Moms and Pops on the Heights

Last Wednesday, Rennie Mirollo, a professor in the mathematics department said, "Friday is Parents' Day, or as we call it, ‘Don't Forget to Put on a Clean Shirt and Shave Day.'"

Boston College Parents' Weekend kicked off on Friday, with parents appearing in classrooms and dorms across campus. The morning featured talks by the deans of the different schools within the University, as well as University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., who reminded parents and students alike that "one of the goals of a BC education is to create an environment where students take a serious look at solving urgent societal problems." Leahy said that we must remain strong and determined in a society that makes it awfully easy to lose ourselves.

The parent-child reunions sparked many emotions, some of which inspired Eric Swanson, A&S '15, to book a flight to Chicago and surprise his own family that was unable to make it to BC this weekend. As he hastily packed a bag for his weekend trip, Eric said, "It just feels right. It's the last thing they would expect, and I cannot wait to see their reaction."

Friday night, Conte Forum played host to the 19th annual Pops on the Heights. It was truly a winning night for Boston College, as it raised over $2 million in scholarship funding and provided an opportunity to view some prominent musicians, including Stephanie J. Block and JuliaMurney, best known for their roles as "Elphaba" in the Broadway musical Wicked, coupled with the Boston Pops and the University Chorale. The event included Broadway anthems like "Think of Me," "Don't Rain On My Parade," and "All That Jazz," as well as some classics like "Bohemian Rhapsody."

According to a US News article published in mid-September, "5 Rules for Visiting Your College Student during Parents' Weekends," some important rules include remaining open to surprises, attending as many events as possible, and making sure to spend some one-on-one time with your child. But there was one rule that seemed to resonate with some parents across campus, "Don't freak out." One set of parents who embodied this rule belongs to Meaghan McCarthy, A&S '15. "The only concern I had was that my daughter would ask for some extra cash," her father said. Stephanie Ng, CSOM '15, however, said her mother was horrified when she revealed that BC nightlife begins pretty late and she is often forced to ride the Newton bus post-midnight.

Another Parents' Weekend tradition, the BC football game, was also a highlight. Despite BC's loss to Wake Forest, the parent population was well represented in the stands, some whose children opted to sit in the parent section rather than the designated student section.

Jack Butler, vice president of University Mission and Ministry, said in his talk that "each human is unique with an unprecedented occurrence, and when you die, you will never be repeated," which served as a reminder to all students and parents to enjoy and make use of the time they have at BC.