The Arizona Daily Wildcat presents
Family Weekend
2010
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NEWS
• friday, october 8, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
family weekend Calendar
Friday, October 8 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Family Weekend Kick-Off Fair
Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
UA Visitor Center Open Classes for UA families
10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m.
Career Services tour
11 a.m.
Think Tank Information Table
11 a.m.
Student Scholarship Services Project table on the UA Mall
Noon
UA Parents & Family Association Annual Faculty & Staff Luncheon
1 p.m.
Think Tank
2 p.m.
What’s It Like To Be In A Lecture Or Online Class?
1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. 3 - 5 p.m.
Campus tours Rainbow Family Reception
3 - 5 p.m.
3 p.m.
UA College of Nursing’s Open House
Saturday, October 9 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
College of Engineering Welcome Cookout
4:30 p.m.
Read Like a Faculty Member
5 - 7 p.m.
10 a.m. What’s It Like To Be In A Lecture Or Online Class? 11 - 12:30 p.m.
Bear Down Fridays Student Union Gallery open hours
Legacy Lunch
Open 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
1 - 4 p.m.
Stargazing at Steward
7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Double Feature — Gallagher playing “Toy Story 3” and “Twilight: Eclipse”
Honors College-New Student Convocation
11 - 1 p.m.
5:30 p.m. Family Weekend Shabbat Dinner 7 - 10 p.m.
Rec Center Tournaments
Special Showing: “Murderball”
4 - 6 p.m.
5 - 7 p.m.
Gordon Bates/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Fireworks and a sellout crowd helped ignite the Arizona Wildcats to a 34-27 victory over the then-No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes.
UA Visitor Center Zona Zoo Tailgate
4 p.m. Football Game: Arizona vs. Oregon State 7 p.m.
Family Weekend Barbecue
7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Double Feature — Gallagher
9 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Games Night
Gordon Bates/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wildcats show their school spirit at Main Gate Square’s weekly pep rally, Bear Down Fridays.
10 p.m.
Comedy Corner UA Hispanic Alumni’s Hispanic Heritage Day Tailgate FIESTA
Sunday, October 10 Tucson Walk for Valley Fever Single Round Canine Agility Fun Course 8 a.m. Three Rounds Canine Agility Fun Course 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Send Off Brunch
All new exhibits, light shows and lecture series at UA Science: Flandrau celebrating the 50th anniversary of the laser. Open now. Call 520-621-7827 or visit www. flandrau.org www.facebook.com/uasciencecenter
Laserfest!
8 a.m. 8 a.m.
NEWS
arizona daily wildcat • friday, october 8, 2010 •
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College of SBS to recognize top students Dean’s List. This year, 864 invitations were sent out, compared to 719 last year, according to Cherie McCollum, executive assistant to the dean. She said there usually is an increase annually because the student body increases every year, in addition to the number of students who switch majors.
By Yael Schusterman Arizona Daily Wildcat Kaitlin Simpson will stand before about 200 students in Centennial Hall this afternoon to deliver a speech at the Honors Recognition Ceremony, an academic award ceremony the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences holds annually. “I am happy to have ended up in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences because I have been able to learn the importance of the study of human beings,” said Simpson, a communication senior. “Through understanding human beings, we can better understand the world we live in.” Simpson was asked to speak at the ceremony as an honors student, being an award recipient for the past three years. “I am happy to have been able to continue to succeed throughout each year and I have been able to do well enough to continue to receive the award,” Simpson said. She said she has been able to apply her studies to her daily life, specifically internships. Knowing the behaviors and cognitions of individuals has assisted her in understanding human behaviors and handling social situations, Simpson said. Rather than expressing any nervousness, she said she is excited to speak to students to whom she can relate. “I’m speaking to students who have reached a certain grade point average, and these are students who are putting forth extra effort in college and doing well academically,” Simpson said. There are four awards that will be presented: Highest Academic Distinction, Academic Distinction, Dean’s List with Distinction and
HIGHEST ACADEMIC DISTINCTION 4.0 GPA for 30 units in the 2009-10 Academic Year ACADEMIC DISTINCTION 3.5 - 3.9 GPA for 30 units in the 2009-10 Academic Year DEAN’S LIST WITH DISTINCTION 4.0 GPA for 15 units in one semester in the 2009-10 Academic Year DEAN’S LIST 3.5 - 3.9 GPA for 15 units in one semester in the 2009-10 Academic Year “We usually have 120 students who come,” McCollum said. Ray Almanza, philosophy senior, is looking forward to receiving his first academic award. He admits his freshman year was not his best, but he has built up his GPA ever since. Almanza continues to work hard in school AWARDS, page B4
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Ariel Molk, majoring in English and political science, Asher, a history major, and Eliza, a journalism major, all juniors, are very close triplets who enjoy attending the UA and keep in touch throughout each week.
