SIU is gearing up for one of its most anticipated events of the year — Family Weekend 2024. From Sept. 19-21, students, their families and friends are invited to participate in a variety of campus activities. The weekend will include events such as tailgates, sports, campus tours and performances.
For families visiting Carbondale, it offers a chance to experience the place students call home.
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Aaliyah Ross, a student who works for the New Student Programs office, reflected on its significance. She said, “Inviting my own family to come down, cheer me on a little bit, stay the weekend — they made me feel better where I’m at at school… being five, six hours away from home.”
During the first semester, students often go through a significant adjustment period as they settle into their new environment and routines.
“I would say just having some sort of familiarity around you is important,” Ross said. “I’m sure for these incoming freshmen things are maybe a bit hard. We’re definitely diving into the semester now, so just to have your loved ones around you makes your home away from home feel like home even more.”
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For Ross, her experience was about finding a balance between embracing new experiences and staying connected with those who provide a sense of stability.
She said, “I don’t go home as much, I like my routine here on campus being an independent college student, so I would say when my family came for Family Weekend my freshman year, I definitely had a sense of belonging.”
SIU’s Office of Student Engagement and the Student Programming Council have planned a weekend full of events that they said were designed to be entertaining for the whole family.
Sean Cooney, Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Programming, and Student Programming Council Advisor, said, “We’re encouraging families to come down Thursday evening…to take in our family weekend guest speaker, Dan Povenmire. He’s one of the co-creators of ‘Phineas and Ferb’ and has worked on a bunch of animated series. So we’re bringing him in to talk about his experiences, and we’ve done a guest speaker for family weekend for the last three years now.”
Attendees can watch the first home football game as the Salukis take on the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at Saluki Stadium, with tailgating starting hours before the 6 p.m. kickoff.
Ross said, “I think families should look out for the tailgate. We have all kinds of groups—different organizations, different departments here on campus. There’s always free food that people can stop by and grab and maybe even free SIU merchandise.”
Students are encouraged to register their families early and plan ahead for the weekend.
“First come first serve with parking, so definitely be ready. Come find your seats ASAP. Those stands will get packed very quickly, especially with this being our first home game,” Ross said.
The weekend is not just focused on SIU but also on the surrounding community.
Cooney said, “Our local vendors and our vendors for the community are showcasing what they can sell…We do promote other things around the city, whether it’s Sunday morning for different services, or a Touch of Nature event. Fraternities and sororities are doing their annual Greek Sing as well. There’s just a ton of stuff going on.”
He said he hopes the variety of activities ensures there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
“Whether that’s a family going and seeing ‘Inside Out 2’ with their grandparents and their younger siblings, or going to the football game on Saturday, I think it’s our job to make sure there’s a lot of good memories,” Cooney said. “What I see when I work is all the students excited to see their family for the first time in a while.”
Cooney emphasized the importance of ensuring that families feel valued and integral to the Saluki community. He said he wants them to share in the office’s excitement about having them on campus and being a part of the Saluki family throughout the student’s entire time at school.
“We’re trying to build up that community,” Cooney said. “So we like to say that, a student isn’t just a Saluki, but so is all the family that supports them, because it takes a village to help a student get through college and we want to celebrate that too.”
Cooney himself is a two degree alum.
“I’ve been here since 2013. I have very fond memories of family weekends and having my family come down and see me when I was first dropped off here as a freshman, the first time I was away from home,” he said.
For him, these visits still stand out as a meaningful part of his college experience as they helped to make campus life feel more comfortable and connected.
Cooney said, “It’s really important that I continue that tradition through my office to have opportunities for families to create really good memories.”
For many, Family Weekend is more than just an exciting series of events — it continues to be a celebration of the Saluki community, providing a chance to strengthen bonds and showcase the SIU experience. Whether attending for the first time or returning for another year, this weekend offers opportunities for excitement, connection and Saluki pride.
“I really just encourage families to enjoy campus, enjoy Carbondale and the region as a whole. I think we’re a special university, because we have such a wonderful area around us,” Cooney said. “On top of all of our events, I really hope the families explore southern Illinois and all that it has to offer during the weekend. And I hope they’re coming back every year so they can continue to kind of expand that exploration.”
Here are some highlights for the weekend:
Thursday, Sept. 19
Events kick off at 6:30 p.m. with celebrity speaker Dan Povenmire. Povenmire is best known as a co-creator and executive producer of the popular animated series “Phineas and Ferb”. He has also worked as a writer and director on numerous other animated shows, including “Family Guy” and “SpongeBob SquarePants”.
Friday, Sept. 20
The Student Center will be holding an SIU Craft Fair featuring products made by vendors in the community from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (The Craft Fair will continue on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
Free games will be offered at Bowling and Billiards that night in the Student Center from 4-9 p.m.
The Moonlight Hot Dog Roast and Paddle is one of the outdoor activities offered at SIU’s Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center. From 5:30-9:30 p.m. participants can enjoy a relaxed paddle on Little Grassy Lake under the moonlight, followed by a classic campfire-style hot dog roast.
An outdoor showing of the movie “Inside Out 2” will take place at 7:30 p.m. at Itchy Jones Stadium. Snacks and beverages will be provided while supplies last.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Meet at Touch of Nature Camp 2 for the Rocky Ledges 5K and 10K at 10 a.m. Registration is required.
Greek organizations will be showcasing their singing and dancing talents at their annual Greek Sing event on the steps of Shryock at 11 a.m.
The Family Weekend Tailgate will be held at Saluki Row from 3-5 p.m. Food will be provided free of charge while supplies last. Guests should register before arrival.
Attendees can head to Saluki Stadium at 6 p.m. to watch an SIU football game against Southeast Missouri State.
Sunday, Sept. 22
Register for the Saluki Family Association Brunch from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Saluki Plaza – Alumni Center. This event will provide the opportunity to visit with other SIU families and make long-lasting connections.
A full schedule of events can be found on the Family Weekend website.
Email New Student Programs at [email protected] with any questions or contact the Saluki Family Association at 618-453-1000.
For disability accommodation call 618-453-5738.
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