Correction appended.
Although Migos canceled its Sibs Weekend show, students will still be able to have adventures, such as ziplining and hiking, with their families.
Ohio University has been welcoming students’ siblings for a weekend full of events for years, each year bringing something new to the table. Although this year will be one of the years that will not have a Sibs Weekend concert, there will still be other activities held.
“Migos canceling was a little stressful. It was a bit of a surprise, especially since it was one of the main events,“ Jade Hunt, graduate assistant for Parent and Family Affairs in the Office of the Dean of Students, said.
Hunt, who worked with planning Sibs Weekend in 2016 as well, graduated from OU in 2014. She is back earning her masters in the higher education and student affairs program.
When Hunt was an undergraduate student studying psychology at OU, she felt like she didn’t always take advantage of weekends like Sibs Weekend, she said. She misses being able to invite her family to come visit, and she encourages students to participate while they can.
“Sibs Weekend is more of a festive time ... where Bobcats really enjoy having cousins or brothers and sisters around ... to show them what it is like to be a college student,” Jamie Patton, the assistant dean of students, said.
Festive weekends, such as Sibs Weekend, are often seen as welcoming and more crowded than regular weekends, but each of those special weekends has a “different flavor,” Patton said.
Not all colleges and universities offer a Sibs Weekend, but students like Shradha Parekh, a freshman studying business pre-law, are glad OU does. Parekh plans to bring her younger sister and brother down to visit for the weekend.
“They’ve never been to campus, so I’m just going to show them around … hopefully take them to the chocolate factory, too,” Parekh said.
Parekh considers herself close with her siblings and is looking forward to seeing them this weekend.
“I think it’ll just be really nice to see them since I haven’t in a while,” she said.
OU takes pride in being able to host the families and friends of its students while sharing its campus and events with others, Judd Walker, the director of Outdoor Pursuits, said.
“It’s important to get student siblings involved in activities, because it makes their visit memorable and connects them to OU in a lasting, meaningful way,” Walker said in an email.
Outdoor Pursuits has more than just food and entertainment to consider while planning special weekend events.
“We have to plan everything from food to vehicles to emergency action plans,” Walker said in an email. “The plans are made by myself in collaboration with my graduate students. The on-the-ground decisions are made by our undergraduate student staff.”
This year, the Outdoors Pursuits staff has planned a stargazing and campfire event Friday and Saturday nights, Walker said in an email. They have also organized a ziplining activity at The Ridges on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, along with day hikes to Conkles Hollow in Hocking Hills State Park.
“Sibs Weekend is an excellent opportunity for younger siblings to come visit a college campus to see what it is like to be on a residential campus ... live in a residence hall, to eat in a dining hall and to potentially go to class,” Patton said.
If You Go
What: Sibs Weekend Shabbat Dinner
When: 6 p.m., Friday
Where: Living Learning Center
Admission: Free
What: KOOL-AID: So You Think You’re Famous, presented by BSCPB
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Where: Baker University Center Ballroom
Admission: $3 at the door
What: OHIO Hockey vs. Pitt
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday
Where: Bird Arena
Admission: $6 students, $8 non-students
What: ATHENA: Free Senior Portraits
When: Friday 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Where: Conference Room Hallway, Baker University Center
Admission: FREE
What: Stargazing and Campfire
When: 8 p.m., Friday
Where: The Ridges
Admission: $10
What: Sibs Weekend Zipline Adventure
When: 10 a.m., Saturday and Sunday,
Where: The Ridges
Admission: $25
What: Conkle’s Hollow Day Hike
When: 10 a.m., Saturday
Where: Charles J. Ping Recreation Center
Admission: $20
What: Harry Potter Marathon
When: 12 p.m., Saturday
Where: The Athena Cinema, 20 S Court St.
Admission: $20 for all day, $7 per movie
What: OHIO Men’s Basketball vs. Akron
When: 12 p.m., Saturday
Where: The Convo
Admission: Free for students
What: Sibs Weekend BREAKOUT
When: 12 p.m., Saturday
Where: Charles J. Ping Recreation Center
Admission: $10 per person
What: Framed!
When: 1 p.m., Saturday
Where: Kennedy Museum of Art
Admission: Free
What: Title XI Sibs Weekend Concert
When: 2 p.m., Saturday
Where: The Front Room Campus Coffee House
Admission: Free
What: Sibs Chocolate Factory Extravaganza
When: 2 p.m., Saturday
Where: Baker University Center Ballroom
Admission: Free
What: FACES Modeling
When: 3 p.m., Saturday
Where: Baker Center Theatre
Admission: $4
What: OHIO Women’s Basketball vs. Toledo
When: 3 p.m., Saturday
Where: The Convo
Admission: Free for students
What: The Evening Show, presented by •AVW Productions
When: 6 p.m., Saturday
Where: Bobcat Student Lounge
Admission: Free
What: OHIO Hockey vs. PITT
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday
Where: Bird Arena
Admission: $6 students, $8 non-students
What: OHIO: Late Nights: Sibs Weekend edition
When: 9 p.m., Saturday
Where: Living Learning Center
Admission: Free
What: Midnight Meltdown
When: 10:30 p.m., Saturday
Where: Bird Arena
Admission: $3.50 for students and children, $4 for adults, $3.50 for skate rental
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly spelled Shradha Parekh's name. The article has been updated to show the most accurate information.
