Mom's Weekend Guide 2014

IN THIS ISSUE CALENDAR Your guide to Moms Weekend events

PAGE 3 SISTERHOOD Stronger family bond created through sorority

PAGE 8 MOM Q&A Moms Weekend expert answers our questions

PAGE 13

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

THE DAILY ILLINI | www.DailyIllini.com

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MOM’S GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 3

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SIGMA KAPPA PINNING

MOMLESS MOMS WEEKEND

A look at the variety of events and activities offered around campus and its community for Moms Weekend.

The University’s Sigma Kappa chapter members Moms are busy women. If you’re mom isn’t will bring their cherished pinning ceremony to able to attend Moms Weekend, here are their mothers this Moms Weekend. some alternatives to having a great weekend.

PAGE 5

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ATIUS DANCE COMPETITION

PREPARING FOR MOM’S ARRIVAL MY MOM IS . . .

Member of UI Greek community gather to perform in dance competition for you and your mom.

Columnist Annabeth Carlson tells us how she’s preparing for her mom’s big arrival on campus.

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UI BLACK CHORUS

MOM OF THE YEAR BIOS

The University’s Black Chorus will perform its annual concert this Saturday. Get an inside look at its preparation.

Learn about the Mom of the Year award, and look into the lives of a few of this year’s contestants.

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MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOND

MOMS WEEKEND Q&A

In addition to their close mother-daughter connection, Raena and Vicki share a bond of sisterhood in UI’s chapter of Pi Beta Phi.

She’s about to attend her eighth consecutive Moms Weekend. Here’s her advice for making the most of this weekend.

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MOMS WEEKEND CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014 Keep Calm and Celebrate with Mom Reception 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Location: Illini Union — Illlini Rooms Cost: Free RENT - Presented by the Illini Union Board 8 p.m.

Location: Lincoln Hall Theater Cost: $15 or $18

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014 Free Popcorn for moms at the Illini Union Quad Shop All Day Moms Association Annual Meeting & Awards Presentation 8 a.m.

Location: Illini Union 210 General Lounge Cost: Free Horticulture Club Annual Moms Weekend Flower Show and Plant Sale 10 a.m.to 5 p.m.

Location: Stock Pavilion on the South Quad: 1402 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Urbana, IL Cost: Free

• award winning wines • complimentary tastings • local gourmet food

Keep Calm and Shop with Mom Location: Illini Union 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014

Women’s Glee Club Mom’s Day Concert 2 p.m.

Location: Krannert Center, Foellinger Great Hall Cost: $4-$10

Horticulture Club Annual Moms Weekend Flower Show and Plant Sale 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Location: Stock Pavilion on the South Quad: 1402 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Urbana, IL Cost: Free

UI Black Chorus Mom’s Day Concert 7:30 p.m.

Location: Krannert Center, Foellinger Great Hall Cost: $8-$11

Keep Calm and Eat with Mom: Moms Association Brunch 10 a.m. to noon.

Location: Illini Union Ballroom Cost: $20

RENT - Presented by the Illini Union Board 8 p.m.

Location: Lincoln Hall Theater Cost: $15 or $18

Moms Out at Memorial Stadium Brunch 10:30 a.m.

Location: Colonnades Club — Memorial Stadium Cost: $30

Keep Calm and Have Fun with Mom 9:30 p.m.

Location: Illini Union Lower Level Cost: Free

More Information and events can be found at http://illinois.edu/calendar/list/4826.

Mom’s Night Out 10 p.m.

Location: Illini Union Lower Level Cost: Free

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Information was compiled by Contributing writer Amelia Mugavero.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

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Dance competition for a good cause

BY ALEXANDER VASSILIADIS STAFF WRITER

After weeks of rehearsals and bonding between several chapters in the University’s Greek community, fraternities and sororities will go head-to-head in a dance competition for the annual Atius-Sachem Mom’s Day Sing at Foellinger Auditorium on April 4 and April 5.

