Parents flock for family festivities
Michael Gagne
Issue date: 11/6/01 Section: News
November 6, 2001 - The rain and gray hanging clouds that characterized much of this year's Family Weekend sponsored by the Office of Student Life at the University of Rhode Island proved far too feeble to dampen the spirits of the parents and families who turned out for the weekend's events.
Organizers reported overwhelming attendance during the three days of events, held during the first weekend of November every fall.
According to Fran Cohen, the dean of student life, the concept behind Family Weekend is getting families involved with the university to "make sure that parents feel like they are part of the university."
While figures were unavailable on Monday, the weekend's attendance was "way better than average," Cohen said. "It was the biggest crowd we ever had."
A highlight of the weekend was the URI – University of Maine football game, which sold out despite the inclement weather. Also sold out was the Multicultural Dinner Cabaret, which was moved from the Multicultural Center Ballroom to the Memorial Union Ballroom when attendance exceeded the room's capacity.
Other highlights of the weekend included a concert by the Coasters and the Drifters in Edwards Auditorium on Saturday night, as well as Partners in Crime and Detection, an educational presentation that showed the science involved in solving crimes. The event which was held in Will Theatre, featured faculty and students from the Sensors and Surface Technology and Forensic Science Partnerships. It also included a tour of the science laboratories in Kirk Hall.
The cabaret and concert in Edwards had people "dancing in the aisles," Cohen said. The cabaret featured 10 different pieces performed by students that exhibited various cultural influences, from spoken word to African, Bolivian, and Salsa-inspired song and dance.
The last piece had audience members joining performers in a moving rendition of "Lean On Me."
One parent said the dinner cabaret inspired her to become more involved with multicultural programs sponsored by the local high school in her town, according to Cohen.
Sunday's brunch with URI President Robert Carothers held in the Ram's Den and the Ballroom required three separate seatings to meet the high demand, Cohen said.
The enormous turnout also impacted local businesses, particularly the Holiday Inn at the junction of Routes 1 and 138. Michelle Langley, a student employee at the Holiday Inn, said some parents booked five months in advance to have rooms reserved for the weekend. With other parents reserving rooms right up to Family Weekend, the hotel was nearly sold out of rooms.
"It's pretty much the same every year," Langley said of the demand for rooms.
Organizers reported overwhelming attendance during the three days of events, held during the first weekend of November every fall.
According to Fran Cohen, the dean of student life, the concept behind Family Weekend is getting families involved with the university to "make sure that parents feel like they are part of the university."
While figures were unavailable on Monday, the weekend's attendance was "way better than average," Cohen said. "It was the biggest crowd we ever had."
A highlight of the weekend was the URI – University of Maine football game, which sold out despite the inclement weather. Also sold out was the Multicultural Dinner Cabaret, which was moved from the Multicultural Center Ballroom to the Memorial Union Ballroom when attendance exceeded the room's capacity.
Other highlights of the weekend included a concert by the Coasters and the Drifters in Edwards Auditorium on Saturday night, as well as Partners in Crime and Detection, an educational presentation that showed the science involved in solving crimes. The event which was held in Will Theatre, featured faculty and students from the Sensors and Surface Technology and Forensic Science Partnerships. It also included a tour of the science laboratories in Kirk Hall.
The cabaret and concert in Edwards had people "dancing in the aisles," Cohen said. The cabaret featured 10 different pieces performed by students that exhibited various cultural influences, from spoken word to African, Bolivian, and Salsa-inspired song and dance.
The last piece had audience members joining performers in a moving rendition of "Lean On Me."
One parent said the dinner cabaret inspired her to become more involved with multicultural programs sponsored by the local high school in her town, according to Cohen.
Sunday's brunch with URI President Robert Carothers held in the Ram's Den and the Ballroom required three separate seatings to meet the high demand, Cohen said.
The enormous turnout also impacted local businesses, particularly the Holiday Inn at the junction of Routes 1 and 138. Michelle Langley, a student employee at the Holiday Inn, said some parents booked five months in advance to have rooms reserved for the weekend. With other parents reserving rooms right up to Family Weekend, the hotel was nearly sold out of rooms.
"It's pretty much the same every year," Langley said of the demand for rooms.
