On the weekend of February 23, 2018, the Student Activities Office, and the Activities Council of Bradley University joined forces to host the annual Siblings Weekend. Starting on that Friday and ending on Sunday February 25, Bradley University students and their siblings participated in a wide variety of activities.
Bradley students were allowed to register their siblings for the event in the weeks leading up to the weekend. For $30, siblings received a pass to Markin, a ticket for the basketball game, Saturday and Sunday brunch, a movie ticket, two concession vouchers for the movie, and a Siblings Weekend backpack. Siblings were encouraged to bring sleeping bags to stay in the dorms with their Bradley siblings.
Many of the activities held around campus were designed for all ages. In addition to several events being held for the Siblings Weekend, many regular Bradley events were held during the weekend as well. This included Late Night BU on Friday night and several movie screenings in they Marty Theater throughout the entire weekend. Participants were also encouraged to go to the men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon against Indiana State.
According to Cara Wood, Bradley University Director of Student Activities, the Siblings Weekend has been a spring semester staple. Wood said that it “allows ACBU to program the entire weekend.” Wood also said that the Siblings weekend goes back to at least 2005 according to the records she could find. She explained that instead of bringing the whole family along for a weekend like they do for the Parents Weekend, they wanted to include something that encourages siblings to come on campus. Despite that parents are still welcomed to participate in the activities.
When asked whose idea it was to come to Siblings weekend, Zach B., 17, from Germantown Hills, Ill., said “It was my mom’s idea to come.” Among other participants, parents seemed to be the driving reason in coming to the event. However many other siblings were glad to see their older siblings in what could be a different environment for the average younger sibling.
Many of the participants were looking forward to a variety of the activities being offered, however Jackie L., from Lemont Ill. said “I’m on the Parent’s board so we had a meeting on Saturday.” She then explained that her and her sons Ryan and Evan, went around to most of the activities and even were able to catch a movie in the Marty Theater.
The most anticipated activities for the week seemed to be a toss up between Late Night BU and the Men’s basketball game. At Late Night BU there was a variety of things to do from corn hole to even stuffing your own stuffed animal. Along with the activities food was being offered, this ranged from a chocolate fountain to pizza later in the night.
The weekend officially ended with a pep rally after the Men’s basketball game at Renaissance Coliseum.
With a little over 200 people registered, Siblings Weekend 2018 was successful in bringing siblings together this semester. Siblings Weekend 2019 will be something to look forward to next year.