The event will pair 10 different sororities with fraternities for the Moms Weekend performance. Each group choreographs and directs a nine-minute performance that includes three different dances and skits. The April 4 show will start at 8 p.m., and the April 5 show will start at 7 p.m.

“It’s pretty much a sing and dance competition, a show for Moms Weekend that moms and kids are welcome to come to,” said Sarah Scheffler, co-vice president of activities for Atius and sophomore in ACES. “The participants compete, and the winning team gets philanthropy money that goes to their philanthropy of choice.”

Each year the show has a musical theme, and this year’s show revolves around Michael Jackson’s “Pretty Young Thing,” said Scheffler.

“Every team at some point in their performance has to yell ‘pretty young thing’ out to their moms; it is kind of like a tribute to all moms in the audience,” she said.

Scheffler, a member of Delta Zeta sorority on campus, was part of the winning team in last year’s competition. The team was able to win about $8,000 in philanthropy money, the first prize at last year’s competition.

“I made life-long friends through this last year, and I wouldn’t have made these connections had it not been for Atius bringing us together,” said Brittany Brandt, co-director for the Alpha Epsilon Phi Atius team and sophomore in ACES. Brandt’s sorority has teamed up with the fraternity Psi Upsilon this year, and she along with

another member of her sorority and two co-directors from Psi Upsilon have choreographed the group’s entire performance.

Sororities and fraternities change the lyrics to the songs they perform to cater to mothers and to create a specialized show.

“One of the guy choreographers for us is actually a dance major, so we are really excited to see our dances on stage because we have some of the coolest choreography in them,” Brandt said.

Preparation for this show has required weeks of training and rehearsal, original choreography and collaboration between fraternities, sororities and the AtiusSachem leadership honorary.

“We have been going to the frat twice a week for practice, and we either go over the dance from earlier or learn a new one,” said Sarah Cohen, freshman in Education and a member of the Alpha Epsilon Phi team.

“I like it a lot because you get to hang out with your friends and just have fun.”

Alexander can be reached at vassili2@ dailyillini.com.

“We have been going to the frat twice a week for practice, and we either go over the dance from earlier or learn a new one. I like it a lot because you get to hang with your friends and just have fun.”

SARAH COHEN

MEMBER OF ALPHA EPSILON PHI DANCE TEAM

Tuesday, April 1 , 2014

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Black Chorus to serenade moms with classic tunes Graduating seniors to honor moms with song

BY TAYLOR LUCERO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In the 45th anniversary of the “Mom’s Day Concert,” the University Black Chorus will honor mothers with a variety of renditions of classic songs. The concert, themed “Fanfare,” will take place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Foellinger Great Hall in Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. “(We have) prepared a lot of songs that mothers would love to hear if they could have their favorite artist come and sing and serenade them,” said Ollie Watts Davis, conductor of the Black Chorus and professor of music.

Saturday’s concert will include two spiritual and two anthem songs, a tribute set and gospel selections.

Davis said those who attend can expect a lively and inspiring musical performance and will have the chance to participate, too.

Davis said the gospel selections will include traditional and contemporary pieces, and she will invite the audience to sing along for some of the songs and participate in a “call and response” form of music.

“What we regard ... as a high form of evaluation is actually when people join in and sing along with us,” Davis said. “We appreciate applause, of course, but when the audience

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will sing along with us, that really is a wonderful evaluation of our performance.”

Additionally, the mothers of the graduating seniors in the Black Chorus will be honored by having a song dedicated to them. They will also be invited to come on stage to receive a flower, a Moms Weekend tradition.

This is the fourth Moms Day concert for chorus member Larry Stribling, senior in LAS. Stribling said he is looking forward to singing with his fellow chorus members and having his mom come up on stage to accept her flower.

“This will be my last performance on the Great Hall stage and as an undergrad, so I’m sad but I’m happy that I’m here, but I’m ready for the next rendition,” Stribling said.

The concert will also be the last for Kalyn Hutchinson, senior in LAS. She said this year will mark the fourth consecutive year that her mom will attend. “(Once) in Black Chorus, always in Black Chorus, so I will definitely be back,” Hutchinson said.

