The Rocket

Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Focus

During the mid-1980s, after getting moved in and settling down into a new academic year, students were introduced to an event that brought back what they had left behind on move-in day- their families.

This year, the weekend known around campus as "Friends and Family Weekend" and "Village Days" and the "Heritage Festival" to the residents of Slippery Rock, lives on.

"What's been happening over the last few years is Family Weekend has collaborated with the Village Days program and Heritage Festival," said Cathie Sadler, the coordinator of Family Connections.

"That way we have programs on campus, but also off campus as well."

Registration, which is free for friends and family members, is tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the University Union Information Desk.

"People are always saying, 'Are you sure? I can't believe it's free,'" Sadler said.

Tonight there is a sold-out performance by the New Shanghai Circus Acrobats of China in Miller Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. to jumpstart the weekend.

"There was a pretty high demand for tickets (for the event)," Sadler said.

Saturday opens with a chance to meet the SRU President Robert Smith at "Pastries with the President," which will allow parents to mingle with administration and get to know the faculty their students encounter every day.

"(The) program has changed a lot in the past 10 years," Sadler said. "There are a variety of activity options for parents."

This allows parents to pick and choose what they want to take part in.

One activity during the weekend will be taking antique style photos that are free for families.

Other events available will be a Pepsi World Tour, planetarium showings with two show times and a tour of the Storm Harbor Equestrian Center Complex.

Baskets of Fun will once again be present as well.

"I was really excited about this year," Sadler said about the returning event.

She said Baskets of Fun started when a parent donated a basket to be auctioned off. This year, Sadler said there are about nine or 10 baskets donated by parents of new students for the auction.

Other baskets were donated by campus organizations, such as AVI Foodsystems and the Office of Residence Life.

"(These baskets) are used to help generate funds so we can continue to do good things with the (Family Weekend) program," Sadler said.

Along with on-campus events, family and friends will have the opportunity to experience Village Days on Saturday and the Heritage Festival on Sunday, both of which will take place off-campus.

Continued...

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