Clear, blue skies filled the carnival-like atmosphere. People with the faces of fairies and tigers filled the bounce houses in the Quadrangle. A mini-train whirled around campus while people enjoyed food from the Kiowa Kooks.

From novelty acts to food, planning commences in the days following Family Day. The office of student development and orientation holds a critic meeting where they discuss what they want to accomplish the next time around.

“Much of what we take into consideration is the size and how many people attend,” Kevin Bazner, assistant director of student development and orientation, said. “About four years ago, we made a decision to move from Sunwatcher Plaza to the Quadrangle because it started to get too stuffy.”

The numbers continue to grow with reservations topping off at 2,400 people, about one-third of the student body total. Last year only 1,950 reserved tickets to Family day. Bazner said the increase of 450 people can be amounted to a slight increases in the freshmen classes yearly.

“Family day tends to be timed around six weeks after students are here, which is about the time when students are trying to get over the homesickness feel,” Bazner said. “We really want students to reconnect with their family and give them the opportunity of having fun and collectively coming together to make them feel like a community.”

This year staff members spent $21,000 on novelties and shirts. Staff from student development sell shirts to offset the cost of Family Day. Even though MWSU does not profit from Family Day the tradition continues.

“It is a relief to be able to see my family,” Student Regent Jesse Brown, criminal justice and business junior, said. “They remind me why I went to college…to create a better life.”

Muffins with Mom & Donuts with Dad

New to the Family Day festivities, Muffins with Mom & Donuts with Dad, was a come-and-go event that provided muffins, donuts, and juice to families as parents greeted their students Saturday morning.The housing staff teamed up with the student development staff to help families start the day off right.

“We decided to do this program this year because we wanted to be more involved in the Family Day events,” Norma Rodriguez, Killingsworth Hall director, said. “We wanted our residents’ families to feel more welcome during Family Day and we wanted to do something nice for them.”

In conjunction with the office of student development and orientation, Angie Reay, associate housing and dining services director, used housing funds to purchase the treats and add the event to the official schedule. The lobbies of Pierce, Killingsworth, Trigg and Sundance Court Apartments as well as the Sunwatcher and Mustang Village clubhouses had the treats.

Criminal justice freshman , Jordan Bailey, said she thought it was a nice way to start off the day with her grandmother sharing conversation and muffins.

“Our goal was for the families to feel more welcome and a part of the Family Day experience as soon as they visit their son or daughter in the residence halls and apartments in the morning,” Rodriguez said. “Our department is excited to provide this event free to families and is looking forward to continuing the program in the future.”

Volleyball Game

The volleyball team took on Texas A&M University-Kingsville for Family Day. The girls played five sets and lost 2-3, in front of a crowd of 447 spectators, up from the average of 200.

Hunter Porter, volleyball player and mass communication senior, said, “There was a lot of people at the game. Most of the time it feels like our 15 players versus their 15 players, but Saturday it felt like MWSU versus the other team.”

About 200 Students experienced their first volleyball game for the university this Family Day.

“It was something different to do instead of just laying around the apartment and watching Netflix,” Shelby Butler, education junior said. “It was exciting and fast paced. I definitely would like to go to another game to support the Lady ‘Stangs.”

Football Game

The football game on Saturday night was the culmination of the Family Day festivities.

There were 7500 fans in attendance at the family day game, which tops the 5000 MWSU fans that were in attendance on Military Appreciation Night.

“It felt like a real college football game where the students and community come out and support the football team and performers and really go crazy,” Ciera Philips, psychology sophomore, said. Families experienced MWSU Football starting with a tailgate with their students.

The staff from student development provided bounce houses, Bahama Bucks and free candied apples for spectators to enjoy in prior to the game.

By halftime, fans filled the stands pushing spectators to the visitor’s side because the home side was full.

Having to sit on visitors side because home stands are packed! #MSUfootball #SchoolSpirit

— Jesse Brown (@CouncilorBrown) October 5, 2014

The Mustangs hung on to 3-0 lead ending the first half of play. Then falling to the Rams in a 45-31 loss, breaking broke a three-game winning streak in this year’s game play.

Well it was a tough loss tonight but we will learn and move forward!

— MSU FB Equipment (@MWSU_Equipment) October 5, 2014

With fireworks filling the sky and the school song playing in the distance, the culmination of Family Day came to an end.