Southern Arkansas University’s Family Day on September 21 will begin at 11 a.m. and run throughout the day with events and activities for everyone to enjoy.
Since kickoff at SAU is set for 6 p.m., the schedule of events will be as follows:
- 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Organization Fair tables and family-friendly events (lawn of Blanchard Hall);
- 11:45 a.m. Beds Arrive for Best-Decorated Judging (Science Center);
- 1 p.m. 39th Annual Residence Hall Association Bed Race (Science Center);
- 2 p.m. Family Reception (Engineering Building);
- 2:30 p.m. Great Greek Canoe Race (Engineering pond);
- 3 p.m. Mulegating (Alumni Center lawn);
- 5 p.m. Pep-rally (Alumni Center lawn);
- 6 p.m. Mulerider Football (Wilkins Stadium).
The Organization Fair is hosted by SAU’s student organizations from 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. and will provide activities for everyone including Bingo and carnival games.
Great Greek Canoe Race is an exciting event that creates a splash for those involved.
The 39th Annual Residence Hall Association Bed Race, one of SAU’s most unique and treasured traditions, begins at noon. Each heat of the race pits two teams of five students against each other beginning on the street in front of the Science Center and continuing to the Engineering building. Four members of each team push the decorated, adapted beds (with bicycle tires added) as the brave and helmeted, and usually petite, rider holds on.
At 2 p.m., families are invited inside the Engineering building for the Family Reception with free food and refreshments. At 2:30 p.m., another wave of excitement rolls in as the Great Greek Canoe Race take place at the Engineering pond.
Beginning at 3 p.m. will be the official Mulegating festivities at the Alumni Center. Mulegating is SAU’s adaptation of tailgating before each Mulerider home football game. It has become increasingly popular over recent years and even more so since last year’s opening of the new Alumni Center. This Family Day’s Mulegating is sponsored by Bodcaw Bank, who will be serving chopped beef sandwiches, beef empanadas, and chips and salsa to SAU alumni. In addition, the University Housing staff will be serving hamburgers. Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy the delicious food.
After Mulegating head to the stands to help cheer on the Muleriders to victory.
The Mulegating pep rally featuring the more than 140-member Mulerider Marching Band and the nationally-competitive SAU Cheerleading squad begins at 5 p.m. in front of the Alumni Pavilion.
Fans can walk across the Alumni Bridge from Mulegating to get a good seat at Wilkins Stadium for the Mulerider football game, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Rip Powell Field against Harding. The Muleriders are undefeated this season and have earned their highest national NCAA Division II ranking since joining the GAC nine years ago.
