Siblings Weekend allowed Fairfield University students to share their home away from home with those closest to them. From Feb. 10 to 12, students and siblings were able to participate in a variety of events organized by the Fairfield University Student Association. Some of the activities included two movie nights in the Gonzaga Auditorium showing “Moana” and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” stuffing emoji slippers in the South Side Café in Faber and tie dyeing t-shirts in the Gonzaga Auditorium.
According to Molly Strang ’18, director of programming at FUSA, 109 siblings registered for the weekend. A majority of those registered were siblings from the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2017. The attendance of the event has grown compared to previous years. Last year 96 siblings were registered. In past years, the average registration was only 40 to 50 siblings.
Colleen Wilson, assistant director of student programs at the Office of Student Engagement, agreed with Strang’s statistics by saying that this Siblings Weekend was the best attended.
“Siblings weekend has always been popular, but its popularity is definitely growing due to FUSA spending more time on the marketing and promotion of the weekend,” said Wilson.
According to Wilson, one of the more popular events at Siblings Weekend throughout the years is the “make your own” fish tank event. Students and siblings are able to pick out their own fish, design their own tank and bring the fish back home with them.
Another crowd-pleasing event was the trip to the Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park.
“I was surprised a lot of upperclassmen and their siblings were at the park,” said Strang.
For some of the older brothers and sisters, it was a chance for them to see the school for themselves.
“Siblings were able to learn more about the Fairfield community through our campus
scavenger hunt, our trip to Rockin’ Jump and by having the chance to eat meals in the dining hall and the Stag,” said Wilson.
Other students take it as an opportunity for their siblings to experience college life and bring them out on the town. Strang believed that most of the visitors came to the FUSA sponsored activities.
“A lot of the registered siblings actually attended the events, rather than just visit. Even some parents came and asked for extra food vouchers,” said Strang.
Unfortunately, some students weren’t aware of the event and were unable to attend.
“Last year, all of my siblings came and we really enjoyed the activities FUSA held, but I didn’t know when Siblings Weekend was this year. Once I found out, it was too late to register,” said Abigail Kirchner ‘19.
Regardless of whether or not other students were able to make it, those who attended enjoyed a weekend with their family.
“I actually brought my cousin to Siblings Weekend,” said Monica Wile ‘20, “We were always so close growing up, so it’s nice to spend time with her. It was just a little weird to see her in a college environment.”
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