Family Fest adds 'green' showcase
By: Katie Havranek
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: News
Family Fest is fast approaching and it looks green. While Family Fest will look the same in many ways, this year's programming will highlight Macalester's commitment to promoting environmental awareness and sustainability.
"We want families to understand that we take the commitment seriously," said Dean James Hoppe.
Events like the Macalester Sustainability Tour and the Sustainable Twin Cities Tour highlight the theme of sustainability. Families will also receive a mug made out of recycled plastic and a bag that when presented during the Twin Cities tour will earn discounted products from local businesses.
"The idea for the theme emerged out of committee conversations," explained Cindy Harstaad, Director of Campus Center & Conferences and Family Fest Co-Chair.
The committee was made up of primarily Student Affairs staff but also worked with members of the High Winds office, Admissions, Special Events Development, and Civic Engagement.
The green theme is not the only new event at Family Fest this year. There will be a PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meeting that will create a space to hear stories from parents of GLBT children and receive information about Macalester's resources for GLBT students.
Spaces are already filled up for the new family-style dinner. Families have paid to have buses take them to restaurants in the Twin Cities to sit down for a meal with other Macalester families.
As always, Family Fest will take place amid many theatrical, music and sporting events on campus that students and family are encouraged to attend. The International Round Table event is also an intentional overlap happening this weekend.
"Initially it was an accident, but the parents seem to enjoy seeing the programming as much as the students," Hoppe said.
The speakers at the Roundtable will include James C. Scott, Ravi Kanbur, and Michael J. Watts.
Four hundred people are already registered to attend the weekend's events but more families are expected to register on-site. In the past, the number of people who pre-registered for the weekend was equal to the number on site. Harstaad believes this estimate to be a little high, "We're expecting about five to six hundred people to be on campus this weekend."
"We want families to understand that we take the commitment seriously," said Dean James Hoppe.
Events like the Macalester Sustainability Tour and the Sustainable Twin Cities Tour highlight the theme of sustainability. Families will also receive a mug made out of recycled plastic and a bag that when presented during the Twin Cities tour will earn discounted products from local businesses.
"The idea for the theme emerged out of committee conversations," explained Cindy Harstaad, Director of Campus Center & Conferences and Family Fest Co-Chair.
The committee was made up of primarily Student Affairs staff but also worked with members of the High Winds office, Admissions, Special Events Development, and Civic Engagement.
The green theme is not the only new event at Family Fest this year. There will be a PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meeting that will create a space to hear stories from parents of GLBT children and receive information about Macalester's resources for GLBT students.
Spaces are already filled up for the new family-style dinner. Families have paid to have buses take them to restaurants in the Twin Cities to sit down for a meal with other Macalester families.
As always, Family Fest will take place amid many theatrical, music and sporting events on campus that students and family are encouraged to attend. The International Round Table event is also an intentional overlap happening this weekend.
"Initially it was an accident, but the parents seem to enjoy seeing the programming as much as the students," Hoppe said.
The speakers at the Roundtable will include James C. Scott, Ravi Kanbur, and Michael J. Watts.
Four hundred people are already registered to attend the weekend's events but more families are expected to register on-site. In the past, the number of people who pre-registered for the weekend was equal to the number on site. Harstaad believes this estimate to be a little high, "We're expecting about five to six hundred people to be on campus this weekend."
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