Willie Butler, weekend campus cook, organized a Valentine’s Day celebration that will last all of February in the Caf.
Butler’s birthday is in February, so he originally planned a joint birthday and Valentine’s Day party. He wanted the event to be Cinderella-themed, and he planned to buy shoes to give away to anyone whose feet fit them.
Officials asked Butler to tone it down, though, so he revamped his celebration idea and spread it across all four weekends of the month.
“I couldn’t do what I wanted to do, so I found a loophole,” Butler said. “Instead of one day, we’re going to enjoy the whole freaking month.”
The first weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday will be “Birthday Weekend,” during which Butler will celebrate everyone’s birthday. He has 25 gifts to hand out to students of his choice. Gifts include wallets, pajama sets and spa packages.
During Valentine’s Day weekend Feb. 11-12, Butler plans to serve Valentine-themed food and give away pedicures and manicures.
Butler said he named the third weekend on Feb. 18-19 “Ladies Appreciation: Little Debbie Day.” Members of FIJI volunteered to help him pass out Little Debbie snack cakes, clear tables and open doors. Butler said more than 20 male students volunteered to help with his celebration plans.
“They kept coming up to the grill and offering. I was amazed,” Butler said. “I thought if they were willing to take care of the ladies, I should take care of them, so I’m going to send them to Hooters. I don’t know where else to send them legally.”
The final weekend brunch on Feb. 25-26 is also Butler’s birthday weekend. He plans to set up a “candy shop” in the center of the Caf, where students can choose from a variety of sweets to put in their pancakes. Each student can fill up two Dixie cups, which can then be brought to the grill so Willie can put them in the student’s pancakes.
Butler also has two “ultimate gifts” to hand out that weekend. One gift includes two AMC movie tickets, as well as a pedicure and/or manicure, and the other includes a gift card for dinner for two at Rococo, 2824 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
“I think I’ll give the ultimate gifts to the two people who deserve it the most between now and then,” Butler said. “I have two people in mind, but I don’t know if they know each other, and that could be awkward. Maybe I’ll give them to the first person in line and the 50th person in line.”
Butler said he thought about taking his birthday weekend off but decided instead to celebrate it with students in the Caf.
“Willie is so kind,” said Beth Woodall, vocal performance junior. “He’s willing to give so much, even if it means depriving himself.”
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