Organizers of Family Weekend aim to make the event more inclusive this year by marketing it to all members of the campus community, officials said.
Tommy Bruce, director of Family Weekend and chief of staff for the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, said his main priority concerning Family Weekend is to make sure the event is focused on campus inclusiveness.
“”We want to make it as welcoming as possible to everyone on campus,”” Bruce said.
This year, a wide range of students – from
We want to make it as welcoming as possible to everyone on campus. It’s not just families of freshman registering.
– Tommy Bruce,
director of Family Weekend and chief of staff for ASUA
transfers to undergraduates to graduates – and their families are participating in the event, Bruce said.
“”It’s not just families of freshman registering,”” Bruce said.
Bruce said his idea of a successful Family Weekend would be families having a “”seamless”” time and feeling like their money was well-spent.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 1,040 families had registered for Family Weekend, and 3,500 people were registered overall.
The figure doesn’t include the people who still attend the event and don’t register, Bruce said.
“”It’s a significant increase from last year,”” Bruce said.
Family Weekend is organized by a committee of about 20 people and usually involves more than 250 volunteers, Bruce said.
Erin Hertzog, ASUA president, said Family Weekend is important because it allows parents to get a glimpse of student life, and it is also an opportunity for the UA to showcase all of the great things it has to offer.
Hertzog said the inclusive theme of Family Weekend is great for students who may not be acclimated to university life.
“”It has more meaning to someone who may not have found his or her place,”” she said.
The event costs about $85,000, most of which comes from registration fees and sponsorships, Bruce said.
Hertzog said all campus organizations and departments are encouraged to be a part of Family Weekend, so parents can see where their dollars are going.
“”(We’re) enrolled in a really great, outstanding university,”” Hertzog said.
President Robert Shelton said Family Weekend is a great opportunity for students to realize that the university is not some strange place.
“”These weekends are just so important because they demonstrate to families both in the communities and both far away what the university is,”” Shelton said. “”It is a public university that belongs to them.””
Organizers and officials alike said they are excited for this weekend.
“”It will be a blast,”” Bruce said.
