October 08, 2010

Saluki Family Weekend promises good time

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Saluki Family Weekend gives students and their families the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company while participating in assorted Saluki-style fun.

The popular annual celebration is Oct. 15-17. Saluki football and tailgate excitement, campus tours, the annual autumn harvest brunch, a big craft sale, movies, a Broadway musical, free boat rentals and much more are on tap for Saluki Family Weekend 2010. One lucky family will get the honor of being the Family of the Year, winning a prize package including lodging, Saluki apparel and football game tickets.

It’s the first Saluki Family Weekend since the opening of the beautiful new Saluki Stadium and there you can see the Salukis tackle the Jackrabbits from South Dakota State in conference football action. Come early and enjoy free food, games and prizes at the Saluki Family Tailgate.

Here’s a look at what 2010 Saluki Family Weekend has to offer:

Friday, Oct. 15

• Free tours and use of Student Recreation Center facilities for family members of students, 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Visit the Welcome Desk on the lower level for details and bring a photo ID.

• Family weekend craft sale, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Student Center, first floor. Vendors from all over the region offer a variety of crafts for holiday gifts and special souvenirs. Check out the handmade candles, ceramics, photographs and handcrafts of all kinds.

• Free boat rentals, noon-6 p.m., campus boat dock. Rent paddleboats, canoes and rowboats free, weather permitting. Bring a photo ID.

• “Despicable Me,” movie from Student Programming Council, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. shows, Student Center Auditorium. It’s a computer-animated comedy with the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig and Miranda Cosgrove spinning the tale of supervillain Gru, who plots to use three orphan girls in an evil scheme but finds their innocent love changing him instead. Tickets are $2 for SIUC students and children ages 3-10 and $3 for the general public.

• “Crazy for You,” Broadway musical performance, 7:30 p.m., McLeod Theater. Based on the 1930 “Broadway hit “Girl Crazy,” this George and Ira Gershwin musical tells the tale of a rich playboy who goes west to foreclose on a small town music hall but instead falls in love with the local postmistress and produces a big show to save it. You’ll recognize many of the tunes in the show, including “I’ve Got Rhythm” and “Embraceable You.” Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and $6 for SIUC students and children. To purchase tickets (some additional fees may apply), visit the McLeod Theater Box Office, call 618/453-6000 or go online to www.southernticketsonline.com. The Department of Theater, in association with the School of Music, is sponsor.

Saturday, Oct. 16

• Free Tours and use of the Student Recreation Center for family members of students, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Current SIUC student with ID must accompany family members. Visit the information desk on the upper level for details.

• Family weekend registration, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Student Center’s east entrance. Sign up to get the latest schedule of events for the weekend and enjoy free refreshments.

• Campus tours, beginning on the hour, each hour from 9 a.m. through noon, leaving the east entrance of the Student Center. Enjoy a 40-minute train tour guided by an SIUC student. Seats are free and available on a first come, first served basis.

• Family weekend craft sale, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Student Center, first floor.

• Student Center Craft Shop activities, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Student Center, lower level. Visit the Craft Shop and enjoy working with pottery wheels, woodworking tools, making wax hand sculptures or participating in other walk-in activities. You can even glaze a ceramic vessel and then see it fired during the Raku pottery firing outside that day.

• Raku pottery firing, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Student Center, south patio.

• Brunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Lentz and Trueblood Dining Halls. Join students for brunch at one of these residence halls. Tickets, available at the entrance of each hall, are $8.50 plus tax per person for the all-you-care-to-eat meal.

• 74th Annual Greek Sing, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Shryock Auditorium steps. Members of the Greek fraternities and sororities at SIUC will perform some of their favorite songs in a fun, spirited competition. In case of rain, the Inter-Greek Council event moves to the Student Center.

• Pre-game tailgate, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., outside the new Saluki Stadium. People will gather in the open parking areas around the stadium to grill and participate in tailgate activities. Many already have space reservations so check the tailgate policy online at http://www.dps.siu.edu/police_tailgate.htm.

• Saluki Family Tailgate, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saluki Row, west of Saluki Stadium. Everyone is welcome at this tailgate featuring free food, games and prizes. Sponsors are the Saluki Family Association, University Housing and Saluki First Year. For more information, contact New Student Programs at 618/453-1000 or visit the website at www.salukifamily.siu.edu.

• Free boat rentals at campus boat dock, noon-6 p.m. Visit campus lake and get free rental of paddleboats, canoes and rowboats, weather permitting and on a first come basis. Bring photo ID.

• Saluki football, 2 p.m., Saluki Stadium. See the SIUC gridiron squad take on the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in Missouri Valley Football Conference action. All general public tickets are reserved seating and the cost is $20 for adults or $12 for those high school age or younger. SIUC students get in free with their student ID and enjoy seating in a designated student section. Purchase tickets in advance at www.siusalukis.com or by calling 1-877-SALUKIS.

• Dinner, 4-7 p.m., Lentz and Trueblood Dining Halls. You can enjoy all-you-can-eat dinner buffet with the students at either of these two residence halls. Tickets are $8.50 plus tax per person and you purchase them at the entrances to the dining halls.

• Student Programming Council film showings of “Despicable Me,” 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Student Center Auditorium. Tickets are $3 for the general public and $2 for SIUC students and children 10 and younger.

• “Crazy for You,” 7:30 p.m., McLeod Theater. Tickets for the Broadway production are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and $6 for children and SIUC students. Look online at www.southernticketsonline.com or call 618/453-6000 for details.

Sunday, Oct. 17

• Autumn Harvest Brunch, 10:30-1 p.m., Student Center Ballrooms. Enjoy a buffet featuring walnut and rice salad, sweet onion with sherry rosemary broth, maple and brown sugar glazed carrots, green beans with caramelized onions, pork sausage links, cheesy scramble with potatoes, cider glazed chicken breast, fresh fruit display, pound came with fruits compote, pumpkin pie, assorted pastries, coffee, tea and juice. Get tickets in advance at the business office on the second floor of the student center or by calling 618/453-3478. The cost is $13 for adults, $12 for SIUC students and people age 60 and older and $7 for children ages 5-10. Tickets are $1 higher at the door. Children age four and younger eat free.

• Free tours and usage of Student Recreation Center, 1-10 p.m. Family members of SIUC students can enjoy tours and use the facilities of the Student Recreation Center free.

• “Crazy for You,” 2 p.m., McLeod Theater. View the Broadway music with tickets at $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and $6 for SIUC students and children. Visit www.southernticketsonline.com or call 618/453-6000 for tickets or more information.

Many of the other campus stores and facilities including the University Bookstore and Student Center Bowling and Billiards will offer specials and discounts during Family Weekend.

For more information about Saluki Family Weekend, contact University Programming at 618/453-2721 or visit www.siucstudentcenter.org.