“Three six, Three six, Three six!”

At the approach of the end of another annual Ferris Fest event, chants for headliner Three 6 Mafia could be heard ringing across campus. This event, as many others on campus, was organized by RSO Entertainment Unlimited (EU).

EU has been around for almost ten years. It was originally part of the B.L.A.C.K. organization. Once it separated and created its own organization, it started creating special events for Ferris students to enjoy. One such event is Ferris Fest. Ferris Fest was originally an event to celebrate Earth Day until it was no longer allowed to be in the park.

While EU has many events throughout the year, Ferris Fest is the biggest and often last event of the year.

Although attendance was up to almost 2,000 people during the headliner for this year's Fest, the event had major issues because of the weather. EU had to decide how to work with the rain and still put on the biggest show of the year at the Quad.

This show has been worked on throughout the entire school year in weekly EU executive board meetings. They plan and organize throughout the semester to prevent a hectic week before the show.

However, EU President Shanyn Leonard said that every week is a busy week for EU because they try have one to two shows or events each week in hopes of keeping students happy.

Leonard and the rest of the E-board members plan out the entire year the last semester before so as to have an idea of which events will occur each week. A couple of members go to an annual conference to see what shows, events, or people they can bring to Ferris.

EU consists of a total of 30 members and those students have to volunteer at least 10 hours per week for an event and go to at least three meetings throughout the year in order to stay a member. There are also 12 people on the E-board and those people have to commit at least three hours a week at the office. President and vice presidents have to commit at least five hours per week in the office, Leonard said.

All members usually help with each event. With Ferris Fest—as it is the biggest event—each member gets their own job to do before, during, and after the show.

For example, this year Leonard covered the Registered Student Organization (RSO) and business tables in the center of the Quad, Ashley Kratzer covered the Merchandise table, Jalena Strayer, Vice President of Programming for EU, covered the novelties and set-up. All play a huge part in making Ferris Fest a hopeful success each year.

Walkie talkies were, of course, the biggest help for EU. All EU members had one so as they could take to each member and discuss any problems they had.

The walkie-talkies were used when the food vendors lost power. Through multiple discussions from EU and the vendors, power came back again.

Leonard said, “When we have problems, we just find the best and quickest possible way to solve the problem. We do our best; we’re students too.”

She also mentioned she does get help or volunteers for each event. Many people came up to EU and offered to volunteer for Ferris Fest. Those people received a free t-shirt in return.

Not only did students volunteer, but fraternities did as well. Delta Chi, in return for EU’s help with hospitality during the January Jams, did security during the entire day. The Law Enforcement Agency (LAE) fraternity also came this time to help keep the crowd in line, Leonard said.

This year's Ferris Fest started off Bulldog Idols winner, Megan Redmond. Treaty of Paris went on stage right after. Since the second stage was cancelled due to the weather, DJ Johnny J and a couple of announcers talked and played some music in between set-up changes.

Other bands scheduled to play the main stage continued on even in the weather.

The conditions didn't stop people from seeing headlining group Three 6 Mafia, as the rap group drew twice as many people as there was earlier that day.

Afterward, reactions were mixed.

FSU student Chris Vallier commented on the show saying, “It was a good show, it was calm and mellow; I liked it.”

Some other audience members believe EU should’ve chosen a different artist to attract more of the variety of students who go to Ferris.

FSU student Scott Mueller, along with students some other students said, “The setup was great, the sound quality was good, but the genre was wrong.”

Leonard said the most common problem is students asking “Why did you pick them to head Ferris Fest?” and all she said was that EU has a lot of students to please, and it’s hard to do when the group picked was actually chosen by Ferris students through the survey EU puts out each year.

“We do our best and all we have to hope for is a good turn out and decent feedback in order to keep the shows coming each year,” she said.

Leonard also said EU put on another good show, despite the weather.

“I’m looking forward to coming back next year to see Ferris Fest from a spectator’s point of view,” Leonard said.

As the semester comes to an end and the books start to close, the talent moves from the classroom and onto the stage.

There’s a little something for everyone at this year’s 10th annual Ferris’ Finest Talent Showcase hosted by the Office of Multicultural Student Services (OMSS).

Sixteen acts survived last Thursday’s auditions with talent ranging from dancers and soloists to bands and comedians.

Vocal soloists include Keeveah Showers, Ashley Williams, and Shoniqua Williams. Guitar soloists are Catacomb, Chris Jane, Jessica Stafford, Lila Al-Shatel and rap soloist Drew Behringer.

Bands include The MEATT, Adam and Jake, Dead Against, and Reversive Minors. Dancers are Anna Braner, Verstyle, and Exclusive. Finally is the comedic duo Arielle Goodson and Dave Jones.

A grand total of $1,900 will be handed out to the winning entertainers. First place will take home $1,000, $600 to second place, and $300 to third.

The night of amusement will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. on Friday, May 1, at Williams Auditorium. There is a $4 fee for the event and tickets can be purchased at the Williams ticket booth.

As Saturday rolls around, the annual OMSS Pig-Nic in Hemlock Park will ensue from 12 to 5 p.m. with the Black Greek Council (BGC) proud to present its annual Step Show in Williams Auditorium following at 6 p.m.

