Card game sparks freshman gathering

 

Two freshman cousins split the $50 prize awarded at the second Gibbs Hall Spades Tournament, hosted by the Junior Class of 2012. The juniors used the popular game of spades to reach out to freshmen. The event is a part of FAMU Junior Week 2010. Approximately 30 students ranging from freshmen to juniors filled Gibbs Lobby Wednesday night. Participants paid five dollars to compete and played in pairs against other teams. The “Gibbs Hall Spades Tournament II” held on November 17, 2010 was an opportunity to raise funds and provide entertainment to the freshmen. The event was scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. but the games did not begin until 10:15.

Floide Shelly, 21, a third-year business administration student, is the fundraising chairperson for the junior class cabinet. Shelly coordinated the event after a successful debut tournament was held in Gibbs earlier this year.

“Basically, we’re getting people out that stay in the resident halls or even upperclassmen to compete in a game they love and actually get a chance to win money while doing so,” Shelly said. “The first one was very successful so that [residents] e-mailed us about when we would do another one.”

Although the event was open to anyone, the fundraising chair wanted to specifically target freshmen. The event coordinator felt that Gibbs Hall was the best venue because it was a convenient location for freshmen who do not have transportation. The event was publicized with flyers in the dorms.

Sophomore information technology student, Isa Toledo, 19 from Atlanta, Ga., came to the event because her spades partner thought it would be a great chance to win money for the Orlando Classic.

“My purpose for coming to the event was to win money so I could make it to the Orlando Classic, but that didn’t happen,” Toledo said.

On the other hand, Edgar Woods, 19, a first-year engineering student from Ocala, Fla., participated for the love and fun of the game, along with an opportunity to interact with the junior class.

“My favorite part was the competition,” Woods said. “They’re kind, they’re cool and nice to be around.”

The winners of the tournament were two freshman students from the “ShowTime Team,” Jimmy Jackson, 19, a sports medicine student, and Cory Davis, 19, a pharmacy student, both from Blountstown, Fla. The pair have played together for three years, and chose their name because of their extravagant playing gestures and slick comments toward the other team.

While Jackson was unsure of how to spend his prize money, Davis said, “I’m headed straight to McDonalds.”