UA triplets ‘not attached at hip,’ but glad to be together By Brenna Goth Arizona Daily Wildcat Triplets Ariel, Asher and Eliza Molk never expected to end up at the same university. “Basically, we never planned on sticking together,” said Ariel Molk, a junior studying English and political science. Eliza Molk was set on attending the UA; Asher Molk considered other state universities and Ariel Molk said she planned on “getting away.” But when the time came to choose colleges, the triplets traded Phoenix for Tucson. “It’s nice having family around,” Ariel Molk said. Though the three have attended the same school their entire lives, they said they have always maintained separate lives and identities. “Our parents always emphasized, ‘You are different people,’” said Eliza Molk, a journalism junior. “We have different activities.” Ariel Molk is active in the Hillel UA Foundation, a member
of the Arizona Students’ Association and plays intramural softball. Asher Molk is part of Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity, and plays basketball recreationally. Eliza Molk is part of the UA Young Democrats, active in a political campaign and is a member of Phi Alpha Delta, a pre-law fraternity. “Our dad calls us day, dawn and dusk,” Eliza Molk said. “That’s how different we are.” The three have yet to share a class after more than two years at the UA. “Let me think about that,” said Asher Molk, a history junior. “Nope. We’ve never had class together.” Each triplet lives separately and the three are not “attached at the hip,” according to Ariel Molk. She said they manage to hang out with one another several times a week. “It’s never planned, but you always have someone to call,” Ariel Molk said. She said the three share a special bond when they do get together.
“There’s definitely a deeper connection,” Ariel Molk said. “Especially when it comes to humor. We can sit and laugh for three hours all together.” Eliza Molk said the hilarity can elude those unrelated. “People say, ‘How can you think that’s so funny?’” Eliza Molk said. “But we do.” The triplets also receive monthly visits from their parents. They don’t have any other siblings, which made their departure difficult. “My dad cried every single day,” Ariel Molk said. “He calls it the empty nest.” She said her dad finds ways to visit them in Tucson frequently. “He will say he’s going food shopping and return to Phoenix five to six hours later,” Ariel Molk said. The three said their parents will visit Tucson in October, but will not come for structured Family Weekend events. “It’s too complicated with triplets to follow a schedule,” Ariel Molk said. “We’re all over the place.”
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NEWS
• friday, october 8, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
LGBTQ groups broaden definition of family By Bethany Barnes Arizona Daily Wildcat Providing student support and making sure every family feels represented during Family Weekend is the Office of LGBTQ Affairs and ASUA Pride Alliance’s goal. Today from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Affairs and ASUA Pride Alliance will be hosting the Rainbow Family Reception for LGBTQ people and their allies. “It’s just a really good outlet to have during Family Weekend — especially for kids that may be struggling with their sexuality and they want their parents to be in tune,” said Christian Bracamonte, former ASUA Pride Alliance intern and a senior majoring in family studies and human development. The reception offers a chance for students and parents to socialize and check out the support UA offers for LGBTQ students — a support that Bracamonte feels is more crucial than ever in light of several suicides this past month. “We are trying to get to the point of making people realize that ignorance and hatred — it takes lives,” Bracamonte said. “If they don’t feel like they have the support, they will take their (own) lives. It’s literally an issue of these kids lives now.” Bracamonte considers himself very lucky growing up with a mom who is very supportive. When Bracamonte’s mom attended an LGBTQ event on campus, Bracamonte said she felt for the students who did not have supportive parents. “She was just amazed at how many students were just like, ‘Oh, I wish my mom would come,’” Bracamonte said. Just because a student may be out and proud, it doesn’t mean their parents are, Bracamonte said, and it wasn’t until coming to college and seeing people who are adults who don’t have that support that he realized how lucky he was. Jennifer Hoefle, program director for the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, emphasizes the idea of support, noting that many students aren’t out when they get to the UA, so having services and support for all students is imperative. “Coming out is different for
every person,” Hoefle said. “Some people lose people some people lose everyone.” Hoefle says that in light of the recent suicides, they are looking at just how much it means to connect. “I’ve had students say that it’s (having support that) saved them,” Hoefle said. “If you connect to people and connect to community — that’s often what people need to feel accepted and loved in their lives.” Parents appreciate seeing support for their students and their family, Hoefle said. Last year Hoefle had a parent tell her “seeing this rainbow family event on the list of events for Family Weekend is what made me know that there would be a place for me and my family that weekend.” Jai Smith, ASUA Pride Alliance co-director and sociology senior, said that last year they had a large turnout with many LGBTQ parents who had allied students in attendance. “(LGBTQ parents) were excited to see something that was affirming LGBT families and it made them feel more welcome and affirmed on campus,” Smith said. This is the third year they have done the reception for Family Weekend and attendance has steadily grown. “Last year I remember people being happy that it was there and slowly telling their families about it,” Bracamonte said. “I think it will probably be the biggest it has been this year.” LGBTQ alumni who have students attending the UA are glad to see what the support UA now offers according to Bracamonte. “(LGBTQ alumni) were just really proud that, that was even there at the school, they are happy it was there because it wasn’t there for them,” Bracamonte said. This year PFLAG Tucson: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays will be at the event and sending some supportive parents of LGBTQ students. “If your family is not supportive and not coming to Family Weekend — because sadly that is the case for some of our LGBTQ students — then come to this reception,” Hoefle said. “If you don’t come from a family that is supportive … whatever that case may be for you, then you can come and get that family … this would be a chance to get that feeling even if its not your parents or biological family.”