“We are giving out a scholarship at the Step Show,” said BGC President Callie Thomas. “We strongly encourage all Ferris students, staff and community to attend.”

Tickets for the Step Show are $10 and can be purchased at the Williams ticket booth. More than 20 Michigan universities and state-wide Greek organizations have been invited to represent their corresponding organization.

The Step Show will also host an official after party, according to Thomas, at Ferris’ Wink Arena in the multi-purpose room from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Cost to attend is $10.

Any questions regarding Ferris’ Finest, the Pig-Nic, or BGC Step Show can be directed at Andrea Beck-Jones of OMSS at x2617.

Secure your future, and party. Get a better education, and party. Pursue the American Dream, and party.

These are all applicable reasons to go to college, but once you’ve succumbed yourself to the fine walls of this institution you begin to realize that college is much more than a hangover and a degree.

My six years at Ferris have been a journey of selfdiscovery. This journey has occurred inside of an insulated bubble, conveniently located between two escape routes: a freeway and a river.

It isn’t until I step back that I see how small the campus has become, how many memories I will treasure and how much I’ve really grown as an individual.

Now that I’ve gotten the sappy out, I can get to this harsh realization. After May 9, I will no longer be able to blame my immature frolics on being a typical college kid.

All the fun of college started flying away with the leaves last fall while I was faced with resumes, cover letters, interviews, suits, etc.

At first I felt like Ferris was showing me the door and giving me a swift quick.

But as I sit here and reflect on the past years I’ve come to realize that I’ve slowly, but surely, climbed each step on my own and am graciously reaching for the door knob. It’s time I see what life’s been holding for me on the other side.

On that note, I want to thank everyone who’s enjoyed the ride with me; family, friends, fellow Torchies, and each and every one of my professors.

Whether you were sitting shot gun or backseat driving, I couldn’t have made it to where I am today without you.

On a sadder note, like many college towns, students have given Big Rapids an expiration date. Typically during senior year, students come to the realization that they’ve maximized its resources and Big Rapids begins to stale.

But like every good box of cereal, you treasure that time you have left before the crispy crunchiness melts away. Then you wake up and realize: College is over, this is real life.

Back in 2005, everyone older and wiser told me two things. Embrace your college career. It’ll be over before you know it. Four years have passed and it hit me just a couple days ago that it did go way too fast.

At least I embraced it.

While I’ve had many great experiences that I’ll remember my entire life, a few stick out.

What Friends are For
I’ll never forget this day in April of my freshman year. At that point, it was in the top five worst days of my life. My car had been broken (twice), I had injured myself, spent over four hours in a downpour, and then received the worst grade I had ever received, among other things.

I was down in the dumps. It was exam time, so I was stressed out on top of it all. My roommate, Mandy, noticed this and tried to cheer me up.

She remembered that I said one time that one of the best feelings in the world is the feeling of mud between your toes and a puddle being splashed. The downpour had made Lot 60 (then made of dirt) a heaven for puddle-jumping.

For two hours we brought back our inner-child and splashed around, laughed, and squished the mud under our feet. I only remembered how horrible of a day it was on the way back home, when I completely drenched and muddy, grinning from ear-to-ear. At that point, the rest of the day didn’t matter. I had stopped worrying about my problems and concentrated on having fun.

I still thank Mandy from time to time for cheering me up that day. It’s time I did it again: thank you.

Opening a New Door at…The Gate
Almost two years ago I was looking for another job to supplement my time at the Torch. That was the summer that Eastgate became the Gate, and I was hired as a waitress.

But when it came time to open, I realized I wasn’t on the waitress schedule. I found my name on the kitchen schedule. I’m the girl that could make mac’n’cheese and fried egg sandwiches. I didn’t cook meals for others.

It turns out that when hiring, they didn’t hire enough people to work in the kitchen. When I said in my interview I would do anything but wash dishes, they took it to heart. I’ll admit that I walked into my first day as a cook with fire coming out of my ears, but that has since passed.

My days in the kitchen were some of the best in my life, let alone in my college career. I’ve made some great memories. But I’ve also grown in other ways. I have learned how to cook, my taste buds are no longer picky, I multitask with ease and I have a greater appreciation for those in the service industry. Yeah, it’s a weird list, but I learned more being behind the scenes in a restaurant than in most of my gen. ed. classes.

The Greatest Letter I’ve Ever Received
The best experience of my collegiate career actually happened before I came to Ferris.

dI got a notice about a month before starting college that said that the first two floors of Taggart Hall were being reserved for graphic design students if they wanted to live there. I could talk to other students about projects, use the downstairs work area, and be really close to the College of Business.

They should have mentioned that the best thing to come from it would actually be the friends I’d get.

While I would have gotten to know these people anyway in our brutal final two years anyway, I couldn’t picture spending all of my time with other people. We've been through hard times and good times, thick and thin, laughter and tears. I wouldn't take anything back.

I loved having four years to travel through this entire experience, both academic and social, with each other’s company (It's a shame it couldn't last a bit longer, though)

Here’s to our next years, watching each other go through our next experiences, even though they won’t happen while we’re stuck in the design lab during the late hours of the night.