OSU Pet Day takes place May 5, 2012 in conjunction with Moms Weekend.

Entertainment, athletic events, food and other activities are on tap this May 4-6 when hundreds of mothers of OSU students will visit campus for the annual Moms Weekend celebration.

Many of the events are free and open to the public, though several have charges and other require tickets.

Moms Weekend features literally dozens of events, including tours of campus facilities, Pac-12 Conference baseball and softball games, workshops, booths, films and other entertainment.

Among the popular events held in conjunction with Moms Weekend are:

• Pet Day, held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Magruder Hall, located on 30th Street in Corvallis. The OSU College of Veterinary Medicine opens its doors for tours, displays and a number of family-oriented events. One of the more popular events at the university, Pet Day annually draws 3,000 to 4,000 visitors – many of whom bring their pets. Among the activities will be dog agility demonstrations, a petting zoo, a pet wash, Frisbee contests for dogs, tours of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and more. Numerous organizations and vendors will have displays, providing free samples, information and other resources on everything from pet food to shelter medicine;
• The All-University Sing and Greek Life Showcase, Saturday, May 5, in Gill Coliseum (tickets are $30);
• Hawaiian students at OSU will bring a taste of the islands to campus this Saturday, May 5, when Hui-O-Hawaii with the Polynesian Cultural Club hosts its 57th annual Lu’au at Gill Coliseum. This year’s lu’au begins at 5 p.m. and includes dinner, a show and a concert. Advance tickets are priced at $25 for all three; or $20 for just the show and concert; they are available in advance this week on the brick mall adjacent to the Memorial Union quad from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Hawaiian dinner includes Kalua pork, lomi salmon, chicken long rice, steamed white rice, shoyu chicken (soy sauce), and haupia (coconut flavored gelatin dessert). Following dinner, the show will feature a range of Polynesian dances;
  

  The Memorial Union Program Council (MUPC) Comedy Show, featuring Alonzo Bodden and opening act Comedy Sportz, will take place at 6:30 and 9 p.m. May 5 in LaSells Stewart Center.

• The Memorial Union Program Council (MUPC) Comedy Show, featuring Alonzo Bodden and opening act Comedy Sportz, will take place at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday in LaSells Stewart Center. Tickets are priced at $38 and $34;
• The MUPC fashion show called “Beyond the Edge” will be held at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday in the Memorial Union ballroom. Tickets are priced at $15;
• The Showcase of OSU will feature food, arts and crafts, and entertainment in the Memorial Union quad on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.  Hot air balloon rides are offered from 9 to 11 a.m.;
• The International Students of Oregon State University (ISOSU) will hold its annual Spring Festival on Sunday, May 6, in the Memorial Union quad on campus, with the theme “Celebrating Mothers around the World.” This free event begins at noon and continues through 4 p.m. ISOSU is a student-led program through the Student Leadership & Involvement office. The Spring Festival will serve as a final event for the Moms Weekend celebration at OSU. In addition to international cuisine, the festival will feature live music and dance performances from students and groups around Oregon, and a children’s corner with games, face-painting and other activities.

For those seeking more active pursuits, a Bald Hill hike and yoga event will take place on Saturday, as will a pistol club fundraiser shoot, a Challenge Course experience, and a 5-kilometer fun run.

Oregon State design student Shavonne Schumacher pins a hem during a fitting for the OSU Mom's Weekend fashion show. (photo: Theresa Hogue)

This Friday through Sunday, a number of events for the public as well as the campus community will keep everyone busy on the Oregon State University campus. One of those events, the annual Mom’s Fashion Show, had student designers and models scrambling on Monday to put the final touches on a highly anticipated affair.

With a furrowed brow, Oregon State junior Shavonne Schumacher knelt close to the ground as she carefully pinned a hem on a pair of traditional Hakama pants. Standing patiently above her, model and OSU student Laura Siltanen watched as Schumacher fixed the hems so they wouldn’t get caught on Sitlanen’s heels. After all, a tumble on the runway was the last thing either of them wanted.

Student designers like Schumacher will have their work highlighted this weekend during the Mom’s Fashion Show. Her Asian-inspired look blends traditional Japanese elements with a modern bandau-style top, and allowed her to experiment with fabrics. But the dual major in apparel design and exercise sports science has a different dream upon graduation.

“I want to get into exercise and sports wear,” she said.

Xochitl Gonzalez, a sophomore, waited patiently for her model to arrive as she examined her creation, a sparkly purple evening dress.

“I made a dress inspired by Lady Gaga,” Gonzalez said. “She’s one of my inspirations. I listen to her music and sew.”

Meanwhile, Charlie Rose Hormann was adjusting a corded teal bikini top to her model, Noelle Williams, and making sure the matching, gathered teal leggings worked on the 5’10 student.

This Lady Gaga-inspired dress was designed by OSU student Xochitl Gonzalez. (photo: Theresa Hogue)

“I was inspired by spring,” Hormann said, adding that she was pleased to see that models for the fashion show this year represented a variety of sizes and ethnicities.

This year’s theme is “Where Every Mom is Royalty,” and events kick off Friday with tours, a pottery sale, crafts and an all-university Sing at Gill Coliseum. The fashion show takes place Saturday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. A tea, a grand banquet, a comedy show and more take place on Saturday, and events continue Sunday. A special Powered by Orange flyer featuring discounts to local businesses will be available at the Mom’s welcome table and at the Fashion Show. For a full calendar of events see http://osumu.org/moms_weekend.html

In addition, three other annual events are happening this weekend.

Veterinary students at Oregon State will coordinate one of the most popular annual spring events on campus Saturday when the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine hosts its 23rd annual Pet Day celebration.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the college will open its doors to two- and four-legged visitors for tours, demonstrations, exhibits and socialization. The event annually draws some 3,000 to 4,000 visitors, many bringing their pets (which should be on leashes).

Pet Day is held at Magruder Hall, located on 30th Street just west of the Merritt Truax Indoor Center. The event is free and open to the public, although a handful of activities will have nominal fees that serve as fund-raisers for the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association and other student clubs, including a dog wash, pony rides, a fun run and a pet photo booth.

A fun run/walk event will begin at 9 a.m. and registration may be done online in advance, or beginning at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the race. The five-kilometer event will loop through the OSU campus and end at Magruder Hall. Race day registration is $17, with a $2 discount for those signing up online by April 30.

Tours of the facilities, including the Lois Bates Acheson Teaching Hospital, begin at 10 a.m. and are free.

The College of Forestry is holding their 78th Annual Fernhopper Celebration on Saturday. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. for registration, refreshments, and catching up with friends. The program will feature an update by the Dean followed by concurrent presentations on current work by faculty and students. A College of Forestry tree ID walking tour is scheduled at 12:30 pm. To participate, register here: http://fernhopper.forestry.oregonstate.edu/register.php

Finally, the Spring football game takes place Saturday at 12:15 p.m. in Reser Stadium. The day begins at 10 a.m. with the opening of Fan Fair at Parker Plaza and the Beaver Authentics autograph session (open until 11 a.m.) at Reser Stadium. The Spring Game, presented by Azumano Travel, “kicks off” at 12:15 p.m. with admission $5 – free for OSU students with student identification and for kids 12 and under. Fans will receive a free spring game poster (while supplies last). General admission tickets are available for purchase now at legendary Gill Coliseum or on game day at the stadium; GA tickets permit access to the Club Level or the east side seating areas – the remainder of the stadium will be closed. Tickets are not available over the phone or via the Internet.

~ Theresa Hogue