As Florida A&M University (FAMU) continues to ring in some of its highly anticipated homecoming festivities, administrators are ushering in some alterations to another beloved tradition at the Tallahassee, Florida, HBCU: Set Fridays.
For those who don’t know, FAMU ushered in the regular practice of holding Set Fridays, aka Market Fridays, nearly 30 years ago to give student entrepreneurs and local vendors a platform to come together while fostering a real sense of community on the campus.
“It started in 1993 because there were a lot of students who were entrepreneurs and had a lot of items they wanted to sell for money, so they started Market Friday,” Catherine Jefferson, a facilities manager for FAMU, said in a 2014 interview, according to The Famuan.
It is set Friday, right?!?! Back in the mid 90’s @FAMU_1887 #FamuGirlsHustleHarder 🐍💚🧡💚🐍 pic.twitter.com/t9aU4ZJhgR
— K. Long-Robinson (@KLongRobinson) May 1, 2020
Had to pull up on FAMU 🐍with the TAPAPPAREL 🔥❗️❗️❗️❗️ set Friday ! pic.twitter.com/G2Kq1UQ5QI
— Meely_jackson (@JacksonJameel) January 10, 2020
#famu come out to set Friday! If you didn’t get your clear purses for next weeks homecoming make sure to stop by! I also have glow in the dark waist beads. And cute anklets and bracelets. pic.twitter.com/y76WCHgoNz
— baby, thats Keke Palmer 🙇🏾♀️💁🏾♀️ (@jojo_daangel) October 19, 2022
However, according to the Tallahassee Democrat, significant changes are coming to the event.
For one, school administrators are considering changing the name from “Set Friday” to “Amp Friday.”
“We’re trying to come up with a new name, either ‘Amp Friday’ or something like that,” André Green, assistant dean of students and director of student activities, said, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
On top of the name change, the marketplace event will be moved from its traditional location — “a three-block stretch south of Lee Hall,” according to the Tallahassee Democrat — to the Will Packer Performing Arts Amphitheater, which is part of the newly-completed John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Plaza.
While there are some benefits to the new location, including increased space for performers and a bump in promotional opportunities, not everyone is on board.
“It feels like more of a family thing because everyone’s close together, we’re dancing and that type of thing,” Jayda Woods, a FAMU student, told the Tallahassee Democrat. “At the amphitheater, it’s like we’re watching a show instead of like a Set Friday.”
Check out what others had to say online down below.
#FAMU 🍊🐍 officially moving “Set Friday “ to the damn amphitheater- hell naw! That’s some bullshit bruh! It doesn’t hit like it does on the actual set 🤬
— Absolut.LIBRA (@LibraAbsolut) October 26, 2022
As a #FAMU 🍊🐍 alumni…. This shit sucks bruh! It’s called “Set Friday “ for a reason!!!! So many memories … coming out of class, the mood is electric… ppl everywhere, etc. what a blast 💥 that was. It was tradition ! It was so special pic.twitter.com/efkEqnyXj8
— Absolut.LIBRA (@LibraAbsolut) October 26, 2022
RIP #SetFriday 😭😭😭
Now known as “Amp Friday”…at the…amphitheater. 😬😢😢https://t.co/VyH9ZoOvGY
— Justice Jai-Elle جايل (@devinjaielle) October 25, 2022
Monica dating Kodak Black and FAMU getting rid of “Set Friday.” Jesus I am tired….. what is going on?
— Boats No Hoes 😈 (@RatedB_RAD) October 26, 2022
Regardless, FAMU will reportedly hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Knight Foundation Plaza on Friday afternoon to officially usher in this new era.
Have you or anyone you know ever attended Set Friday, and what do you think about these upcoming changes? Sound off in the comment section to let us know.
