For some people, Family Weekend is nothing more than an average weekend, besides the thousands of parents and family members wandering through campus.

For me, Family Weekend was supposed to be something special.

I am a senior journalism major and this was the first time my parents were able to witness first-hand what I do day-in and day-out for The Daily Eastern News.

I was assigned the pre-show article covering Styx and then I covered the concert itself.

In my mind, I had the perfect articles laid out, in which I hoped to get in contact with Styx for an interview before the show and possibly after.

I started the first article by trying to get in touch with the University Board.

With minimal, if any, replies I turned to MySpace hoping the band’s profile would steer me in the right direction.

The band’s spokesperson told me an interview wasn’t possible unless I contacted my student life organization with the school-i.e. the UB.

With a deadline nearing, I turned my focus to a possible interview at the show or after.

I continuously tried to contact the UB to gain more information about the show through the week leading up to Family Weekend. I just wanted the basics.

I knew my family was coming and wondered if I would need to purchase a ticket for myself, as well as my parents. More importantly, I wanted to know if there were any way I could speak with the band.

Around 5 p.m. Thursday, I got a call from the UB. It informed me about a press pass for the 6 p.m. show could be made available but the band had decided to hold no meetings with the press. This meant no press conference or one-on-one time. My mind began to wonder why a band wouldn’t want coverage at a college campus it was performing at, but I pushed all the excuses to the side. I still needed to cover the review in a fair fashion.

Slightly saddened, but not deterred, I humbly accepted a free ticket because something is better than nothing.

My parents arrived safe and sound Saturday morning. The first question both of them asked me was, “are you excited that you get to interview Styx?” I was then forced to explain to them why I wouldn’t be interviewing the band.

I arrived at the concert and was given my press pass. Sitting next to my pass on the table of scattered and shuffled papers laid a pile of “Meet the Press” badges.

Confused by the sight, I put it in the back of my mind knowing that, eventually, I would get to the bottom of this. Tuesday, a member of the UB notified me that there had, indeed, been a press meeting with the band earlier Saturday.

Let me state now that I am not mad, upset, jealous or simply OK with the fact that I didn’t meet the band. Confused is the only word that comes to mind.

With editors, advisers, family and friends asking me why I failed to get an interview, I wait in confusion. Let this be my attempt at clearing the confusion.

Brad York is a senior journalism major and can be reached at 581-7942 or

[email protected].