Spring Break
Comedy show, President's Brunch draw crowd for Rhody Family Weekend 2008
Whitney Tallarico
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: News
11/6/08 - On Friday, the Quadrangle and the pathways around campus swelled with parents and relatives of students walking around and taking in the sights, as the University of Rhode Island's Family Weekend began.
This year's Family Weekend included a number of activities. On Saturday, URI football played the University of Massachusetts and Jay Leno performed a comedy show at the Ryan Center. On Sunday URI President Robert L. Carothers hosted a brunch.
Maureen McDermott, assistant director of student involvement said, "Four hundred to 500 families usually come each year."
She said it was hard to determine how many parents actually got involved in Family Weekend, since many of the parents chose not to attend URI's planned events.
Some students went home for the weekend, choosing to spend time with their families off-campus. Other parents, like Bill and Paula Totten, spent only Saturday with their child and returned to their homes in Rhode Island.
Even though the football game was not a victory - URI lost by a landslide - "the stands were full on the URI side," Bill Totten said.
The Jay Leno comedy show provided comic relief after the football game, and McDermott said it was "very close to being sold out."
After attending the football game, the Jay Leno show and enjoying a meal at the President's Brunch, parents Barbara and John Marinan, who have a freshman daughter at URI, complimented the events hosted by URI.
Barbara Marinan said, "This was a new thing for us ... It was a good introduction for parents. By coming one time, it helped us to see that our daughter is happy."
She added, "I was really surprised by how much fun we had."
Sons and daughters guided their parents around campus, showing them where they have classes.
After following her student's daily walking paths to and from classes, parent Lisa Ames said, "I was amazed by how much walking the students do."
Parents like Roger and Jen Peters went to the Kingston Emporium and the Spirit Shop to buy URI sweatshirts. The Tottens had their picture taken with their son Ryan in the Memorial Union, and Lisa Ames was "quite pleased with the food at Hope [Commons]."
Diana Sosa, the mother of a freshman, said that her favorite part of the weekend was "just being able to see the campus and [her daughter] Jasmine."
About 380 people, including students, attended the President's Brunch, said Assistant to the Director of the Memorial Union Bonnie Turano.
The number of families who attended this year was lower than in previous years but she said, "The families that were here had a good time and loved being here. The weather was fantastic, and, overall, it definitely was a successful weekend."
This year's Family Weekend included a number of activities. On Saturday, URI football played the University of Massachusetts and Jay Leno performed a comedy show at the Ryan Center. On Sunday URI President Robert L. Carothers hosted a brunch.
Maureen McDermott, assistant director of student involvement said, "Four hundred to 500 families usually come each year."
She said it was hard to determine how many parents actually got involved in Family Weekend, since many of the parents chose not to attend URI's planned events.
Some students went home for the weekend, choosing to spend time with their families off-campus. Other parents, like Bill and Paula Totten, spent only Saturday with their child and returned to their homes in Rhode Island.
Even though the football game was not a victory - URI lost by a landslide - "the stands were full on the URI side," Bill Totten said.
The Jay Leno comedy show provided comic relief after the football game, and McDermott said it was "very close to being sold out."
After attending the football game, the Jay Leno show and enjoying a meal at the President's Brunch, parents Barbara and John Marinan, who have a freshman daughter at URI, complimented the events hosted by URI.
Barbara Marinan said, "This was a new thing for us ... It was a good introduction for parents. By coming one time, it helped us to see that our daughter is happy."
She added, "I was really surprised by how much fun we had."
Sons and daughters guided their parents around campus, showing them where they have classes.
After following her student's daily walking paths to and from classes, parent Lisa Ames said, "I was amazed by how much walking the students do."
Parents like Roger and Jen Peters went to the Kingston Emporium and the Spirit Shop to buy URI sweatshirts. The Tottens had their picture taken with their son Ryan in the Memorial Union, and Lisa Ames was "quite pleased with the food at Hope [Commons]."
Diana Sosa, the mother of a freshman, said that her favorite part of the weekend was "just being able to see the campus and [her daughter] Jasmine."
About 380 people, including students, attended the President's Brunch, said Assistant to the Director of the Memorial Union Bonnie Turano.
The number of families who attended this year was lower than in previous years but she said, "The families that were here had a good time and loved being here. The weather was fantastic, and, overall, it definitely was a successful weekend."
