Make plans for Family Weekend Oct. 5-7

The University of St. Thomas Family Weekend 2007 will be held from Friday to Sunday, Oct. 5-7, on the UST campus.

Here is a schedule of the events planned for this St. Thomas tradition (the schedule is updated frequently, so please visit the Family Weekend Web page for more information):

Friday, Oct. 5

• 9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Hospitality and registration center open, first floor, Murray-Herrick Campus Center

  Be sure to stop by so that you can receive the final and complete schedule of events, along with any meal tickets you may have purchased. Even if you aren’t planning on attending any events, stop by the hospitality table to pick up materials provided for all families.

• 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – Experience academic life at St. Thomas

  Visit a classroom with your son or daughter. Most regularly scheduled classes are open and you are encouraged to attend them with your student.

• Noon-1:15 p.m. – UST Alumni Association First Friday Luncheon Series at The Depot, 225 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis

  As part of the Family Weekend events, guests are invited to a talk by alumnus Ali Selim ’83, writer, producer and director of the award-winning film "Sweet Land," as he shares his insights into producing and directing his first project. The movie was filmed in Minnesota and propelled Selim into national recognition (idea: Watch the movie before the luncheon!).

  Cost of First Friday is $25. Register by Friday, Sept. 28, on the Alumni Association Web site. No refunds will be made and no tickets will be sent. Please specify "Family Weekend guest" in the comments section of your registration for special "reserved seating" with other parents. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the First Friday Luncheon Series, contact UST Alumni Association, (651) 962-6430.

• 3 p.m. – Discussion on "Electronic Community: The Impact on Personal Relationships, " at Common Ground house of hospitality, 2154 Summit Ave.

  In light of the abundant use of electronic communications devices, how do we build and sustain interpersonal relationships in community? Join UST parents and staff members in a discussion regarding electronic communities – from gaming to MySpace to Facebook.

• 5-7 p.m. – Family reception in the Fireside Room, Murray-Herrick Campus Center

  Join staff and students from Multicultural Student Services and the Office of International Student Services for a Family Weekend reception.

• 5-8 p.m. – Fall art tour meets in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center (OEC) lobby gallery

  Visit as many as six galleries in a few hours! Meet the artists, listen to music and enjoy refreshments. Getting from gallery to gallery is easy – just hop one of four buses that will travel continuously between the campuses. The event is free and open to the public. Check out the official Fall Art Tour Web site.

• 8 p.m. – campus lecture by Soledad O’Brien in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center auditorium

  Soledad O’Brien is an anchor and special correspondent for CNN: Special Investigations Unit, reporting hourlong documentaries throughout the year and presenting in-depth series on the most important ongoing and breaking news stories for all major CNN programs.

  O’Brien joined CNN in July 2003 as the co-anchor of the network’s flagship morning program, American Morning, and distinguished herself by reporting from the scene on the transformational stories that broke on her watch. Her efforts following Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Phuket, Thailand, have earned her numerous awards and critical acclaim.

  In 2007, O’Brien garnered a Gracie Allen Award for her reporting from Cyprus on the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict as well as her reports from the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. Also this year, the NAACP honored her with its President’s Award in recognition of her humanitarian efforts and journalistic excellence and she is slated to receive the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay’s 2007 Clara Barton Humanitarian Award. O’Brien is a graduate of Harvard University with a degree in English and American literature.

Saturday, Oct. 6

• 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. – Hospitality and registration center open, first floor, Murray-Herrick Campus Center

  Be sure to stop by so that you can receive an updated and complete schedule of events, along with any meal tickets you may have purchased. Even if you aren’t planning on attending any events, stop by the hospitality table to pick up the materials provided for all families.

• 8 a.m. – 5K Fun Run-Walk

  Meet at the John Ireland statue west of Murray-Herrick Campus Center. This event is sponsored by STAR and the Box Office and Expeditions. A free T-shirt will be given to all participants.

• 8:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. – School of Engineering "Invention to Venture" conference

  Various lectures are planned regarding technology entrepreneurship, idea validation and opportunity assessment, issues in intellectual property licensing, marketing and sales for early stage companies, networking, and business plans. Tickets are required; for more information or to register, visit the Invention to Venture Web site.

• 10 a.m. – noon – Talks on "A Tradition of Academic Excellence"

  Lectures from some of the most celebrated UST faculty members, including a discussion of the common text.

• 12 p.m.-2 p.m. – Fourth-annual Parent Network brat and chili fest in the lower quad

  Join the Parent Network and members of the UST administration for a Family Weekend tradition. Meet Tommie, our mascot, and enjoy the festive atmosphere, good company and great food. Tickets required.

• 5:30 p.m. – Mass
  in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas

• 7:30 p.m. – Concert (featured artists to be determined) in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center auditorium

Sunday, Oct. 7

• 8 a.m. – Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon

  The marathon route passes right by our campus! For more information, visit the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Web site.

• 9 a.m. – Mass in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas. The Handbell Choir will perform.

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Family Weekend brunch in the Student Dining Room, Murray-Herrick Campus Center. Tickets required.

• 11 a.m. – Mass in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas. The Liturgical Choir will perform.