if you go Rainbow Family Reception Union Gallery, Student Union Memorial Center 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Above, Jeffrey and Pamela Bell met while working on Spring Fling for ASUA in the 1980s. Today, their son, Taylor Bell (right with his wife and parents) is an ASA member. Courtesy of Taylor Bell
ASA member follows in parents’ footsteps By Jazmine Woodberry Arizona Daily Wildcat Taylor Bell tried to rebel, but in the end, he became a Wildcat, just like his parents before him. “I went to Biola University (for my undergraduate degree),” Bell said, now a James E. Rogers College of Law student. “I kind of rebelled against them. My dad even sent me down here for a weekend.” “I’m here for law school, and now that I’m here, I’m trying to be as involved as I can,” he followed. “I got accepted to both ASU and UA, and if it weren’t for my parents going here, I definitely wouldn’t have come.” An active member in the Associated Students of the University of Arizona and the Arizona Students’ Association, Bell is a second-generation ASUA member and a fourthgeneration Wildcat. “I decided to keep the legacy going,” he said. His work in ASA, founded just a few years before his parents met, is just one way that Bell pushes his family’s legacy forward. “My parents came here for
AWARDS
continued from page B3 and has described his experience as a learning process, developing the skills each year to become a better student. He decided to attend the ceremony and take the opportunity to reflect on his academic achievements with his father, who is coming in from Phoenix to show his support. He knows some students who have received several awards in college, and he said that could be a reason why the majority of
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students invited to participate do not attend. Stephanie De Sola, anthropology senior who has received other awards in the past, is not attending the ceremony. She said she was surprised when she received the email, unsure of what it was. “I only received an email stating that it was an honors ceremony for SBS (Social and Behavioral Sciences) on such and such date and to respond by a certain time,” De Sola said. “I feel that many students do not attend because they are not receiving information about the awards and ceremonies.”
Linguistics senior Ethan Dickinson attended the ceremony last year and described it as “kinda fun.” He said the speeches were inspiring, and the free food was a nice addition. Dickinson says he takes pride in his near 4.0 GPA and enjoys his classes. This has been the motivating factor for his success and has made his time as a student a pleasant experience. “I’m excited to be there and speak to fellow students, my department and meet people there who are as passionate about the same studies as I am,” Simpson said.
In order to survive, you need to be able to recognize the real aliens from the weirdos. For your own survival, read The Arizona Daily Wildcat
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undergrad, and they were pretty graduates from law school. involved,” Bell said, whose father, “That’s one of the main reasons,” Jeffrey Bell — a Delta Chi — and he said. “Education is very mother, Pamela Corbin (Bell) — important, and I would definitely be an Alpha Phi — met during the able to suggest the UA for my kids.” planning of 1980’s ASUA Spring Even today, the connection his Fling, a student-run carnival that parents forged at the UA is strong, the UA hosts each as he joked about year. “They met them reliving their ““It’s one thing to look at moments at Gentle because he was running Spring it through a yearbook. Ben’s Brewing Fling and my mom Co. on University It is another thing to was working for Boulevard, altered see it through their him. They kind of from the ’80s eyes, to walk down the version by the kept it on the downlow at first because street and through the construction of the she was working for Tucson University neighborhood where him.” Marriott Park they used to live.”” His parents aren’t hotel, and getting the only ones. His — Taylor Bell, excited for a great-grandfather ASA member and 30-year Bobcat attended UA’s law reunion during UA law student school in the 1930s, this year’s 125th and his grandfather anniversary pursued an undergraduate UA homecoming celebration. degree in the late 1950s. “It’s one thing to look at it After getting married shortly through a yearbook,” Bell said of after college, his parents had his parents’ experience, and now Bell, who, despite not pursuing his own, at the UA. “It is another his undergraduate degree here, thing to see it through their eyes, is loving his UA experience. to walk down the street and In fact, he and his wife through the neighborhood where want to start a family after he they used to live.”
520.615.3970
SPORTS
arizona daily wildcat • friday, october 8, 2010 •
Dosty legacy carries on
Robbie, Whitney put family in McKale Center lore By Alex Williams Arizona Daily Wildcat Robbie Dosty’s basketball career at Arizona ended almost 30 years ago, but the Dosty name is alive and well in McKale Center. “It’s almost beyond description of what you feel,” said Robbie Dosty about watching his daughter, Whitney Dosty, a senior outside hitter on Arizona’s volleyball team, follow in his footsteps as an athlete at the school. “You have pride, then you have a number of emotions … almost like astonishment that 32 or 33 years ago, you spent much of your life in this arena, and now your daughter is doing the same thing.” Whitney Dosty has similar feelings about following in her father’s footsteps. “I think it’s cool,” she said. “He had no idea, and I don’t think I had any idea my entire time growing up, that I would be coming and playing a sport in the same place that he did.” Even though father and daughter are happy how things turned out, they admit it was unintentional. Robbie Dosty said that Whitney Dosty’s college plans weren’t “totally in her hands.” “I did everything I could to kind of influence the decision, without being directly involved in influencing the decision,” he said with a chuckle. Even though her father says that he tried to influence her decision, Whitney Dosty has a different take. She said that, as loyal as her father is to Arizona, he never tried to push her to commit to the university. “Obviously, I know he would want me to stay home, but it was never a big deal,” she said. Although she is following in his footsteps, Whitney Dosty knows that her father wants for her what any father would want for a daughter. “He wanted me to go where I felt happiest,” she said. Initially, Whitney Dosty — a Tucson native — was hesitant to go to school so
close to home. “She liked Texas quite a bit, but I was convinced that Arizona, with coach (Dave) Rubio, was the place to be,” Robbie Dosty said. Whitney Dosty’s recruiting process was a long one. Rated the fourth-best player in the country by PrepVolleyball.com, she had nearly every top program knocking at her door. That didn’t stop Arizona head coach Dave Rubio from selling his program to the best local prospect in years. “The traditional sell was there for sure — carrying on her father’s tradition,” Rubio said. “Everyone was after Whitney.” The family sat down and talked about several areas of concern, the greatest of which were the challenges that face a collegiate student-athlete moving out of state. “If you look at a school and look at a program, and are out of state and everything is going OK, then really you don’t have a lot to worry about or a lot of regrets,” Robbie Dosty said. “But if you leave home and things don’t work out the way you want them to work out — then you’ve got some real issues that you’ve got to deal with on a longdistance basis. I know Whitney’s makeup and Whitney’s character, and she just is not the type of individual that puts up with a lot of nonsense.” Whitney Dosty says that her father had many more words of wisdom to offer her throughout the college experience. “He’s given me a lot of advice,” she said. “Probably (the best advice he’s given is) to enjoy every minute of it, and at the end of the day make sure that it was what I wanted to do, and go where I wanted to go. Now that I’m in college, just do what I want to do and have fun doing it.” The father and daughter also share another similarity in their respective athletic careers — neither will play their sport after college. Although Robbie Dosty was a seventh round pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 1981 NBA Draft, he never played a game. However, Rubio knows that the end of a playing career didn’t hold Robbie Dosty back and won’t affect Whitney Dosty one bit. “Her best days,” Rubio said, “are well in front of her — after college.”
