“On, Iowa!” “Go Hawks!”

Truer words were never spoken—Iowa perseverance and pride are showing as the rebuilding continues after the flood of 2008. I am a proud Iowa graduate myself (journalism degree, 1977), and it makes my heart soar to return to campus and marvel at how much things change (new buildings and programs) and also how much they stay the same (inspiring and giving faculty, staff, and students). 

As a bit of background, I wasn’t admitted to The University of Iowa—my first-choice school—on my first try, so I worked very hard for one year at a different university and was able to transfer to Iowa as a sophomore. I do indeed think it’s great to be a Hawkeye! 

Our oldest son, Tom, is starting his senior year at Iowa, majoring in journalism and health and sport studies. He spent 10 weeks this past summer as one of 300 volunteers for the Olympic News Service at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. In fact, there are many opportunities for internships, course work, and other career-related employment at The University of Iowa, and I urge you and your student to learn more about the possibilities and pursue specific opportunities. The lifelong benefits of these experiences are truly invaluable.

Also this fall, do your student a favor, whether he or she is a first-year student or a senior, and keep the lines of communication open. I subscribe online to the Daily Iowan student newspaper at www.dailyiowan.com and also get regular news updates from University News Services (sign up for a daily e-mail news digest at http://news.uiowa.edu). These are great ways to soak up campus life, and they can trigger topical conversations with your student.

Another great opportunity to get involved in University life and visit your student is Family Weekend, which will be Nov. 7–9. UI Athletics Director Gary Barta will speak at the Gameday Breakfast, which is sponsored by the Parents Association in Hubbard Park. Please join us! For registration information, see http://imu.uiowa.edu/familyweekend.

By sending your children to The University of Iowa, you have made a wonderful investment. In turn, the Parents Association works toward the goal of making sure each student has a rewarding and successful college career at Iowa.

Highlights of Parents Association efforts include:

• Cosponsorship of Welcome Week and Family Weekend
• The Parent Fund for Student Support at the UI Foundation, which supports a number of important initiatives: enhancing Code Blue emergency phones across campus; furnishing the Admission Visitors Center in the Pomerantz Center; WhistleSAFE, an initiative that provides whistles to students; educational programming; and the new recreation and wellness center scheduled to open in 2009
• Support of AlcoholEdu, an alcohol-education program that all first-year students are required to complete (parents of first-year students received a letter from me regarding this program over the summer)

Please visit our web site at www.uiowa.edu/~parent or contact any member of the Parents Association Advisory Board or the on-campus liaison Belinda Marner at parents-association@uiowa.edu or 319-335-3557. Let us know how we can help you and—ultimately your most important asset—your student.

Best regards to each of you.

Susan Beck Bates

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