Record turnout at Hofstra's Sibling Day

Hofstra University’s Parent and Family Program in the Division of Student Affairs organized a successful Siblings Day on Saturday, Feb. 29, achieving a record-setting turnout to the family-friendly event. Siblings Day further enhanced Hofstra’s reputation for strong community building while providing an avenue for prospective students as young as grade school-aged to explore what the University has to offer, especially with regards to recreational and social activities.

Over 100 Hofstra students and 120 invited siblings, along with other family members, kicked off the day’s festivities by enjoying a fun afternoon of arts and crafts, games and snacks during the carnival at the Fitness Center. Guests young and old alike were seen playing a volleyball game organized by the Commuter Students Association (CSA), conquering a giant inflatable obstacle course and playing tabletop games with Residence Hall Association (RHA) students.

“The [carnival] has gone very well, we’ve seen family members having a great time and every event that the club has [organized] is doing very well. They’re getting attention and participation, and no one seems to be left out,” said Benjamin Johnson, a junior majoring in computer engineering and the vice president of the Residence Hall Association.” In addition, Branka Kristic, the Director of Parent and Family Programs at the Division of Student Affairs, “observed that all of the events are busy, I see, but I think the busiest of all are volleyball and the inflatables.”

Kristic also noted how the RHA and CSA were closely collaborating with each other to create the program for the family-friendly event. In addition to those two organizations, the Caribbean Student Association, Alpha Phi Omega, Hofstra v. Zombies and Hofstra Tabletop Games also participated in arranging the Siblings Day event.

“The purpose of Siblings Day is to unify our community and the families of Hofstra students, and also to gauge the interest of families to let them know of all the programming opportunities and the spirit that Hofstra has,” said Colleen Todd, a senior majoring in international business and the president of the Residence Hall Association.

Shania Figueroa, a junior majoring in health science and the president of the Commuter Students Association, added, “It’s a day to bring your younger brother or sister and have them interact with Hofstra’s community. We have a lot of activities planned today and it’s a great way to get them involved.”

After the carnival, students and their siblings took the short walk over to the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex to watch the Hofstra Pride men’s basketball team play James Madison University (JMU) on Senior Day and the final home game of the regular season.

“It’s great to have siblings with their family members supporting Hofstra’s basketball team. The basketball team is doing great this year and I feel like it would be awesome if everyone could come out and support,” Figueroa said before the game tipped off at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Pride clinched the CAA regular season championship for the second year in a row with their 97-81 win over JMU.

In the evening, after on-your-own dinner, everyone gathered together in the Student Center Theater to watch a screening of the hit animated film “Frozen II.” The day’s festivities concluded with siblings under the age of 13 and commuter siblings going home for the evening, while those aged 13 to 17 had the option of staying overnight in the dorm rooms at the invitation of their older sibling.

When asked why she participated in Siblings Day, Chayse Dixon, a freshman majoring in exercise science, said that “it was an excuse” to spend the day with her eight-year-old brother A.J., and that the carnival was an excuse “for him to eat ridiculous amounts of candy, and my mother would never allow that.” A.J., who was sitting in Chayse’s lap when interviewed, seemed to be enjoying the experience himself. When he was asked if he wants to come to Hofstra, A.J. gave a simple but satisfactory one-word response, “Yes!”