By Marie Gross
Among a sea of green shirts Wednesday, bright yellow Choose to Give t-shirts, signs, buttons and stickers showed up across campus.
To encourage students to make donations, the Choose to Give campaign sponsored a free barbecue Wednesday in Brigham”s Square that featured entertainment from the Cougarettes, Vocal Point and Swing Kids.
Members of the Presidents Leadership Council, who match student donations five to one, attended the barbecue, flipped burgers and interacted with the students.
Presidents Leadership Council members Bill and Margaret Pope attended the barbecue and encouraged students to give.
“I”m old enough to be your grandma,” Margaret Pope said. “I”m almost through serving. You kids are just beginning, and you know what? You made a covenant with the Lord when you came here that you”d do everything within your power to build up Zion. Building up Zion begins at BYU!”
For Presidents Leadership Council members Brent and Jill Bishop, the barbecue was a family affair.
“I think giving in general is what I was raised with,” Brent said. “My father was a seminary teacher who gave a lot.”
The Bishops” son, David Bishop, came to the barbecue to support his parents.
“I love the example that he is and what he wants me to become also,” David said. “I hope that I can follow in his footsteps.”
Many students said they appreciated Presidents Leadership Council members attending the barbecue this year.
Dave Honeycutt, from Seattle, Wash., said he thinks it is good for them to see the participation of BYU students.
“If it were me, I would want to come back and see that students are taking an interest and putting in an effort,” Honeycutt said.
Activities at the barbecue included a “dunk the dean” station, where students could dunk their professors after giving a donation. Professors egged students on by holding up signs with phrases like, “My mother can throw better than you.”
The Choose to Give campaign is hosting a number of other events throughout the week. Today, students can hear tunes from the Men”s Chorus at 11 a.m. at Brigham”s Square. Following the chorus will be 100 percent modest belly dancing at Brigham”s Square.
Thursday evening is Band Night at the Varsity Theatre and will feature The Danburries, Cassie Golie and Whalen.
Friday”s activities include a climbing wall, Y Juggle, a live chess game and disc sports from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brigham Square.