The Black Chorus was created in 1968 by four students who started off performing in residence hall lounges. It later became a course section of University Chorus, Davis said.

BRENTON TSE THE DAILY ILLINI

The University Black Chorus will perform their annual Moms Day Concert on Saturday.

Tickets are available at the Krannert Center ticket office and online. Standard admission for the concert is $11, with a $3 discount for students and a $1 discount for senior citizens.

“If someone has not experienced the Black Chorus, they ought to experience it before they graduate,” Davis said. “And note I didn’t say just ‘hear the Black Chorus,’ but it actually is an all-encompassing experience.”

“(Black Chorus) actually is an all-encompassing experience.”

Taylor can be reached at tlucero2@ dailyillini.com.

BLACK CHORUS CONDUCTOR

OLLIE WATTS DAVIS

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

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Mother, Daughter Share Sisterhood Bond

BY BRIDGET HYNES STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RAENA RUBENSTEIN

Tears formed in Raena Rubenstein’s eyes, junior in ACES, when she was asked to describe what her mother, Vicki Rubenstein, 1979 University alumna, means to her.

Raena and Vicki, who keep in touch through FaceTime every night, are separated by a 10-hour drive during the school year. While Raena goes to school at the University, her family lives in South Carolina.

“I go to her with everything,” Raena said. “I could talk to her about absolutely anything and feel comfortable doing it.

She is like my best friend ... she is also

supportive as my mom.”

In addition to their close mother-daughter connection, Raena and Vicki share a bond of sisterhood. They both pledged and joined the University’s chapter of Pi Beta Phi. Vicki said she is “counting the days” until she can fly in for Moms Weekend with Raena. The two plan to attend a silent auction that Pi Beta Phi is holding, but Raena’s main focus is simply getting to hang out with her mom and talk, she said.

She said the last time they saw each other in-person was over winter break.

When Raena was initiated into the sorority during the Fall of 2012, her mom came to surprise her at initiation, at a time when she was particularly homesick. It

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was her first semester away from home, she said, and she had just transferred to the University from Clemson University in South Carolina, a school that was only an hour away from her family’s home.

“The weekend before, many of the other girls in my sorority had went home to the suburbs and I couldn’t do that, even though I was missing home,” Raena said.

“I just burst out crying (when I saw her at initiation). I was so happy.”

Once mother and daughter were reunited, the feeling was indescribable for both, Vicki said.

“We do share a few secrets that we can’t share with other people,” Vicki said.

“And that’s kind of a cool thing beyond the mother-daughter aspect. It means that we both have chosen to believe in the same ideals—of our own free will—and we will both look out for each other no matter what.

It just adds another nice, rich layer to our relationship.”

During Raena’s rush experience, she said her mom did not push her to pledge Pi Beta Phi, and stressed that she should feel comfortable in the house that she ultimately decided to choose.

“Initially, deep down, I thought, ‘Oh wouldn’t it be great if she pledged Pi Beta Phi,’ but I’m also a realist, and I know that houses change over the years and girls change over the years,” Vicki said.

When Vicki pledged Pi Beta Phi in the

Tuesday, April 1 , 2014

9 1970s, pledge classes were much smaller, mainly because sororities only initiated as many girls as they could logistically house, she said. She estimated that her own pledge class in 1975 was around 26 girls. Raena’s pledge class has around 50.

Vicki also shared her Greek experience with her sister, Valerie Fox, 1977 University alumna, who pledged Pi Beta Phi and lived in the sorority’s house on 1005 S. Wright St. during her sophomore, junior and senior year.

Although she acknowledged that some Pi Beta Phi traditions have changed over the years, Vicki said she thinks there are similarities between the girls in Raena’s pledge class and those from her pledge class.

“I’m not just making that up,” Vicki said. “There were, and still are, a lot of characters there. It wasn’t a bunch of cookie cutter girls; there was a diverse group.”

She said one of the reasons she knew the sorority was so diverse was because she and her sister both pledged and “were kind of polar opposites.”

