College for most men and women means it is time to wave goodbye to parents as they pull out of the driveway. As some Baker students are driving away, however, their parents are headed in the same direction for another day of work.

For students who have a parent working at Baker, both see advantages and disadvantages of the situation.

Sophomore Cate Richards, a cartoonist for the Baker Orange, is one of two daughters Assistant Professor of History John Richards has enrolled at Baker.

When Cate was younger she saw her dad’s job as an embarrassment. Growing up though, she has learned to embrace what her dad does for a living.

“When I was younger, it was embarrassing having your dad as a town figure,” Cate said.

“However, as I got older, I learned to embrace it.”

John’s mother also worked at Baker when he was a student, so he knows how the pressures of having a parent present can be during the college years.

“I work to try and stay out of their business,” John said. “I want them to feel like they are at college, and give them the feeling of independence which comes along with that.”

Providing a balance between independence and support is what Assistant Professor of Education Carolyn Doolittle is trying to find for her daughter Kelli, a freshman.

“I love having her here,” Carolyn said. “Though, when issues between a student or teacher arise, I have to keep being a parent and a professional separate. She is an adult and I have to look at her as an adult student.”

For Kelli, Baker was the first option when it came to selecting a college.

She chose Baker because of the music program and the benefits of a free education.<br/>As an education major, she already has had the experience of having her mom as a professor.As an education major, she already has had the experience of having her mom as a professor.
As an education major, she already has had the experience of having her mom as a professor.

“At first I thought it would be strange, but it never was,” Kelli said. “When we are in a classroom I view her as a professor and she sees me as a student. She does not treat me any differently, but she does hold me to a higher standard.”

Sophomore Sarah Pembrook, who is the daughter of Provost Randy Pembrook, said she rarely feels like people on campus look at her any differently.

“Every once and a while I feel people or faculty act different toward me, but it is very rarely,” she said.

Randy does enjoy having his daughter on campus, and encourages her to live the normal college life.

“It is nice as a parent and being able to see my daughter,” Randy said. “It is nice to know she is having a great Baker experience, and has found a place that fits.”

Whether it is bringing forgotten clothes or laundry from home back to school, or someone to eat lunch with, there is an unique bond that comes with having a parent on campus.

“We have more to talk about it seems,” Sarah said. “I also feel since I came to college that my dad and I have grown a lot closer.”