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SPORTS
• friday, october 8, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
Goalie has hall of fame genes By Daniel Gaona Arizona Daily Wildcat
Gordon Bates/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Running back Nic Grigsby has been one of the most productive running backs in Arizona history since the start of his freshman year, but now with his family in town the senior is growing up off the field as well as on it.
Now playing in Tucson: the Grigsby family By Mike Schmitz Arizona Daily Wildcat
Nothing eases pain better than family — just ask Arizona running back Nic Grigsby. The senior spent most of the 2009 season nursing a shoulder injury that affected him both on and off the field. He missed three full games, saw limited time in six and wasn’t exactly everyone’s favorite player to be around. But after urging brother Terris Jones, sister Destiny Grigsby and mother Bernice Grigsby to join him for his senior season in Tucson, Arizona’s electric running back now has his medicine. All four of them live in the same house together, continuing the bond that was absent during the last three years. “It’s definitely good to have the family out here and supporting you and being in your corner,” Nic Grigsby said. “It’s something that I’ve been looking for and waiting for.” The first order of business
was bringing his brother, Jones, to Arizona. Jones, who goes by the name PJ, had offers from a handful of Pacific 10 Conference schools for track after he won the California state championship in triple jump. The California High School product also had offers to play football for Baylor University and Vanderbilt University after finishing his senior year with 1,912 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns. But as has been the case since he was little, Jones listened to the “father figure” in his life. “I had other offers for track and for football, but my brother just decided he wanted me to come here and earn my scholarship, so that’s why I walked on,” said the 5-foot-9, 180-pound back. Both Grigsby and Jones grew up without a father. They “moved everywhere,” and “always had to switch schools,” according to Jones, but have found strength in each other. “We never had a father figure so we all looked up to each
other and (Nic) has always been a father figure to me,” said Jones, who is still only 17 years old. “We’re super close. All my brothers, there’s four of us and one sister. We just got to stick together.” Nic Grigsby has always been protective of his little brother, dating back to their early days. Jones explained that once, when they were younger, some guys tried to jump him after a pickup game, but his big brother “came back with a hammer and scared them away.” Needless to say, the brothersturned-teammates are close. “We do everything together,” Nic Grigsby said. “He tries to be just like me,” he added with a laugh. Jones said that, as brothers do, he and the Wildcats’ starting running back are “always butting heads” at home, but no love is lost. “At the end of the day, we’re still brothers, we love each other,” Jones said. “I’m GRIGSBY, page B10
Steven Sisler was meant to be an athlete, and he can thank his heritage. However, judging from the Sisler bloodline, one would have thought he would be playing baseball instead of hockey. Steven Sisler is the freshman goaltender for the Icecats. He earned the starting spot before the season began and in his first two games totaled 81 saves, but his great-grandfather, grandfather and great-uncle all played Major League Baseball. Steven’s great-grandfather, George Sisler, played 15 years in the big leagues and ultimately became a legend. He played 13 seasons as a first baseman for the St. Louis Browns and registered 2,295 hits with the club. In his sixth season there, George Sisler accomplished a feat that no one could conquer for 84 years. He set the single-season hits record at 257. It came close to being topped in 1929 and 1930 but from there stood strong until Ichiro Suzuki had 262 hits in 2004. Currently, George Sisler still holds the No. 2 spot for hits in a single season. He won the American League MVP in 1922 and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. He was listed on The Sporting News Top 100 players in 1998. George’s sons Dick Sisler and David Sisler also went on to play in the MLB. Dick Sisler, Steven Sisler’s great-uncle, played eight seasons, mainly as a first baseman. He played for three different teams including three seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. He’s best remembered for what he did on the final day of the 1950 season. His three-run, walkoff home run in the 10th inning virtually ripped the National League pennant from the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field and brought it to Philadelphia for the first time since 1915. David Sisler, Steven Sisler’s grandfather, was a pitcher for four different teams. He totaled 355 strikeouts in seven seasons and also
threw a dozen complete games. As for the most recent Sisler athlete, Steven Sisler has a very demanding schedule. Not only is he playing hockey, he’s also a prepharmacy major. However, he still tries to see his grandfather David Sisler a couple times a year and calls him at least once a month. Lately, Steven Sisler has wanted to see him more because he’s been sick. “The last time I saw him was just before I came to UA,” Steven Sisler said. “He’s been dealing with cancer recently, so I’ve been trying to see him a lot more.” Steven Sisler’s father, David Sisler, made the transition from baseball to hockey. He was raised in Dallas and said that baseball wasn’t really a big part of his life. “My dad actually changed from baseball to hockey when he got older,” Steven Sisler said. “I didn’t really grow up around baseball. We went to Texas Rangers games and my dad told me about my grandparents and greatgrandparents, but I was around hockey more than baseball.” Like almost any other child, Steven Sisler grew up playing multiple sports, including soccer and baseball. He took a serious interest in hockey when he started high school. “My parents had me playing all sorts of sports when I was little,” he said. “I didn’t really have any interest in playing baseball because I was more into fast-paced sports like hockey and football.” He feels that his ancestry gives him a slight advantage to most others. His size is a significant factor, as he’s 6 feet tall and weighs 190 pounds. “I think having athleticism in my family helps a lot,” he said. “Especially with hand-eye coordination, which is important.” Steven Sisler is very modest and is surprised by how far he’s actually gotten. Before coming to the Icecats, he played prep and junior hockey. He’s not sure about his athletic future but is planning on being a pharmacist after he finishes school. “It’s every hockey player’s dream to play in the NHL but right now I’m focused on playing for the Icecats,” he said. “I just want to keep my spine as the No. 1 goalie.”
