Making School a Family Affair

Making school a family affair

Seeing Mom or Dad on campus isn't unusual for students whose parents also go to Chico State

When Madeline McGowan saw her son Cole on the Chico State campus two weeks ago, she did what any other college student would do when they saw someone in their family at school -- she asked him for money.

"I needed money for the vending machine," she said, laughing.

But this was an isolated incident for McGowan and her son, because seeing each other on campus is a rarity for them.

For those whose parents are on the Chico State campus on a regular basis, they have learned what it means to know that their mom or dad is right near by.

"She can keep an eye on me better," Cole said. "She knows when I'm here and when I'm not, so I can't get away with anything."

Madeline said that being a student, however, has been a good way to relate to her son, and she can appreciate how much work other than school he does.

"It blows me away how they get all this stuff done," Madeline said. "A lot of parents don't have the knowledge of what their student is doing other than school."

Cole said he doesn't mind having his mom there because she doesn't try to embarrass him and knows all of his friends.

"They will invite her out to power hour at Riley's with us," Cole said.

Madeline said she appreciates school more then the typical college student because she sees it from a different point of view.

"You are just older and wiser," she said. "I've seen a little more of the world and have a broader perspective than someone right out of high school."

Cole said he is proud of his mom for coming back to school after many years.

"It's amazing," he said. "Especially in this era of technology that she is able to use Microsoft and all of these other things."

For junior Jude Bayham, having his dad Frank teach anthropology at Chico State did not factor into his decision to go to school here. If anything, he said, it deterred him.

"I thought at the time I'd see him everywhere," he said.

But, he said, it hasn't been like that.

"I don't really see him that much," he said.

Frank said he's enjoyed having his son at Chico State for the last three years because it has given him a chance to watch him grow up.

"I've seen him move and mature from a senior in high school to a young adult taking responsibility for his own life," he said. "I'll be across campus and see him with his friends just laughing and talking, and it makes me proud."

He said a time that made him especially glad to have him on campus was on Sept. 11.

"He was a freshman and lived in the dorms, and they closed campus down," he said. "I remember giving him a call and meeting him and just walking around and talking to him. It was very satisfying."

Jude said he meets his dad for dinner and lunch sometimes, or will drop by his office to say hi, but said he decided against taking any classes that his dad teaches.

"I have to hear his lectures at home anyway," Bayham said.

Junior Amelia Helm said she has learned a lot from her mom Bette, who is also a student at Chico State.

She said having her mom being a returning student means that she will have to learn how to relate to people of all ages all over again, and that having her mom around has taught her something.

"Her being there has taught me to pay more attention to older returning students," Helm said. "It opens your eyes up and I talk to older students in my classes now, which I wouldn't have done before."

Amy O'Neill can be reached at aoneill2@mail.csuchico.edu