Cristina Martinez

Staff writer

What was supposed to be a bright, sunny day in the quad filled with inflatables, live music, and 2,003 students and their family members did not go according to plan.

A rainy day replaced the expected sunshine and the quad that sits between Martin Hall and the Hardin Administration Building was traded for the Clark Student Center.

Kevin Bazner, assistant director of student development and orientation, was in charge of Family Day.

“Noon on Friday is when we made the call to have everything indoors and they started setting everything up in the student center Friday afternoon,” Bazner said.

Bazner said the transition to Clark Student Center was not as bad as it could have been because they had an alternative plan from the beginning.

However, some activities were compromised because of the rain, Bazner said.

“The biggest thing we had to let go was the inflatables, but luckily the company that we worked with was very flexible. They even called us at the last minute to see if the rain was going to hold off,” Bazner said.

Bazner and the Office of Student Development and Orientation were not alone in making sure that Family Day went smoothly in spite of the rain.

Bazner had the help of more than 40 volunteers from the student ambassadors and the rugby team.

“The rugby team was a big help,” he said.  “They helped us tear everything down on campus and make the transition out to the stadium for the football game. Basically whenever we needed extra help, they were there for us.”

There are 6,182 students enrolled this fall representing 41 states in the U.S. as well as 47 foreign countries. Bazner said even though many family members weren’t able to visit the campus for Family Day, those students were still catered to.

“Family Day isn’t just for family as far as parents and siblings go, but it’s also a time to really just have fun with your MSU family,” Bazner said.

Samantha Forester, a junior majoring in mass communication and president of Kappa Delta Chi said her chapter was not phased by the rain.

Forester said the chapter’s original plan of hosting an academic award ceremony and meet and greet with its family members was enhanced by Family Day.

“The families liked that we paired our events with Family Day so they would have more to do,” Forester said. “One of the girl’s grandmothers said this year’s meet and greet was the best yet and it was because Family Day gave us so many more activities to take part in.”

Forester’s parents also attended Family Day. Forester said her parents got the opportunity to meet some of her professors and walk around her classrooms.

“It was great for my parents to see what I do on campus,” Forester said. “It’s been a big jump from high school when they were so involved in my life to now when they don’t really get an opportunity to be.”

Leanne Henry, a junior majoring in chemistry and a pledge for Kappa Delta Chi is far from home. Henry’s family did not get the chance to visit campus for Family Day because her home is 2,717 miles away in Saint Lucia. Henry said she did not expect her family to attend the events on campus when she sent them the invitation.

“It’s hard to go to Family Day with no family here,” Henry said.  “But joining Kappa Delta Chi is like the process of adoption. They have really become my segregate family.”

Henry said she misses her family back in Saint Lucia, but she also enjoys going to school here. Henry said this year’s Family Day was the first she attended. She said since joining a sorority, she has experienced campus life more because her sisters have opened her up to new experiences. Henry said the reason she attended Family Day was because of Kappa Delta Chi’s coinciding activities.

Bazner said he has started thinking about what the future might hold for Family Day.

“I would really love to see us extend it from a day-long event to a weekend. We have a lot of things going on throughout the entire weekend and having Friday night and Saturday night would give the families more time with their students,” Bazner said. “Also, it would give the families that are truly visiting a chance to see what Wichita Falls has to offer as well as increase the economic impact Family Day has on the local area.”

Bazner said his plate is once again full because even though Family Day is over, homecoming is right around the corner on the week of Oct. 7.

“We are gearing up for a great week of activities for homecoming,” Bazner said. “We are putting some finishing touches on some of the events and we will see how we can make it bigger and better than last year.”

Bazner said homecoming is another way for students to get involved with the events that happen on campus. Events such as the annual t-shirt exchange, torchlight parade, bonfire, and Mad Chad the chain saw juggler will be highlights of homecoming week.  There is still a chance for student organizations to register for various homecoming competitions by visiting www.mwsu.edu, Bazner said.