Arizona Daily Wildcat
hot off the press
PERSPECTIVES
arizona daily wildcat • friday, october 8, 2010 •
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Does your mom play Beirut? Johnny McKay ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT
F
Illustration by Adrienne Lobl/Arizona Daily Wildcat
amily Weekend: a time for togetherness, bonding, beer and discovery. Clans from all around the country make the trek down to Tucson to see their college champs and confirm that they are, in fact, completely wasting their tuition money. There are many great activities, but for me, Family Weekend has always come down to one special event. This event, of course, is watching other peoples’ moms play Beirut. It’s truly a magical time in college history and even trumps the other incredible Family Weekend dynamics — awkward littlesister sexual tension and littlebrother alcohol poisoning. Before we proceed any further into this excellent diatribe, there is one crucial, critical and all-important fact we need to get out of the way. It’s called Beirut. I realize that most of the people reading this are from Arizona or California, but I will gleefully and gladly challenge any of you on the subject, as I am right, and you are wrong. You see, when I first arrived here in Arizona from my native coast of East — home of Red Sox, Plymouth Rock and sarcastic remarks — and arrived here in Arizona, a lot of things rang differently. Most of these stimuli, such as “chillness” and “hella” I
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was able to comprehend and adapt to, but there is one thing that I simply will not stand for, especially when people allow me to write things in a published newspaper. It’s called Beirut, not beer pong. Beer pong involves paddles, thus making a remarkably eerie, more than coincidental comparison betwixt it and another game that has paddles, called ping pong. Not a big deal, but I expect to get many angry letters from people who are in the act of “hyphying.” Or who are “Hyphys.” I’m still working on that one. Anyway, the most memorable part of Family Weekend for me has to be the “cool” moms hurling white orbs at cups while everyone around the table completely overreacts with crazed laughter, as if the maternal figure just denounced her love for her child and started burning Bibles (or Korans, if that’s more topical). The biggest reason this happens is, for the most part, students feel the need to impress their parents with the amount they drink here at the UA. I’m sure that, somewhere out in the universe, there exists a place (Oxford?) where the biggest scandal of Family Weekend is moms taking part in debate team, or solving math conundrums. However, here at the UA, we drink. We drink fiercely and copiously. And when our family shows up, we get them to indulge in our liquid breakfasts, lunches and dinners as well. Which is why we get bombed for the football game, get bombed during and get bombed after. And now, for the weekend, we have adults that can buy us bomb-juice! As the hot girl in my chem safety class recounted: “Family Weekend — I threw up on five different people’s shoes on the way out of the stadium.” Definitely a family refrigerator moment. So the pinnacle of the weekend arrives as we celebrate the women who raised us as they swat away a bounce shot
like a “true OG.” Bonus: Try and find the one guy in the corner who doesn’t get it, muttering about how the moms’ elbows are over the table. There’s always one. However, all of this is not to discredit other integral parts of Family Weekend that I have noticed in the past. As mentioned earlier, there is always awkward little sister sexual tension. This is that special moment where you introduce your baby sister to all your guy friends and then instantly and acutely realize that they are all sex-crazed maniacs. Somehow you missed it in the first two years of friendship, but now that your sister is here in Arizona, their inexcusable, rampant hedonism is crystal clear. And despite the nods of understanding after, “Guys, please don’t hook up with my sister,” you still find yourself guarding her like you’re Vin Diesel in Babylon A.D.. Or Clive Owen in Children of Men, which is a better movie. Another fun standard of Family Weekend is little brother alcohol poisoning. A simple concept — a younger brother, fresh off a high school party a month ago where they ran out of PBR in the first 10 minutes, arrives in college-land. In your attempt to impress him and show him what college is all about, you overshoot the landing by about 10 Everclear shots. Shenanigans ensue — mostly just that one shenanigan where you try to wake him up with mop water (this was actually tried on me once) and not let the parents know. Once again, moments for the family scrapbook. Now, all of these scenarios are simply my own experiences with the Family Weekend. I’m sure many of you have non-dysfunctional families (functional families?) that come down and have a civilized time. And I’m sure there are also many others who have other fun Family Weekend drinking stories. So hey, write the Wildcat a letter about it. Just be sure to get in line behind all of the “it’s called beer pong” death threats. — Johnny McKay is a media arts senior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
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B8
• friday, october 8, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
PERSPECTIVES
arizona daily wildcat • friday, october 8, 2010 •
B9
EDITORIAL
Letters from
