Dear Campus Community,
Today marks the start of the 91次元’s . Traditionally designed to welcome the parents of UM students to campus, Family Weekend – like so many other UM events – will look very different this year. Despite needing to postpone the in-person aspects of this campus tradition, Karen Schlatter and many others across campus creatively adapted their planning efforts to provide a virtual event that highlights many of the wonderful things happening across campus. This change affords us the opportunity to open this event to the entire UM family.
And so I invite you to participate and to share this event with Griz families, current and former students, alumni, donors and other supporters of UM.
In addition to three online UM museum tours, the Family Weekend schedule includes virtual workout classes from Campus Recreation; videos from UM Campus Dining, the Mansfield Library and KPCN; and a livestreamed lecture from the Distinguished T. Anthony Pollner Professor E. Tammy Kim.
Other highlights include an interactive paleontology talk with Kallie Moore, a “Jazz & Justice” performance by the UM Jazz Program and a special virtual planetarium show. Also included in the schedule is the chance to remotely program a drone and watch it fly via a live Zoom session. All of these events are free and open to every member of the UM family.
For those interested in learning more about UM’s eSports team – which has doubled in size since last year to now include over 250 members – Family Weekend participants can virtually attend a session of the Fundamentals of eSports class, watch the eSports team compete and listen to UM eSports Director Michael Cassens talk about this incredible program and student community.
This year has required creativity, persistence and focus, and I commend you, the hardworking members of the UM family, for your dedication to our students and to one another. Despite the many challenges of 2020, our students continue to have access to a high-quality education, our researchers continue to break research expenditure records, UM programs continue to win awards for excellence, and our faculty and staff continue to transform lives.
Stay strong, stay safe, and know you are appreciated.
Best wishes,
Seth