By Joy Moton | Staff Writer
Baylor’s Association of Black Students will host A Family Affair, an event with free catered food, carnival games, music, dancing and fellowship to showcase black culture on Baylor’s campus. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. today at South Russell Fields.
The organization has hosted this event under a different name, “Fish Fry,” in previous years but decided to change the name when new ideas came to light.
“The event was styled in block party form to attract the minority members of Baylor for a free, on-campus event,” said New Orleans, La., junior and co-president of the Association of Black Students Allyn Madison. “Fish Fry was a fun, social event that was an effort towards supporting our minority members and encouraging high retention rates.”
Members of the organization suggested taking a different approach by serving barbecue, which is typically served at cookouts or family reunions.
“With the ideas we were sprouting out, it felt more like a family reunion, so we decided to go with barbecue. I mean, who doesn’t like some good barbecue? But, since we decided to switch the menu, Fish Fry just couldn’t be the name anymore, so we played around with the words and came up with A Family Affair,” Round Rock junior Nuri Hubbard said.
It is a come-and-go event, and the organization welcomes all students.
“It promotes diversity, and it celebrates our differences,” said Kansas junior Kennah Morgan.
The organization is also seeking anyone who would like to volunteer to set up, work a game station and help break down.
“It will be all the Black Student Union organizations coming together fellowshipping, supporting each other going into finals, just having fun. We also want a diverse group of people. You don’t have to be a part of a Black Student Union organization to come have fun with us,” Morgan said.
Hubbard said this event will afford people the opportunity to relax and have a fun time together before finals week.
“The end of the year can be really stressful for everyone, and it’s great to have a little mental break from studying and just spend time with friends. Even if you can’t stay the whole time, we just want people to be able to have a little fun. Especially for our senior friends who will be graduating in a few weeks, it is another opportunity to create memories and socialize among their peers,” Hubbard said.
