Ursinus College Celebrates Family Day

College students talk a big game. We say we love being back at school, free of Mom’s nagging and Dad’s obnoxious early-morning wake-up calls. We say we don’t miss our little sisters making dates completely awkward and older brothers giving us wedgies at every turn. We say we bask in the freedom, we enjoy not answering to anyone, and we can finally be doing what we want.

We lie.

No matter how bad Mom’s cooking got some nights, Wismer food is just not OK. Those piles of laundry sitting in our rooms are really starting to smell. We actually feel horribly about forgetting to set the alarm and missing last Tuesday’s 8 a.m. class. No one really gets how endearingly you mean “idiot” the way your siblings do.

The truth? We miss our families.

So every year, we put on the facades of being glad to be rid of the “annoyance” and “nagging.” We are big, bad college students doing everything on our own, needing no one.

And then the third weekend of college rolls around, and it’s Family Day at .

Though we like to pretend it’s no big deal, we are indifferent our families came for the festivities, we didn’t really need that pile of stuff we’d forgotten at home, we are glad to see them. We may not always show them, but we do celebrate when our families come to see us. We are happy to have them here, and it is good to see them.

UC’s Student Activities Office understands quite well, and Todd McKinney, Kelli Bodrato and company were not shy about making an event of the celebrations this year!

The festivities began after the 10 a.m. registration time and never seemed to stop. From food to sports to music to animals, there seemed to be something for everyone on campus Saturday.

Sports drew a larger-than-usual crowd at most of the fields on campus. The girls rugby team kicked off at 11 a.m. with a friendly scrimmage down College Avenue, the field hockey team took on Gettysburg at noon, the football boys and volleyball teams followed close behind with 1 p.m. games, and the night wasn’t over until the girls soccer team got started down on Patterson at 6 p.m.

Though sports are an integral part of our campus life, we occasionally squeeze in the whole learning thing once in a while, as well. If academic presentations struck your fancy, several Ursinus summer fellows were presenting their research around campus throughout the day.

Music was also performed throughout the event just in front of the entrance to Lower Wismer. Guests were invited to indulge in a delicious picnic lunch featuring some classic American favorites and listen to great tunes.

Though the guitars were lovely, some folks in the back of the lawn may have had a harder time hearing them over the giggling of children behind them. This year’s Family Day event featured four bounce-house-style activities. From inflated wrecking balls to giant slides, kids of all ages squealed with glee walking through Strassburger Commons and witnessing the sight.

If you could get the little ones away from the bouncing long enough, they probably also had time to find the face-painting, balloon animal artist and petting zoo. From bunnies to cows, this event had it all.

Other events during the day included study abroad presentations, discounts at the Collegeville Farmers Market, a pre-medical society presentation from a dermatologist, both Mass and Protestant-based chapel services, Greek Life activities and more!

Though we may be glad to have our rooms back to ourselves, it was a wonderful day. It was good to see you, families! We really do miss you. Please visit again soon.

Just tell us you’re coming first.