Florida A&M’s annual Be Out Day will be held at the Hansel E. Tookes Sr. Student Recreation Center on Saturday.
The event will take place during the football team’s Orange and Green spring scrimmage. Be Out Day will offer a variety of competitive games for family and friends, including flag football, softball, sand volleyball and disc golf targeting. There will also be free food and a DJ.
Campus Recreation employees encourage the community to participate in the festivities. According to Robert Carroll Jr., director of Campus Recreation, the purpose of Be Out Day is to strengthen the relationship between FAMU and the community.
“Be Out Day is all about bringing community cohesion to FAMU’s campus,” Carroll said.
Be Out Day is a long-standing tradition in FAMU’s community that has been around for nearly 20 years. Carroll said nearly 10,000 people have participated in the past, and he expects a large crowd this year as well.
Stephanie Pierre, a fourth-year psychology student from Orlando, Fla., and employee at the recreation center, said beverages will be provided to keep attendees hydrated.
“There would be plenty of liquid for people participating in the activities, so no one will pass out,” Pierre said.
Jasmine Simmons, a junior psychology student from New Orleans, said she’s excited for Be Out Day because she heard rave reviews about last year’s food.
“I heard the food was amazing last year, so hopefully it’ll follow up to last year,” Simmons said.
Simmons said she expects many to attend and believes it will unify the student body before summer break.
“I expect a big turnout so the school can really come together before the semester is over,” she said.
Mayor John Marks, head football coach Earl Holmes, former Vice President of Student Affairs Roland Gaines and a few clergy members and civic leaders will participate in the celebrity horseshoe event.
The women of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. will challenge the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. in sand volleyball. The campus recreation team, It’s Hot, will also participate in the competition.
Some students, such as Simmons, are anticipating the scheduled events of Be Out Day.
“I know it’s expected to be a lot of fun with the football games and the different activities,” Simmons said.
Be Out Day begins at 2 p.m.