Douglass Gavilan/Staff Writer
The Biscayne Bay campus will be hosting its annual “Wolfe Day” event where students can learn more about the history of the University’s third president, while also enjoying medieval-style food and entertainment.
“I feel that students these days have no idea who [Gregory] Wolfe was,” said Jennifer Cooper, assistant director for Team Ropes Adventure Challenge. “A lot of students come into WUC and always ask about who he is and what exactly makes him so special to BBC so this was done in the intent of honoring him and spreading knowledge of him.”
Gregory Wolfe, FIU’s president from 1979 till 1986, changed the University to a four-year institution and added three new schools: journalism and mass communication, nursing and engineering. He also installed a library, student housing, student center and aquatic center at the BBC and taught international relations after his presidency. Eventually, the student center at BBC would be named after him.
The very first Wolfe Day was in 2015 and went along with the ribbon cutting of the renovated Panther Square and Panther Plaza area in the Wolfe University Center. The event is always themed, says Cooper.
Last year’s event celebrated the 2016 Summer Olympics and this year, the festivities are named the “Game of Wolfe” after the hit HBO series, “Game of Thrones.”
“We have a lot of activities planned,” said Cooper. “In going with this year’s theme, we’re going to have panther square styled out to look like a renaissance festival. There will be food themed around that and medieval themed entertainment going on — of these, we will have swordsmen and a falconer doing shows. There will be constant food and entertainment throughout the three hours.”
The event, which will be attended by The Department of Student Life and the Wellness and Recreation Center, will also feature games, trivia and a video detailing the impact the former president had on the Biscayne Bay Campus and the University overall.
One of the highlights of the event will be the costume contest, which is for both students and departments, and prizes will be given out to the person with the best costume, according to Cooper.
“I really enjoy the idea of ‘Game of Wolfe,’” said Amy Lacayo, junior hospitality major. “I walk inside WUC every day that I have school and I never really thought about who Gregory Wolfe was. Plus, I can never say ‘no’ when the school is offering free things.”
Before coming to FIU, Wolfe was a veteran of the Second World war. He also worked for the U.S. State Department and was part of the white house staff under former presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.
“Greg brought a whole new tone to the university. He looked like a movie star,” said former University administrator and professor, Tom Riley to the Miami Herald. “He had the charisma of John Kennedy and he was very bright. When he arrived, there were great feelings of expectation of what he would do for the school.”
Wolfe, who died in December of 2015 at his Sunny Isle Beach home at the age of 93, was fluent in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese. He also attended a law and diplomacy school in Massachusetts where he gained his Ph.D and became president of Portland State University in Oregon.
The event is set to be held on March 30, and will be held in the Wolfe University Center from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Students who may be interested the event can learn more from the division of student affairs office located in WUC 325.
Photo retrieved from Flickr