“She was an art history major, (the) valedictorian in high school,” Vicki said.

“I was a special education major and cheerleader in high school. I liked being able to see the diversity so that I could see I could fit in, too.”

When Vicki visits Raena at school, she often goes to the Pi Beta Phi house and recalls memories from her college years.

Last time they went to the house, they were able to find old composites with Vicki and Fox’s pictures on them, she said.

Both Raena and Vicki were involved in leadership positions in the sorority, as Raena is currently the Vice President of Member Development, and Vicki was the assistant rush chairman. Although Vicki’s position was more socially based than Raena’s, Fox said the mother and daughter are more alike than their positions with the chapter.

“They are both very outgoing and they like to be liked, so they treat other people nicely,” Fox said.

Vicki loves coming back to her alma mater for Moms Weekend to see her daughter because much of the University has stayed the same, she said.

“I think that is so endearing,” Vicki said.

“It’s steeped in tradition and it’s such a homecoming feeling.”

Bridget can be reached at bhynes2@ dailyillini.com.

Sorority moms to participate in pinning event

BY ABBY GLICKMAN STAFF WRITER

While a pinning ceremony traditionally represents becoming an active member of a sorority or fraternity, for the University’s chapter of Sigma Kappa, the ceremony takes on a new meaning.

On Saturday, 25 members of Sigma Kappa sorority will ring in Moms Weekend with a pinning ceremony that will include any moms who are visiting for Moms Weekend.

Following the ceremony, six new members will be initiated into the sorority.

“Members purchased their moms a Sigma Kappa pin and will give it to them as a way of saying thank you for helping each individual member to get where they are today,” said Carrington Watkins, vice president of alumnae relations of Sigma Kappa sorority and junior in Engineering.

Another motivation behind the ceremony is to allow for the moms to become more familiar with Greek life.

“It is important to us to help our moms become more involved with Sigma Kappa,” said Lauren Williams, ritual chairman and junior in ACES. “We wanted to do something special for Moms Weekend.”

Watkins will give an opening speech at the ceremony, and each girl who is participating will follow with her own speech explaining why her mom is important, or anything else she wants to say to her mom, Williams said.

“I think (the moms) will really enjoy it,” Williams said. “A lot of moms are very involved in Sigma Kappa Moms Weekend events, but this is a way to experience something else and bond with their daughters.”

Following Saturday’s pinning ceremony, Sigma Kappa will initiate six new members into the sorority on Sunday. Although none of the new initiates have family members who were in Sigma Kappa, all family members of a Sigma Kappa member are invited to the ceremony, Williams said.

“We scheduled initiation so that if any members’ moms or sisters were in Sigma Kappa, they can stay for the ceremony,”

Welcome Moms!

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SIGMA KAPPA

Williams said. “We have never personally invited them before.”

She also said that the chapter is making an effort to invite more alumnae to the initiation ceremony.

Among the girls getting initiated is Jazz Landa, sophomore in AHS, who received a bid from Sigma Kappa on Feb. 14 after going through informal recruitment this spring.

“I’m looking forward to fully being in the house and making it official,” Landa said. “From there on, you’re able to interact more with the girls.”

Abby can be reached at glickmn2@ dailyillini.com.

“A lot of moms are very involved in Sigma Kappa Moms Weekend events, but this is a way to experience something else and bond with their daughters.”

LAUREN WILLIAMS RITUAL CHAIRMAN

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

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Dirty room? Not with Mom coming soon ANNABETH CARLSON Staff writer

W

hen I am asked who my best friend is, I never hesitate to say it is my mom. I can talk to her about anything, and we share many of the same interests. We like singing to the radio in the car, shopping and watching “House Hunters” marathons on HGTV. However, growing up, the one thing we could never agree on was my ability to keep my room clean.

When I lived at home, my mom would come into my room about once a week, and a look of horror and disgust would quickly spread across her face.

Water bottles and cups were often cluttered on my desk, dirty laundry was wadded up on the floor, and clean clothes, now wrinkled, were strewn haphazardly on my unmade bed. And, of course, she would often find me reading a book or sleeping on top of it all.

