to drive her nuts so she appreciates college life and so she doesn't get homesick.

The elder Marcus also tried some "spectacular food in the Union: a half grapefruit, a glass of water and a piece of...something."

But most first-years say they plan to take advantage of parental funding this weekend and eat out as much as possible.

Jill A. Denny '98 reiterated a typical first-year's shopping and dining goals for parents' weekend. "I'm planning to mooch off them," she said.

Many parents are more than happy to treat this weekend. "She's allowed to have us take her wherever she wants to go," said the parents of Cricket M. Raspet '98. Dave and Jan Raspet are visiting from California.

A few parents had more unusual plans for the weekend. Susan J. Garcia, the mother of Kristy L. Garcia '98 said, "Basically [I plan] to drive her nuts so she appreciates college life and so she doesn't get homesick.