Dads Day events to continue as planned

Sandra Rodriguez
Contributing writer

Most Dads Day Weekend events are going on as planned, despite this week's national crisis.

"We spent a lot of time thinking about it," said Skip Nelson, president of the University's Dads Association, speaking of the decision to still hold the Dads Day Banquet on Friday night. "But I can't think of a better time for families to be together."

The banquet will take place at the Illini Union starting at 6 p.m. Nelson said about 300 people are expected to attend.

A King Dad — picked during a contest where students could nominate their fathers by writing a one-page essay — will still be crowned. However, he will not have brunch with President James Stukel. He will also not be honored during the football game as King Dad usually is, because Saturday's football game between the Illini and the Louisville Cardinals has been postponed in light of Tuesday's events.

Molly Listenberger, junior in applied life studies and Illini Union Board's area coordinator for traditional programs said,"I was told that if the game was canceled, the president's brunch would also be off. So, I'm not sure if we're going to offer to have dads come down on an alternate weekend."

Other previously arranged events are scheduled to go on.

"Because the Dads Association decided to go ahead and have their banquet, we're going to support them," said Eduardo Diaz, program advisor for Illini Union Board.

Some students said Tuesday's events might change their weekend plans.

"(My parents) were talking about coming down," said Karissa Sartell, freshman in FAA. "And now they're not quite so sure they are coming down anymore because of the events on Tuesday. Not so much because they're afraid about coming down here, but because in light of what's happened they're not really in the mood to come down."

However, not everyone is staying home.

"It will be nice," said Jenna Peterson, freshman in LAS. "They'll be taking me out to dinner. I'll just show them around. I think they wanted to go to IMPE and play racquetball."

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