To ease the end-of-the-semester squeeze, FAMU alumnus Michael Jones, is launching Greek Fiesta, an event designed to give students the same fun atmosphere he had during his college days.
“I really enjoyed everybody getting together before finals week,” Jones said.
“I would love for students to get that type of atmosphere that I had.”
Most students agree that as the semester ends, the stress begins. Multiple projects and tests place a burden on students as they anxiously await the last day of finals.
“I have one 12-page script to write; I have to study for ongoing quizzes; and tests I have to take before finals week even starts; and a group project,” said Comfort Ojo, 19, a freshman general studies student from Sugarland, Texas.
For students like DeShawna Lacy who juggle 18 credit hours and have the responsibility of a job, Greek Fiesta may be the cure to the end of the semester blues.
“A lot of times teachers try to cram everything in at the end of the semester to cover everything,” said Lacy, 20, a sophomore psychology student from Indianapolis.
“It’s overwhelming. You don’t relax. You just wait until finals week is over and then you breathe.”
A member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Jones, 36, said he enjoyed past Kappa Luaus.
But as the event grew more popular and drew more people, the atmosphere began to change, he said.
“With people coming in from out of town, it got too crowded,” he said.
“It was getting away from campus.”
With the help of cousin and businessman Addys Walker, Jones has come up with an idea that he thinks will bring fun back for the students.
According to Walker security, safety at the event will be no problem for those who attend.
“We don’t intend for them to be harassed or mistreated,” Walker said. “Everybody can have fun and nobody has to go to jail.”
Though not designed to replace the luau, the inaugural Greek Fiesta falls one week before the date the luau was supposed to occur.
Jones said that in addition to bringing fun back to students, he also wanted to unify Greek organizations on campus.
Also working to put Greek Fiesta together, are the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
“I figured we could get some Greeks together to promote the same idea,” he said.
Melvin Jefferson, head of Melman Productions, has been working with Jones and Walker to make Greek Fiesta a reality.
Jefferson said that hopefully the event would give others a better idea of Greek organizations’ identities.
“A lot of times people think that we don’t get along, but that’s really not the case,” said Jefferson, 24, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
“Naturally we have differences as people, but we’re very similar in a number of ways.”
Rahkia Nance can be reached at petite8228@aol.com.