Mallory Hawkins ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT
Use Family Weekend to say thanks
Mom and Daddy-o, I
an you believe it has only been two months since you were last on campus helping me move? It seems like just yesterday. Between my late night studying and weekend socials, I have secretly been counting down the days until your arrival. As much fun as I have been having on my own (I know you know what I am talking about because you comment on each of my Facebook photos), I am ready for some quality parental time. Please recognize the effort I have put into making my dorm/apartment resemble a livable space for two people. Let’s just say prior to your visit, that wasn’t the case. Don’t worry, I don’t have cockroaches or mice, and even if I did, I have a landlord to take care of it. Because I know you’re wondering — the empty bottles you see on display were not consumed in or around our house. My roommate and I came upon the empty bottles and decided they were exactly the decor our kitchen was missing. While the décor isn’t exactly lacking, everything else in the kitchen is. It’s probably better that we go out to dinner, not
only because I do not have a stocked fridge but also because I do not have any decent pots and pans. It is better to just cut our losses and order in or go out. Since we are on the topic of the kitchen, I should clue you in to the 18-pack in the fridge. It isn’t mine; I am not even 21 and therefore do not drink. I just had a friend pick it up so Dad would be more comfortable on his visit. If he doesn’t finish it, though, he can just leave it. I’ll find a way to get rid of it. I cannot wait for you to meet my friends. You are going to love them, and they already love you based on everything I have told them. In case anyone asks, Dad, you still hold the record for longest keg stand in your fraternity. No pressure; aside from Reba, you win the coolest UA parent award. Just be yourself and leave the baby stories at home. One thing that makes you a cool parent is that you recognize my need for a break from academics on this weekend. So you will be so consumed with spoiling me and spending time with me that nagging me won’t even cross your mind, right? You haven’t received any
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letters from my professors or the dean, so consider my academics under control. This weekend, I don’t care about your alma mater. You are in Wildcat territory, so you are an Arizona Wildcat. Be ready to scream “Bear down” until it hurts to even whisper. Although the family is together for the first time since the summer, please refrain from announcing any life-changing news such as divorce, unexpected pregnancy or moving closer because you miss me. Please have the decency to announce something like that over the holidays, when I can eat my feelings and then escape back to school. Even without any dramatic announcements, we will be ready to part ways by weekend’s end. Two days are the perfect amount of time to appease my homesickness and for you to remember why you sent me to college in the first place. Thank you in advance for a wonderful weekend. Let the Thanksgiving countdown begin! Your Arizona Wildcat,
Mallory Hawkins is a communication senior.
t’s easy to let Family Weekend turn into a series of dorky activities by day and awkward first-timedrinking-with-your-parents moments by night. Bridging the gap between adolescent and adult can be trying for parents and offspring alike, as everyone struggles with traditional family boundaries that have become newly hazy. As such, Family Weekend has the potential to be unendingly awkward and pretty un-fun for everyone involved. Often, when students reach college, their desire for autonomy causes them to grow apart from their families, discovering their own ways of living outside their childhood homes. This is a natural progression but can be painful for parents used to knowing the tiniest details of their youngsters’ lives. Students forget that their parents check in with them not to nag, but because they genuinely miss them. It’s easy for young adults to fall into an eye-rolling, “God, Mom, back off” mindset, especially when they’re away from home and experiencing relative freedom for the first time. Family Weekend can exacerbate those tensions. But this weekend also offers an opportunity many students fail to take advantage of often enough: thanking the people who got
S G G E & S G
them where they are today. Whether financially or simply with moral support, few UA students would be the successful burgeoning adults they are without the aid of their families. Parents, siblings, grandparents, godparents, extended families, mentors and friends — all those people who make up a family unit, traditional or otherwise — have accompanied each and every student on their journey to the UA. And this weekend is a perfect chance for those lucky students to show their gratitude. So regardless of whether your family is in town for the weekend or far away, use this ready-made opportunity. Just say, “thank you,” in whatever way you can. Perhaps you’ve been signed up, against your will, for every weird event the weekend has to offer, from college brunches to parent-child wheelbarrow races. Bite the bullet and go. It’s one weekend, and it’s important to the people who love you enough to be here. Maybe your parents won’t stop asking questions about every miniscule detail of your college life, from what you eat for breakfast to whom you sit next to in your 1,000-person lecture. Answer the questions, and provide details. They’re EDITORIAL, page B11
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B10 • friday, october 8, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
wildlife
Camp Wildcat benefit concert to support underprivileged youth By Dallas Williamson ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT
Camp Wildcat’s Annual Benefit Concert Sunday Club Congress Doors at 6 p.m. Show from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $8 in advance / $12 at the door Purchase tickets online at campwildcat.org/concert/ Interested in getting involved with Camp Wildcat? Visit their website at campwildcat.org Jakob Martin performs at Club Congress on Jan. 29 at a benefit concert for Camp Wildcat.
