Siblings Weekend strengthens family bonds for decades
For more than 50 years, Siblings Weekend at Central Michigan University has reunited siblings with older brothers and sisters attending the university.
A full weekend of events, from Friday through Sunday, Siblings Weekend has a long history of strengthening family bonds.
“SGA used to have a carnival so they added that to (what became) Siblings Weekend,” said Crystal Hutson, adviser of Siblings Weekend. “It’s become bigger with more funds and more of a tradition.”
Larzelere Hall Council, calling it “Little Siblings Weekend,” first organized the weekend in 1963. As it grew in popularity, other residence halls began hosting siblings weekends.
In order to make events more cohesive, residence halls decided to host at the same time in 1986, leading to an expanded event.
Residence halls partnered with Student Government Association and Student Activities and Involvement in 1992 to add more events and activities.
Leading up to this year's Siblings Weekend, Hutson works to find the main chairs and core committee members to oversee special events, entertainment, carnival, logistics, volunteers and registration.
“I’m more so an adviser on the front end of Siblings Weekend,” she said. “Since it is a student-led event, I’m more there to be the faculty member to actually oversee it.”
Hutson said the weekend is vital for families to see what college life is like and for younger siblings to visit campus.
“It’s good for the CMU students because sometimes at Central you get homesick," Hutson said. "It gives you that break where you can bring your family with you to see your CMU family and inspires younger siblings or family members or friends to actually want to come to CMU.”
Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator Rachel Quinn works with everyone on the committee to create promotional plans, come up with a social media campaign and work to design the program book.
In her third year working on staff, the Garden City senior said Siblings Weekend provides a way for students to stay close with their families.
“When you go off to college, even if you were close to your sibling before, it kind of drives a wedge between you,” Quinn said. “Just bringing your sibling up, it’s like you’re back at home and rekindling the strength.”
Registration coordinator and Bad Axe sophomore Ben Sobczak said he chose to work at Siblings Weekend after he was a participant last year.
“Sibs Weekend is super important and cherished because often when students come to college, a gapped relationship is created with their siblings," Sobczak said. "From sleeping, eating and living in the same house as them and then coming to college, I feel the bond is lost between siblings. This weekend in itself bridges that gap.”
For a complete list of events and activities, visit Siblings Weekend's orgsync page.