Even though I am in college now, not much has changed. It is great living on my own — I can eat and drink in my room,

shove things in my closet and never make my bed.

But as Moms Weekend approaches, I should probably tidy up a bit and maybe replace the dead plant she bought me that I was supposed to water every day. Oops.

With her impending arrival, I know that if I don’t clean the mess, she will try to do it for me. Last time she visited, she immediately dusted my furniture and washed all my dirty laundry. I have to admit that it made everything look nicer.

That’s how great my mom is. And even though I appreciate her helping me, I would rather spend the weekend doing things with her outside my stuffy dorm room.

So Mom, if you are reading this, I promise you that I will try my best to clean my room before Moms Weekend.

I can’t guarantee that things won’t be shoved in my closet and under my bed, but, hey, maybe I will make my bed. I’ve got to start somewhere, right? You are my best friend and I can’t wait to spend the whole weekend with you!

P.S. Sorry about the plant.

Mom, if you are reading this, I promise you that I will try my best to clean my room before Moms Weekend.

Annabeth is a freshman in Media. She can be reached at aecarls2@ dailyillini.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNABETH CARLSON

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Thirty-five moms vie for Mom of the Year Award Record number of nominations received for annual recognition

BY DAVID ROTHMUND STAFF WRITER

Since 1921, mothers and mother-like figures have traveled to campus for Mothers Day (now known as Moms Weekend). In 2008, the Moms Association created The Amelia Alpiner Stern Mom of the Year Award as an opportunity for University students to recognize the dedication and achievement of their own mothers.

The award is designed to highlight the diverse contributions all Illinois Moms and those who serve in the role of mom and to honor a very special mother or mother figure each year, said Elaine Wrinkle, Mom of the Year Chair.

Every year, more and more applications have been submitted for the award - this year’s application number nearly doubled, Wrinkle said. The Mom of the Year committee for 2014 comprises seven women from the Moms Board. Committee members read through the 35 applications that the students submitted.

Various factors are used to determine the Mom of the Year recipient. Some factors include why the student feels his or her mom or mother figure should be considered for the award, how his or her mom or mother figure serves as a role model, ways in which the relationship is admirable, the best advice the mom or mother figure has given and what local or University community involvement has the mom of mother figure been a part of, Wrinkle said.

Here are the bios for a few of this year’s nominees:

SWANIE BROOKS-DICKENS City: Chicago, Ill. Blurb: I am a student finance adviser. I enjoy spending time with my children, dancing, attending plays and visiting museums.

TINA VESTUTO City: Lisle, Ill. Blurb: I was very honored when my daughter nominated me for mother of the year. She warms my heart more and more with each passing year. It’s wonderful to be appreciated for all you have done as a parent.

MARY ANNE GLOWACZ City: Chicago, Ill. Blurb: I run the 911 Center for Deerfield, Bannockburn, and Riverwoods Police Departments and have been in emergency services for 25 years.

PATRICIA ROBINSON City: Chicago, Ill. Blurb: I am a proud mother of three children, married for 33 years and enjoy spending time with family and interior decorating.

JANET PEREZ City: Aurora, Ill. Blurb: I am a labor and delivery nurse and enjoy spending time with my family and other loved ones. I like to travel, garden, attend baseball games and live an active and healthy lifestyle.

SUSAN SIROTA City: Riverwoods, Ill. Blurb: I am a dedicated pediatrician who works in a private practice and teaches pediatrics to Northwestern medical students and pediatric residents. I enjoy spending time with my family, skiing, playing tennis and volunteering.

David can be reached at rothmun2@ dailyillini.com.

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Q&A with mom attending 8th consecutive Moms Weekend

BY SAMANTHA ROTHMAN STAFF WRITER

With Moms Weekend quickly approaching, many students and parents may be unsure about how to go about living college life together for a few days. This won’t be an issue for Mary Marik, as this year will mark her eighth consecutive year at Moms Weekend. Marik sat down with The Daily Illini to explain how to make the most of Moms Weekend, and how to ensure both parents and students have a great time.

