SU, Rockapella set the stage for Family Weekend 2008

Matthew R. Snyder
(315) 443-7082

As many as 4,000 family members from around the country are getting ready to come to Syracuse University to visit their students during Family Weekend 2008 — and more than a few might be packing Halloween costumes, Rockapella tickets or SU football fan gear as they prepare for the wide range of activities being offered Oct. 31-Nov. 2. With dozens of academic, social, athletic and cultural opportunities on the schedule, Family Weekend 2008 offers unprecedented opportunities for parents, siblings and other family members to engage with their students’ SU experience.

Highlights of the weekend will include academic samplers, dean’s breakfasts and classroom experiences with some of SU’s leading scholars and teachers; “Trick or Treating with the Greeks” and Halloween activities for children on Friday night; the SU football game against Louisville and a variety of student performances on Saturday; and a Pulse performing arts series concert by top-selling a cappella group Rockapella on Sunday afternoon.

“Family Weekend is a tremendous opportunity for SU to celebrate the family members who make it possible for our students to succeed at college,” says Colleen O’Connor Bench G’89, director of the Parents Office and founding chair of the national Association of Higher Education Parent/Family Program Professionals. “I am thrilled that so many faculty, staff and especially students are coming together to offer parents and families this special experience.”

The Parents Office, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs, hosts Family Weekend in collaboration with offices, departments and recognized student organizations across campus. Most events are free of charge and open to all students and registered family members; some, including the football game and Rockapella concert, require paid tickets. Online registration for Family Weekend has closed, but families can still pay their $40 registration fee on arrival by visiting the Parents Place Hospitality Suite, located in the Panasci Lounge on the third floor of the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center. For a complete calendar of events and details about registration, parking, lodging, transportation and tickets, visit http://parents.syr.edu/FW2008.php.

Family Weekend fees support the dozens of no-fee events offered throughout the weekend, as well as the Parents Office’s efforts to focus on the evolving needs of SU students and their families. A portion of the ticket proceeds from the Rockapella concert will be used for the Parents Office Special Needs fund, which supports students and families in times of crisis.

For more information about the Parents Office and its services, visit http://parents.syr.edu. To learn about the Pulse performing arts series, visit http://pulse.syr.edu. For more information about Family Weekend, call (315) 443- 1200.