Weekend familiarizes parents with UCLA campus, student life

Sherry Haley said she was proud to see her daughter involved in several campus activities when she visited the UCLA campus for Parents’ Weekend on Friday.

“My daughter is a first-generation college student and I can see the growth in her,” said Haley, mother of a first-year mathematics student.

SPECTRUM GALLERY: Parents’ Weekend 2015

During UCLA Parents’ Weekend, a three-day event that began Friday, family members participated in different activities throughout the weekend, including a workshop on understanding the teenage brain led by Adriana Galván, associate professor of psychology, and a discussion about this year’s Common Book, “Bad Feminist” by Roxane Gay.

UCLA officials raised the registration fee by $30 since 2014, charging each attendee $95. More than 3,800 parents and family members attended, a slight decrease from last year’s attendance, according to a UCLA press release.

During the event, university administrators held office hours to answer questions about academics, campus life, career services and financial resources. Families also participated in a yoga session and a fun run, along with other recreational activities. Some parents also attended the UCLA homecoming football game against Colorado on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

Haley attended applied mathematics professor Joseph Teran’s lecture called “Snow Business,” during which Teran explained mathematical algorithms used in animation and virtual surgery simulation.

“I loved the class, and I could understand the application of math in the real world,” Haley said.

Some parents said they enjoyed Parents’ Weekend, but think hosting the event during midterm weeks limited the time they could spend with their children.

Sheila Gill home-schooled her daughter through high school, so she was concerned about UCLA’s heavy workload, with midterms in full swing. She said she thinks her daughter wasn’t able to devote much time to her family this weekend because she was studying for exams.

Other parents said they were still able to spend time with their children and enjoy the campus experience.

READ MORE: UCLA Parents’ Weekend 2014 a relative success

Rachna Ahlawat said she wanted to get involved in her daughter’s college experience and enjoyed going to the dining halls with her daughter.

“When my parents would visit me at college they would take me out to eat,” Ahlawat said. “But when I visit my daughter at UCLA, I want her to take me to her dining halls.”

Haley said she was able to meet other Bruin parents and would love to visit campus again.

“The banners with quotes of successful graduates created a motivating atmosphere,” she said. “I was inspired by the impact UCLA students have on the world.”

Contributing reports by Anjishnu Das and Arman Sharif, Bruin senior staff.