Daily Illini: We heard that you’ve attended Moms Weekend for what is almost a decade, so how many years exactly have you been coming?

Mary Marik: Well, this year will be my eighth year. My oldest started U of I in 2006, so the first Moms Weekend was in the spring of 2007. I’ve come to every one since then consecutively.

DI: With that being said, how many stu-

dents have you had or have attending the University?

mum of 15 kids; I think I’ve gotten up to 25. Saturday night it’s a dinner that I’ve cooked for all the kids, and Sunday we usually do a brunch.

DI: Do you have any favorite places to

come back to? Any favorite restaurants, bars or sites?

“If you allow your kids to be college students and you go into their world, it’s going to be a more enjoyable experience.�

MARY MARIK ILLINI MOM ATTENDING 8TH MOMS WEEKEND

MM: Papa Del’s, with the pizza, is always

through. Two have graduated the University of Illinois. One graduated in 2010, one graduated in 2012, and I have a current student down there.

a good one. We have to stop at KAM’S because I have an entire set of KAM’S Moms Weekend glasses from 2007 to (the most) current — so I have to get my glass. And basically, it’s wherever the kids want to go because as a parent, the kids have let you into their world.

DI: Since you’re an expert at this point,

DI: What are some suggestions that

MM: I’ve had three of my children come

what are some of the highlights, or some of your favorite memories from Moms Weekend?

you have for moms coming for the first time? Any must-sees or must-do’s?

MM: We’ve got this down to a science.

It’s basically you’re down with your kids, so you have a realistic expectation of their world, and you can just enjoy them.

If you’re lucky enough where the kids go, ‘Come on Mom, let’s go to KAM’S, let’s go to Joe’s ‌’ If you’re lucky enough to get let into their world, enjoy your kids.

We usually do Papa Del’s pizza on Friday night and then hang out. With all the kids being 19 or all 21, we’ve gone to (the bars) KAM’S and White Horse — the students call it ‘White Ho’ — and Brothers. We’ve gone to all the establishments. One of the highlights is that the kids all know I’m coming down, so I cook. Saturday morning it’s usually a huge breakfast for a mini-

MM: There’s a lot going on oncampus ‌

DI: If you had to give moms and students some advice on how to make the most of

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Long-time attender of Moms Weekend, Mary Marik, parties at campus bar with her daughter.

Moms Weekend, what would it be?

MM: I think for the moms, have a realistic expectation of your college student and their world, what the types of things are that they do when they go out on the weekends ‌ If you allow your kids to be college students and you go into their world, it’s going to be a more enjoyable experience. For the college kids, your parents want to be part of your world, and it’s important to them. I was always really lucky with my kids. They were

like, ‘You’re coming down, you’re staying the whole weekend, we’re gonna have a good time.’ Just enjoy it, because, as a parent, you don’t do this at home ‌ Keep what’s important in mind, and that’s the relationship with your child and accept what their life is down in college. For the kids, remember your parents have been around the block a couple of times, so they have a clue.

Samantha can be reached at srothma2@dailyillini.com.

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Tuesday, April 1 , 2014

Students plan alternative Moms Weekend

BY REBECCA JACOBS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Although the theme for this year’s Moms Weekend is “Keep calm and have fun with mom,” not all students will have their moms making their way to campus for the weekend. Instead, many have chosen to spend the weekend in other ways.

Sam Caravette, junior in LAS, said she plans to do homework and spend time with other friends whose mothers are also not coming to visit.

“I feel fine with her not coming because I feel like it’s more of a burden for her to come that weekend,” Caravette said. “We don’t go out to bars, so her coming a different weekend is more relaxing.”

In contrast to Caravette, Ellie Kaplan, senior in LAS, whose mom also won’t be visiting because she thinks “the drive from Chicago to U of I is really boring,” has a different plan for the weekend. She said she plans to hang out with friends whose moms will be on campus.

