Families weekend begins

By Lawanda Turner     9/24/09 7:00pm

This weekend, parents will discover what their sons and daughters have actually been up to in college. Families Weekend began yesterday and continues through Sunday, allowing students and parents alike to experience what Rice and Houston have to offer.This year's Families Weekend theme is "Rice Students. Global Citizens.", according to the Office of International Students and Scholars. This theme is especially fitting, as the university has students representing more than 99 countries, Director of Reunion Programs and Special Events Jennifer Harding said. Rice also welcomed more than 900 new students this year, 13 percent of them international.

The weekend's events are organized by the Office of Alumni Affairs in collaboration with a steering committee that consists of students from each college.

Student Association External Vice President Amber Makhani said the theme of the event encapsulates the Rice student experience.

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"I want families to see that students are well-versed and make an impact locally as well as internationally," Makhani, a Martel College sophomore, said.

Highlights this weekend include surrounding-area museum visits, lectures by members of the faculty, visits to students' classes, sporting events and campus tours that include the new Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center, the BioScience Research Collaborative and Duncan and McMurtry Colleges. The complete schedule can be found at www.ruf.rice.edu/events/famweek/.

Family registration is today from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. and tomorrow from 8 a.m.-4 p.m in the Brochstein Pavilion. Families will also be supplied schedules, guest identifications and maps. The campus store will be open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. today, and walking tours of campus will be departing at 11 a.m. from the Sallyport.

On Thursday, families began the festivities with information sessions for prospective students with the Admissions Office and tours of campus, which will continue throughout the weekend.

Today's events include "Engaging the World through Art," a special invitation to Rice Night at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston at 5 p.m. In addition, from 1 p.m.-8 p.m. families can hitch a complimentary ride on the Museum District Shuttle, which departs from the Ley Student Center. Makhani, who is part of the Families Weekend Steering Committee, suggested taking the half-mile walk down Main Street if possible.

Makhani added that the goal of this year's Families Weekend is to take advantage of the campus' and city's cultural environment.

"Houston is a wonderful place to live, and this event serves as a wonderful cultural immersion," Makhani said.

Some students have been making plans in the days and weeks leading up to this weekend.

"I'm pretty excited to show my dad around and introduce him to different friends I've made," McMurtry freshman Lena Silva said. "Plus, I can't wait to eat dinner at restaurants outside of the Village."

Even students who don't have family coming to visit enjoy the idea behind Families Weekend.

"My family is not coming this year, but they came for Families Weekend my freshman and my sophomore year," Will Rice College senior Dorainne Levy said. "At the end of the day it is great to have family to get your mind off of stressful Rice life.

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