Although most consider February a time for romantic partners, Ohio University students prepared for the weekend of Feb. 7-9 by setting up air mattresses and planning a weekend of quality sibling bonding time. This past weekend was Sibs Weekend at OU when the university opened its gates to siblings of current Bobcats.
Bobcats paraded their siblings around Athens, giving them a glimpse of their college life. Joshua Knotts, assistant director for programming, noted the importance of weekends like this.
“Your family is a support system for you,” Knotts said. “Whether it be an older sibling or a younger sibling, it's important for you to show them the hard work that you’re doing.”
The university and various campus organizations provided many activities for students to take their siblings to.
Friday night, The Black Student Cultural Programming Board presented their Apollo night in Baker University Theater, showcasing student performances. Saturday, the fourth floor of Alden Library hosted a Sibs Weekend button-making activity.
Angelina Fierro, a sophomore studying social work, planned to attend these university-held events with her four siblings and their partners.
“We’re doing a few things the university is doing,” Fierro said. “I know we’re doing the hockey game … as well as Alden is doing button making, and then we’re stopping by the HTC house for their Siblings Weekend event.”
Fierro’s siblings are much older, so coming together as a family is rare. One spot Fierro is determined to take her siblings and guests to is Donkey Coffee, located at 17 W. Washington Street.
Sibs Weekend allows students to bond with their siblings in a different manner than when parents are present.
“I think Siblings Weekend allows for different kinds of activities because it’s just more catered to people who are more our age or younger,” Fierro said.
While students with older siblings could experience Athens nightlife together, those with younger siblings had various entertainment options.
Malie Miller, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering, and Kylie Turnwald, a sophomore studying nursing, had a total of five younger siblings visiting. Miller said they didn’t have an agenda for the weekend and decided to instead let the day take them wherever.
"We went to the basketball game today and then it was kind of just going with the flow from there,” Miller said.
The men's basketball team took the court at 2 p.m. Saturday against Appalachian State and the men's hockey team had back-to-back games all weekend long. Ping Recreation Center hosted a Sibs Weekend cycling class, as well as an F45 class.
While the campus provided several activities to immerse siblings in OU life, Bobcats could also take their siblings uptown for some local exposure.
“The local community, whether it be seeing a movie at the Athena, or taking them to one of our restaurants … you have the opportunity to take them out,” Knotts said.
Miller said her siblings wanted to explore uptown Athens and the many small shops and cuisine Court Street has to offer.
“They wanted to go to Court Street, so bad, all the time,” Miller said. “They love to walk up and down Court Street.”
Even with so much to do around Athens, Miller said he was mostly excited to see his siblings and spend quality time with them.
“I was just excited to see them all because I haven’t seen them in a long time,” Miller said.
