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At UO, teaching moms and dads to let go.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Tim Christie The Register-Guard

The newbies sat in the lecture hall at Prince Lucien Campbell Hall in their shorts, polo shirts, T-shirts and sandals, listening intently to a speaker talk about what to expect at the University of Oregon in terms of academics, social life and finances.

But none of those listening to the talk - part of a two-day orientation session - will be attending the university this fall. Their children, however, will.

Parents are a big part of orientation, known as IntroDUCKtion 2005. The orientation that took place Thursday and Friday is one of seven such sessions offered during the summer and attended by an estimated 3,100 students and more than 1,700 parents.

In fact, parents have attended orientation at the UO for more than 10 years, university officials say. Similar programs are offered at universities around the country.

UO officials say they're responding to the desires of parents and their children, and that having both attend orientation helps students get their college careers off to a smooth start.

But some critics see the active involvement of parents in their children's college experience as a symptom of a larger problem - of overprotective, hovering moms and dads who are so anxious for their children...