“It definitely made me sad when I lived in a dorm, being one of the only students without their mom there,” she said. “But my roommate was very generous with hers, which was nice.”

Brennen Van Mieghem, junior in ACES, also sees his friends’ moms when his does not visit on Moms Weekend. This year, he said his mom will be busy back at home

with his younger brother’s prom.

“I won’t be too upset,” Van Mieghem said. “She’s a busy woman.”

Emily Coulahan, junior in ACES, understands the feeling of having a mom with a hectic schedule. Her mom will also not be attending Moms Weekend because she is returning home from another trip Friday.

“I am okay with her not coming down for Moms Weekend,” Coulahan said. “She usually comes down a few other weekends throughout the school year, and we have our Moms Weekend then.”

Instead of finding alternatives on campus during Mom’s Weekend, Coulahan thinks she might go home to see her mom in Rockford, Ill., “so that she has some time to relax after a long trip.”

Ethan Stites, junior in ACES, does not have a long drive to visit his mom, who is not coming for Mom’s Weekend. Rather, Stites lives at home with his parents and commutes to campus from outside of St. Joseph, Ill. He is the second child in his family to attend the University, and his parents are alumni.

“When parents have their first child, they’re more involved; they buy the T-shirts that say ‘proud parent’ or ‘My daughter goes to the U of I,’ that type of stuff,” Stites said.

Rebecca can be reached at rrjacob2@ dailyillini.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THINKSTOCK

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Tuesday, April 1 , 2014

MY MOM IS. . .

STEPHANIE KIM STAFF WRITER

If you were given this phrase, how would you complete it? To celebrate 94 years of Moms Weekend, I presented this question to myself and 93 students, faculty and Champaign-Urbana community members.

After a few days, I captured 94 photos and 94 ways that mothers have made an impact.

»

This is just a brief look at how the UI community appreciates their moms. For our extended photo gallery, visit DailyIllini.com.

» » » » » »

» » » » »

When I was younger, I thought it was polio that made my mom different from other moms. But as I grew older, I now see that it’s her heart that sets her apart. I don’t know anyone else who genuinely gives their best in everything that they do. And I believe she will continue to live this way for the rest of her life.

» »

“My mom is a very strong lady,” said Elise Feltman, sophomore in Media. “She has severe arthritis, and it hurts for her to walk and to move. But she’s a special education teacher, so she gets up every morning and works to support my sister and me. I love her so much for it, and it’s hard to see her struggle. But, because she does that, it just inspires me to try and be everything I can be.”

“She’s always been there for me,” said Samantha Newman, senior in LAS. “Literally, I probably wouldn’t have made it through college without her because I could always call her to help me study. I would scan my notes — I’d always write the questions out beforehand — and then I’d send them to my mom. Then she’d ask me my questions, and I’d tell her, and I’d study like that. It also made it hilarious because she could never pronounce any of the words, so I could remember better because ‘that’s where mom screwed up that word,’ and I almost died because I was laughing so much. She’ll just randomly come up and say, ‘Surprise! I’m here. I know you’re feeling down, so I came and brought you chocolate.’ She did that for Valentine’s Day. She was sitting on the couches in the lobby and had a giant giraffe pillow pet.”

“My mom has always taken care of me and my seven siblings, five of whom are adopted,” said Donovan King, sophomore in Engineering. “Through all of the adoptions, she’s remained giving and always willing to lend whatever we need when we need it. Being the oldest, I’ve been able to witness all of my other siblings being added to the family, so I know that she’s remained generous.”

ALL PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE KIM THE DAILY ILLINI

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APRIL 5TH 9AM-5PM & APRIL 6TH 10AM-2:30PM Located at the Stock Pavilion on the South Quad 1402 W. Pennsylvania Ave Urbana IL

Take a stroll through our beautiful student created themed gardens, also featuring a modern hydroponics system on display and a live band! All of the plant material including various herbs, vegetables, trees, shrubs, grasses, houseplants and of course flowers will be for sale at low prices!

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This is your last chance Appointments available April 3-10

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