m THE 5EAHAWK/SEPTEMBER IS, 200 1 Apptt^e Fawily Weekend S> ^ a h a k Ell™ “Excellence Through Truth and Dedication” Since 1948 Megan O’Brien - Editor-In-Chief Lyndsey M. Bland - Managing Editor Ashley Delph - Advertising Director Heather Grady - News Editor Sarah van Schagen - Lifestyles Editor Katie BLANCHARD-Specin/ Section Editor Ben Jones • Sports Editor James Flint - Photo Editor Kevin Knight - Adviser Bill DiNome - Student Media Coordinator TS3BHraiaHaiyEnc commiily. Asafemmf ' IlnaedltssMwdd:! hiillwt*»)«il»olNoitC«ro»»«IWWnaten,»»tioiic»eln««»fcrti»Ur*iiii^fwd«mii*g ” leteeditoialtreato;»»vi8«sa»ila«w(««IWnffl»^^ ducsd, salaclBd, and adM by adloMsM and wites ot anidonotiwiMwlytepiMKiHievieMSol Uf-e6^UAP~V 5P^lAUST5 CRA(AP5 A- . SHARKS RiPTipes James Flint One of the most amazing things fi about the human species is our ability ti to work together to accomplish a task C' that could not be done by a single per- F One of the greatest aspects of col- S lege life is the opportunity to be in- di volved with the many groups, clubs or $ organizations that exist on campus. No matter what your interest, there (g is some sort of outlet for you at jd UNCW, and if something that suits do not exist, you very well could start a new club or organization. The value of involvement is some- , thing that cannot be measured, but it is true that by being involved you will gain a feeling of belonging. Interact- j ing with your university community is J an extension of being involved with the community around you, and this is Family Weekend is an important time. In many cases, it is the first time since move in day that parents and siblings have come to see their college student. It’s an odd time for families and stu dents, an adjustment that may not be easy, but is certainly an important one. Students who went home for Labor Day weekend have probably already started to feel the change. Your life and your family member’s lives have di verged, you going in one direction and they in another. It’s a difficult thing to accept. Sometimes your family seems not to miss you at all, but to be carrying on with their normal lives, easily filling the gap you left. That’s how I have al ways felt about my family, and it’s taken me about three years to accept the fact that, yes, they have their own lives. It has also taken me time to realize that I have grown my own life too, one every bit as real and important as theirs (even if they don’t always acknowledge it). It almost compensates for feeling sort of squeezed out of theirs. Things are dif ferent than when I lived at home and was so much more a part of their lives. I’m ^ still important, I know, just less central. '5' For friends of mine, their families are practically unrecognizable from fresh man year. Parents moved away, got di vorced or went back to school. While dealing with my family’s seeming sameness was tough, dealing with these huge changes must be even harder. It would seem that the stable center they knew was suddenly shaken from under them. The idea behind Family Weekend seems even more precious after last week’s attacks on New York and Wash ington. Thousands of people lost family members forever. Take this weekend to enjoy your family, as maddening as they may be sometimes. Family Weekend is not about the university’s planned ft events; it’s about being together and tak- * ing strength from one another during a challenging ti something that enables you to explore your full potential. UNCW students can take part in or ganized athletics, social and political groups like P.E.A.C.E. (People for Education and an Active Commitment to Equality) and WAIL (Women Act In Liberation), student government, cam pus entertainment, student media, one of many religious groups, one of the many diversity groups like GLAD, en vironmental groups like the ECO Club, Greek Life, the sailing club, dance groups, music ensembles, academic honor societies, or one of many oth- For more information about being involved with campus life, students can visit the Campus Activities and In volvement Center in the student union or call 962-3827. SEAHAWK COSTACT IS FORMATION; CoUege Roui. UU205E. WUniingUm. NC Coutoe^ ccx/dses im f\LMAh‘0 vio^o il'S He He'S fHfiOAj'. OH, ijic^.,.(^eveaoeP To ee A vocr6f2^