Lisa Beth Earle/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Don’t worry about making plans for this Sunday evening. Camp Wildcat already has you covered with a night in celebration of music, friends and a greater hope for Tucson’s youth. That’s right; it’s Camp Wildcat’s Annual Benefit Concert. Held at the historic Club Congress in downtown Tucson, this event will not only ease you into the school week with some soulful tunes but will also leave you feeling good inside since all profits benefit a good cause. A non-profit organization, Camp Wildcat is a studentrun program that has been committed to improving the lives of Tucson’s disadvantaged youth since 1965. As members of Camp Wildcat, UA students become mentors for elementary and middle school children attending Title I schools in the Tucson area. To qualify as a Title I school, 40 percent of the children enrolled must live beneath the poverty level. Sadly, according to the benefit concert’s director, Adria Brooks, in Tucson as many as 90 percent of children in Title I schools live in a state of poverty. Camp Wildcat provides support and opportunity for these children. For instance, once a month, Camp Wildcat mentors take participants on weekend camping retreats that encourage children to have fun and explore a diverse range of topics through hands-on crafts and activities. Camp Wildcat mentors become positive role models and encourage their mentees to pursue their future aspirations. In turn, close interaction with university students also serves to inspire children to consider their educational futures. “Many of the children are never told that they may be able to continue their education or
GRIGSBY
continued from page B6
go to college,” Brooks said. “We are there to encourage them to pursue it if they so desire.” The organization’s benefit concert on Sunday is just one step toward helping these children attain their goals. With 100 percent of the night’s proceeds going to the organization, Brooks hopes that the concert will raise enough funds to pay for at least one weekend camp retreat for the children. “We hold seven camps a year for the youth,” Brooks said. “And they cost between $2,000 to $3,000 each.” Along with amenities, the money the concert raises will enable Camp Wildcat to provide three meals a day for participants — more than most eat at home — and help to supply arts and crafts and educational materials. “It’s through fundraisers like the concert that allow us to keep the camps cost free for the children and their families,” Brooks said. The concert itself will feature three local musical acts: Seashell Radio, Coyote Grace and Leila Lopez, all of whom will be contributing their time and talent on behalf of Camp Wildcat and Tucson’s disadvantaged youth. The night’s performers are sure to entertain audiences with their unique musical stylings. Bringing a little acoustic-folk soul to the Club Congress stage, the Coyote Grace duo of Joe Stevens and Ingrid Elizabeth are not only known for their smooth melodies but also their funky mid-song dance moves. Seashell Radio is also ready to inspire a little love and hip swaying among the audience as they deliver their indiepoprock beats. Finally, Tucson native Leila Lopez will take the stage to woo listeners with her unique guitar picking style and lyrical poeticism. Benefit a great cause and benefit yourself with a little fun and friendly music therapy.
determined, but Nic Grigsby has become more of a man with his family looking up to him — something much more valuable than electric touchdown runs. “I’ve seen it, he’s been maturing,” Jones said of his older brother. “I got to be on my P’s and Q’s all the time,” Nic Grigsby said. “I’ve got all the teammates looking up to me, my little brother definitely looking up to me. He’s maturing himself so, it’s just more playing a role of a leader.”
just happy that our whole family’s down here.” The Arizona running back duo has a brother, Ahmad, living in Atlanta and another brother, Marcellus, in Philadelphia. But the foundation of their lives is now right across the hall — Bernice Grigsby, who transferred from a Veterans Affairs hospital in Long Beach, Calif., to Tucson. Half-brothers or not? After Jones chose Arizona, Nic Grigsby Jones and Nic Grigsby have different said there was no choice but to move the fathers, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t whole Grigsby family from Whittier, Calif., full brothers, according to the senior to Arizona. running back. “My mom would have been in “Naw man, we full brothers man; he California by herself, so I was like, ‘look, came out of my mom,” Nic Grigsby said PJ is going to be here for four years so when asked if they were half brothers. “I you might as well just come on down and don’t know why everybody keep saying support me in my last year, come to all the that — he’s my full brother. If he’s your games, which you couldn’t do last year,’” half brother he comes Nic Grigsby said. from your daddy, not Bernice Grigsby was from your mom. If he only able to see one of comes from your mom, her son’s games in 2009, he’s full blood.” RUSHING STATS: when Arizona played at Southern California. 499 CARRIES, 2,676 YARDS, Jones to be a dualNic Grigsby said, “it 25 TOUCHDOWNS sport athlete was hard” without his Jones, who owns a mother at the games, but RECEIVING STATS: 41-inch vertical and can in his final season as a 72 CATCHES, 286 YARDS, dunk a basketball at only Wildcat, she’ll be able 5-foot-9, is planning on to watch her son play at TWO TOUCHDOWNS joining the track team as all seven home games well. and in the Rose Bowl — “I love track, I love against UCLA on Oct. 30, jumping so hopefully I can get a chance to that is. do it here,” Jones said. His sister, Destiny Grigsby, also came Arizona wide receiver and kick returner along as a transfer from California State University, Northridge. The senior running Travis Cobb ran track for the Wildcats last season as a sprinter, and Jones looks to back’s fan section grew only by two, but follow a similar path, only in triple jump. they just happen to be two of the most “I talked to him, (Cobb) said it’s tough, important people in his life. because he’s a sprinter, but I’m a jumper so “Like I said, we had no father so our it might be a little bit easier,” Jones said. biggest reason to succeed is our mother and that’s pretty much the reason why we’re out here doing out here today, to Big brother, the enforcer please our mom,” Jones said. “She’s been When asked of a funny story about everything to me. I’m a huge mama’s boy. Nic Grigsby from their childhood, Jones I do everything for her, I live up to her said: “Probably the funniest one is, we standards. I just love my mom.“ were visiting family out in Oxnard, Jones is working to go from a walk-on to (Calif.,) and we went to go get a pickup a scholarship, and expects to see the field in game with a couple of friends down the 2011. While Jones embarks on his Arizona street. We were killing them basically, journey, big brother is wrapping his up. they got mad told us to leave. I was a The senior running back has eight little kid, Nic was older so they tried to more games in his collegiate career rough me up, tried to jump me, I guess, and will graduate in the spring with and Nic came back with a hammer and a degree in family studies and human they got all scared and ran away. We got development. in trouble for it but that was pretty much His future in football is still to be one of the funniest stories.”
