Families of students flocked to Greencastle for DePauw's annual Family Weekend beginning Fri., Sept. 28. Siblings, parents and extended family were invited to engage in a large variety of campus activities, helping them get a feel for what life is like for their DePauw student.
The weekend started off with students and their families having the opportunity to run or walk the Be Great Today 5K race. Those registered gathered at the Nature Park at 8 a.m. Saturday morning to complete the charity run created by DePauw students to raise funds for suicide prevention.
Shortly following the charity run, DePauw Union Board hosted the first of two new events added to family weekend that were targeted towards family members of all ages. The Lil' Sibs Pancake Bar and Tiger Pride Craft were held in the Union Building from 9 to 11 a.m. Here, students and their siblings were able to enjoy a hot breakfast while also decorate DePauw baseball caps to show their Tiger pride.
Upon hearing plenty of positive feedback, Special Events Chair Nora Murphy deemed the event a worthwhile addition to Family Weekend.
"Parents couldn't stop thanking us for designing an event that incorporated younger siblings," Murphy said. "It was an appreciated alternative from the tailgate environment."
The Union Board's second event, The Norman Magic Experience, transpired later in the evening at 7 p.m. in Meharry Hall. Following the Union Board's motive, the event was marketed as being family friendly and interactive. Over 150 people attended magician Norman Ng's entertainment.
Given that the university will not be promoting Siblings Weekend this year, Murphy feels that the Union Board has found a model that has successfully incorporated siblings into family weekend.
"Family weekend is no longer just about the parents, it's about the siblings, too," Murphy said. "The success of both events proved that these age-appropriate activities were what the university needed."
Another new addition to Family Weekend this year was the opportunity to attend one of six 30 minute first-year seminar mini classes. Targeted toward parents of students, those who attended were given a snapshot of what the classroom is like for their sons and daughters.
Leading one of the sessions was Professor Rebecca Upton. She supports the university's efforts to more closely educate parents on their children's academic lives.
"First-year seminars are students' first contacts here at DePauw," Upton said. "Further than being academic, we serve as their first cultural group on campus."
Select parents of Upton's students who attended the event lingered afterward in hopes of talking more with her about the class as a whole. A great deal of positive feedback was directed toward Upton and the environment that she had worked to create for her classroom.
"These mini-first year seminars gave parents the chance to see what their kids have been learning," Upton said. "It gives parents the chance to be proud."
Another new addition to family weekend was the Panhellenic Family Open House held Saturday afternoon. Each chapter's executive members and panhellenic representatives gave a tour of their sorority and answered questions from parents with potential new members of Greek institutions.
Chapter Executive Officer Caroline Hall believed that the event was an important addition to include during Family Weekend.
"The turn out was great," Hall said. "I definitely believe it should be continued for next year. It was very casual, but very informative."