Students' siblings to visit 'U' campus for weekend

Instead of invading their siblings bedroom at home like old times, more than 200 brothers and sisters will invade their siblings' campus.

Encouraging family ties and sponsoring three days of activities, six students organized the Siblings Weekend kick-off planned for today.

"We've structured a safe and really entertaining weekend," said co-founder Peter Yi, an LSA junior.

Yi began organizing the weekend in May with five other students, who he met at last May's Leadershape conference in Lake Fenton, Mich.

Co-founder Kelly Heath said the Student Alumni Council has sponsored similar weekends in the past but the last one occurred at least five years ago.

Students participating in this weekend's activities registered ahead of time and paid $15, which covered costs for the student and one sibling.

The cost for this weekend's activities includes three meals and a visit to Michigras, a mardi-gras type carnival, Yi said.

The weekend will also give students and their siblings a chance to bond while embarking on a scavenger hunt, to look for historical items on campus. The winners will be awarded prizes.

On Saturday night, Siblings Weekend participants have the option of attending the Michigan men's gymnastics meet, an Impact Dance performance, or the Monster's of A cappella concert, which showcases The Friars, Amazin' Blue and The Harmonettes.

The weekend's organizers plan to conclude the weekend with a student showcase, featuring performances by dancers from the Indian American Student Association, the Michigan Dance Team, a student a cappella group named Dixon Jane and dancers from the Native American Student Association.

"We had a larger turn out than we expected," Yi said.

Yi added that due to limited resources, 50 students who wanted to bring their brothers or sisters had to be turned down.

"We want the siblings to see a lot of different groups on campus as well as campus life," Yi said.

The committee has primarily targeted first-year students through advertising the weekend at resident halls, Yi said.

He added that most of the siblings expected to visit this weekend range from ages 15 to 18.

Co-founder Sumeet Karnick said he hopes the weekend will "promote the campus and relationships between family."

LSA sophomore Erin Eisenberg said she will bring her 15 year old sister, Kati.

Eisenberg, who said she learned of the weekend from a flier she received in her East Quad Residence Hall mailbox, plans on attending the Monster's of A cappella concert with her sister tomorrow.

"It will be nice," she said. "We don't usually get to hang out, just the two of us without the family."

The organizers have recruited numerous organizations and businesses to sponsor the weekend. Among others, the list includes Michigan Book and Supply, Anderson Consulting, Airtouch, the Residence Hall Association and the Michigan Student Assembly.

Corporate sponsors have provided Michigan T-shirts and keychains for the weekend.

Heath said the group has had a good time putting the weekend together and "it's definitely going to happen next year," Heath said.

-Daily Staff Reporter Angela Bordoni contributed to this report.

02-19-99