NIC GRIGSBY STATS
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wildlife
arizona daily wildcat • friday, october 8, 2010 •
Family Weekend tradition gives it meaning
EDITORIAL
continued from page B9
not asking to try your temper. Remember, they’ve spent most of your life making your breakfasts and knowing not just your classmates, but most of your teachers, too. They ask because they care, and probably because they want more ammunition with which to brag about you to everyone they know. If you grew up with a tagalong sibling who wants to spend every minute of the weekend at your side, let them. You should be excited to share your new life with someone who looks up to you so much. If nothing else, it’s a chance to let someone else think you’re really, really cool. Many families don’t come to Tucson for Family Weekend, whether because they’re unable to or because bumper-to-bumper parking garages aren’t their cup of tea. Their students aren’t off the hook, though. If your family isn’t in town, grab that cell phone to which you’re so perennially attached and make a phone call or two. Someone in your life will be ecstatic to hear from you. While college is a time to grow up and out from one’s roots, that doesn’t mean leaving those roots behind altogether. Every student has someone in his or her life who deserves gratitude. And Family Weekend is the perfect opportunity to tell them, “Thank you. I love you.” — Editorials are determined by the Daily Wildcat opinions board and written by one of its members. They are Heather Price-Wright, Luke Money, Colin Darland and Steven Kwan. They can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu. And they all love their families very much.
B11
Miranda Butler
I
t’s been happening since the 1920s, so there’s probably a good reason why Family Weekend is still a yearly tradition at the University of Arizona. This weekend, ASUA is joining forces with many other organizations and departments across campus. Together, they have collaborated to present all kinds of programs and events for Wildcats and their parents. On Friday and Saturday alone, the Family Weekend schedule offers more than 30 different activities. But why is this event so important? Although Family Weekend occurs over only two days in October, staff members work year round, planning everything from logistics to customer service and how to receive parents. Karen Flores, this year’s director for Family Weekend, explained that the way Family Weekend unites students, parents, faculty and the departments makes it one of the most important events that the university has to offer. “(Our goal is) to create an enriching experience that will bring students and families
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arts writer together,” Flores said. “When the student goes to college, they’re on their own … but I want students to feel like they can still experience parts of their home life at school. It’ll make them feel more at home here.” Not only is Family Weekend a big part of student and parent life, but it also opens up the University of Arizona to the community. “Family Weekend is important to bring the cultural aspects of the UA to the masses,” said Lindsay Baille, the associate director of Customer Service for Family Weekend. The events that the school offers over these two days show the many assets that the university has to offer. “Not only are we a top (Pacific 10 Conference) school, but we also have academics, we also have culture, we have diversity in our community as well,” Baille said. For this reason, the people in charge of Family Weekend want to ensure that anyone who is interested is able to attend. So this year, Flores notes that the program has added two new price packages. One option costs
File photo/Arizona Student Media
Taken on Oct. 5, 1940 for the 1940-41 volume of The Desert yearbook, parents emerge from the Recreational Center and get an early start on a tour of campus.
only $20, and the other is $30. And people have taken advantage of this deal. So far, over 3,000 people have registered to participate in Family Weekend, and Flores anticipates that even more will soon be added to the list. In addition to all the fun activities, programs and events, Family Weekend is also important because it takes this opportunity to celebrate the school experience. Likewise, the event recognizes the many ways by which the UA has helped people become successful in their lives. “We’re having a lot of
speakers come to talk about their experiences — and how those experiences helped them grow as a person and achieve their goals in life,” Baille said. Family Weekend has something to offer everyone — and maybe that’s why it has survived so long. “We work really hard to make it the best experience (possible), so it’s going to be really exciting,” Flores said. She encourages everyone to come. With plenty of energy and unity among students, their families and people all across the school, it’s a tradition everyone can share.
B12 • friday, october 8, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat