Playing games at Late Nite and singing country songs at John R. Emens Auditorium are just a couple of activities University Programs Board planned to bring families together this weekend. The theme this year is "Come Together, Come to Gather," and program coordinator Janice Altland said she thought it explained why the weekend would be successful."It was something I came up with because frankly, if it wasn't for us coming together with departments, other offices and other groups, there wouldn't be a family weekend," Altland said.Instead of mailing brochures of information about Family Weekend to parents, Altland said this year organizers sent a postcard with the Family Weekend Web site address on it in an effort to save money.Between printing and mailing, it usually costs several thousand dollars to send a brochure home, she said."This is probably the way we are going to do it in the future, so if we are not spending thousands dollar on the brochure we can spend it on other activities and advertising," Altland said.Program assistant Lorri Markum said she feels this year's events are particularly appropriate for the whole family.Usually the Late Nite and Family Weekend coordinators work together to plan the Family Weekend Late Nite, but this year Late Nite organizers did it mostly on their own, she said."They geared it towards younger people having something to do +â-óGé¼" having an all-ages environment," Markum said. "They really worked with us on a family-oriented late night."Late Nite, which will be held Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., will feature a juggler, a hypnotist, sand art and air brush tattoos. Admission is free for students with a Ball State I.D. and $5 for all guests.There will also be a concert Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Emens Auditorium featuring Jo Dee Messina and Sugarland. Tickets are still on sale, but Markum said more than 2,000 have been sold.Many departments have planned open houses and recognition events for the weekend. There will also be a carillonneur performance and tour at Shafer Tower at noon on Saturday.The home football game against University of Akron will kick off at 2 p.m. Tailgating begins at noon in the parking lot next to the Ball Diamond. Professional family photos will be taken at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center for sitting fee of $25, and families are encouraged to make reservations.Volunteers are needed to work Family Weekend, and most were recruited through Cardinal Corp, Markum said."They are phenomenal at providing us with volunteers," she said. "All we ever had to do is give them a phone call, and they were immediately ready to get involved."Senior Gennifer Gordon heard about the need for volunteers through Cardinal Corp and said she would be assisting with the family portraits and a dinner Friday night. Her family is from Alabama, so they will not be coming, but she said she still thought Family Weekend was important."It's a good opportunity for families to come to Ball State and get involved and see what the university does +â-óGé¼" especially for freshman," Gordon said. "I guess it makes parents feel better to see what [students] are doing and get involved."Family Weekend 2005 T-shirts are available online and by phone order. Markum said they will also be sold Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Center. Junior Ryan Riecken created the design for the T-shirts."He works in the department, and we were talking about the need for T-shirt sales (and) he said had an idea," Markum said. "There was no question about using it. It was really great."Proceeds from T-shirt sales will go into the Family Weekend fund to support next year's events.
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