UNH was flooded with parents this past weekend as annual parent’s weekend events took place. The rain didn’t turn parents away from tailgating at the football home opener on Saturday.
The weekend was set to be a washout with Hurricane Ophelia off the east coast but parents were still lining up in full force to tailgate at the football home opener. The tailgate area opened for tailgaters at 8:30 a.m. and there was already a line to get in. Lucy Guild, a parking attendant at the tailgating area said “cars started lining up at around eight this morning. We opened at eight thirty and by nine we already had about three to four rows of cars already tailgating.”
The rain held off for the most part. Little sprinkles of rain occurred about every hour but no down pour at all. Tickets were sold out weeks before the football game was set to start. Freshman Emily Lundstead tried to get her mom tickets a few days before. “I went to the ticket office on Monday and they said they were all sold out. I didn’t know what to do because my mom just needed to get into the tailgate not actually into the game. We ended up just passing tickets from parent to parent just to get them into the tailgate.”
The UNH police were on close stand by throughout the tailgate event. On the hill sat three police cars, one special units van, and a state police SUV. Not only were there cars but police were walking around and stationed at all entrances. The day went off without any large incidents happening. As I sat at the Dunkin Donuts, I overheard police officers saying that there weren’t any large incidents or disruptions. They credited it to being parents weekend and that most kids are on their best behavior when parents around.
Other events were popular for parents to attend such as, the Men’s Hockey Exhibition game. Parents and students alike flocked to the Whittemore Centre Saturday Afternoon to watch their favorite team diminish New Brunswick. McKenzie Fraser was excited to be back at the whit, a place she calls, “My home away from home. I’m a huge UNH hockey fan from upstate NY. My parents have season tickets but we live and breathe wildcat hockey. I can’t wait for hockey season to start but it was nice to have all the parents and students there.”
Parent’s weekend also helps many parents of the University with funding. Parents are more likely to buy things than students are. The parent’s association depends on the donation of parents in order to buy things in need for programs that need funding. The parent’s association held an open house and brunch at campus rec with free skating and a free demo from the skating team. According to the parent’s association, with the donations from parents they are able to provide stim machines to the athletic training room, vans for sports clubs, and give’s grants to sports teams such as the skating team.
UNH Volleyball player, Amy Keding helped sell t-shirts in honor of two football players critically injured in a car accident. “I think that we were able to get more support for these two brothers because it was parent’s weekend. A lot of parents we’re really worried and really willing to help. Most students wouldn’t buy t-shirts and ribbons for twenty dollars but parents will and they did!” Parents are essential to the well being of students and the university.
Parent’s weekend gives parents a chance to visit their students and attend fun activities throught the weekend. According to their website, “We try to offer low cost or free events, programs or activities that you can attend with your entire family. We invite you to mix and mingle with other UNH families who are visiting for the weekend during the various events.”
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