President Mark Huddleston shared more than just handshakes and conversation on Tuesday, April 18, as students passed through the courtyard between Murkland Hall and Dimond Library. He also offered a buffet of sliders and other refreshments as part of the “Sliders with Mark” event.

“You guys hungry?” Huddleston asked the students walking around the area.  No more than 15 minutes after the buffet opened, people began shuffling up the paths and scampering out of the surrounding buildings to see what the fuss was about.

“This is an opportunity to interact with students and for them to interact with me,” Huddleston  said about the event.

Students waited patiently in a single file line while exchanging handshakes and words with the president before grabbing their sliders.

The buffet was strategically set up to pull hungry college kids in, with a variety of  refreshments, including pulled pork and vegetarian sliders, and four different types of cookies, including raisin, double chocolate, chocolate chip and sugar flavors. Three different types of snacks were also offered, including potato chips, pretzels and ‘spicy sweet chili’ Doritos, as well as pickles and coleslaw.  Lemonade was also available.

The event was planned by Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs, Mica Stark, and Jason Boucher, the manager of social media communications and public affairs.

These types of public relation events with President Huddleston began last semester.  The other events also had a food theme, including “Cupcakes with Mark” which was held in November.

Philip Horner-Richardson, a senior philosophy student who attended the event, was pleased with the outcome.

“This is perfect. To get out of class at noon and come get a slider,” Horner-Richardson said, “Thank you Mark.”

Follow Michael on Twitter @CYaarg