Florida A&M University’s Office of Student Affairs has been busy prepping for this year’s annual Parents and Family weekend. The three-day event is scheduled to take place from today through Sunday. While in previous years, the theme has ranged from “Vegas” to “Rattler Rodeo” to “Mardi Gras,” students and their loved ones can look forward to this year’s “Return of the Disco.”
According to the event schedule listed on the OSA website, this year’s festivities will begin promptly at 9 a.m. today with check-ins in Efferson Student Union.
Luckily, our extended FAMU-ly will have the opportunity to experience the life of a Rattler at Set Friday later that day. Set Friday this week will include “A Day of Funky Beats And Psychedelic Threads,” followed by the “Greek Disco Showdown: Yardshow” at the Will Packer Amphitheater.
The “groovy gatherings” will pick back up Saturday morning around 11 with tailgating before the upcoming home game against Alabama State University. Tailgating at FAMU is an experience like none other. The families of newer and older students will have the opportunity to try the best food in town, the best lemonade, if you know you know, and see the drippiest FAMU gear in all of Tallahassee all in one place. Let’s not forget the hype music and school spirit that fills the atmosphere. Kickoff doesn’t begin until 6 that evening, so FAMU fans have just enough time to explore before repping their green for the “Hall of Fame” game.
The weekend of events will come to a close on Sunday morning, when the university pays homage to Andre Green during The Inaugural: Andre D. Green Farewell Famuly Brunch. The Florida A&M community continues to mourn the loss of Green, 41, who served as the assistant dean of students, director of Efferson Student Union, Activities and New Student Orientation, as well as an adjunct instructor for more than 17 years.
This weekend is a time for celebration. The celebration of life and community which ultimately brings us all closer together. Micah Barkley, a third year broadcast journalism student, served as a member of the Strike team during her freshman year in 2021. The Strike team is a group of students who are tasked with the most crucial part of any FAMU home game, keeping the crowd lit — usually in the student section. During Parents & Family weekend Barkley served as a volunteer through the Strike team. Barkley said that Parents & Family Weekend almost reminded her of a preview for homecoming, especially being able to engage with some of the older Rattlers and to see school spirit everywhere.
“It was really cool interacting with the family, friends and alumni,” Barkley said. “You got treated to a lot of things. You got to talk to a lot of people, and it was a good opportunity to network while we were helping out.”
Senior class president for the Campus Activities Board Reggie Brown is another Rattler looking forward to this year’s Parents & Family Weekend. Brown believes that this is a great opportunity for parents of new students especially to see where their kids will be for the next four years and to experience what it’s like to be a part of the Florida A&M community.
“I know a lot of people may see things on social media about how FAMU is,” Brown said. “But being able to actually come to the school, see students, see the orange and the green, I think it shows what the school represents and the culture they have.”
While many students and their families may not have had the opportunity to explore the campus before the start of the semester, this creates the perfect time to do so.