French club hosts Mardi Gras party, community outreach

Thalia Fenton, senior French major and international business minor, reminds students about French club events. Courtney Sullivan, professor in the Modern Languages department, finished her presentation on Mardi Gras.

The French club hosted a Mardi Gras party on Feb. 8 as a celebration of the holiday, but also as an outreach event where they invited local high schools and members of the Washburn community to participate. The event took place from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in Morgan 155.

Thalia Fenton, president of the French club, served King’s Cake, a traditional food at Mardi Gras, to the students and faculty in attendance. Afterward, Courtney Sullivan, professor in the Modern Languages Department, spoke in French and English about Mardi Gras. Sullivan, who attended college in New Orleans, showed many aspects of the celebration, including some lesser-well-known parts of the event.

After the presentation, students began to partake in conversation, mostly in English. Sullivan also handed out some Mardi Gras necklaces and masks and some students ate more cake.

The French club will also be selling Valentine’s Day cards and bracelets on Wed., Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union. The proceeds from the sales will benefit the French club.

The French club meets every other Mon. from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.