Eastern students and visiting parents are expected to be out together at bars this Family Weekend.

Davina Butler, the manager of Roc’s Black Front Restaurant, said the bar has done well during

Family Weekends.

“They come here for dinner and will usually stay for a drink,” she said. “We usually have a great turnout for (Family Weekend).”

Roc’s has also been a choice location for visiting former students, Butler said.

“We get a lot of alumni coming in,” Buttler said. “If they’re alumni, they bring their kids.”

Nick Searday, the manager of Panther Paw Bar and Grill, said his establishment has had success attracting new customers during past Family Weekends by running specials.

“A lot of people who usually don’t come in bring their parents,” Searday said. “We usually have a good turnout.”

Ray Pieczynski, a senior finance major, said drinking and going with parents to bars can be a great way to socialize with family that many students do not consider.

“When you’re 21 you can go out and do the bar thing with your family,” he said. “It’s nice to be in your element with your family.”

However, not everyone chooses to drink with their parents during Family Weekend.

Jalyssa Woodall, a freshman art major, said while the idea of drinking with family is appealing to her, her mother is opposed to it.

“I asked her if it’s something she’d want to do someday,” Woodall said. “She said no, that it’s just not something we should do together.”

Since she can not drink with her family, Woodall said she does explore other options.

“I do drink with my friend’s parent’s,” she said. “But my mom don’t know that.”

Courtney Ruark, a sophomore marketing major, said she would feel comfortable drinking around her parents.

“I feel like everyone should have that relationship with their parents,” Ruark said.

Kaitlyn Gabric, a sophomore special education major, said she sometimes worries how her parents will react to Charleston’s party atmosphere during Family Weekend, but expects they will not be too concerned.

“They’re both teachers,” Gabric said. “They’re down to earth; they get what kids are like.”

Brad Oyer, a lieutenant in the Charleston Police Department, said the city has not had to deal with many problems with students and family drinking during past Family Weekends.

“We will have officers posted on the streets to handle any drunk driving problems,” Oyer said.

He added it is important for families and students to remember driving under the influence is only one of several ways alcohol can lead to a harmful environment.

“Here in Charleston we’ve had alcohol related ambulance calls,” he said. “We want to avoid that at all costs, and we ask that students be responsible.”

Oyer said his goal for Family Weekend is simple.

“If everyone is in as good of shape on Sunday morning as they were on Friday afternoon, we’ll be happy,” Oyer said.

Andrew Crivilare can be reached at 581-7942 or at ajcrivilare@eiu.edu.