According to Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, Four Square is a children's game. For this reason, the fraternity organized a "Four Square Mania" tournament which took place last Sunday afternoon in the Scott Stadium parking lot.
The tournament was one of many charity events which took place last weekend. Participants paid $12 to register, which included a shirt, cup, raffle tickets and two hours of Four Square. The fraternity followed up the event with a bar night Wednesday.
ZBT Vice President Brian Budnick said this was the inaugural year of the tournament.
Budnick said the fraternity deliberated for awhile about what kind of charity event to hold before eventually deciding on Four Square.
"We kicked around ideas," Budnick said. "We wanted to do what no one else had done, and we wanted something that would appeal to everyone."
Budnick said Four Square was a great choice because participants do not necessarily have to be athletic to participate, and the games were easy to organize.
"They don't have to struggle to put a team together," Budnick said.
Fourth-year Engineering student Chris Moore, who thought of the idea, said one of the reasons ZBT chose to do a children's game was because its philanthropy is an organization for children, the University Children's Hospital.
"We wanted to combine nostalgia with charity, and so we wanted something everyone loved as a kid," Moore said.
Moore added that the fraternity was excited about the mix of people who showed up.
"We actually had about 50 or 60 people," Moore said. "The majority was actually girls. There was a lot of sorority participation."
Despite the success, Moore pointed out some challenges with this being the first year trying to get the event off the ground.
"Our biggest problem was finding a place where the University would let us hold it," Moore said.
Two weeks before the tournament took place, ZBT changed its location to the Scott Stadium parking lot, according to Moore.
"It worked out perfect because squares were already partially made with parking spaces," Moore said.
Another impediment addressed by the ZBT members was the timing of the event.
"I think we will probably move it to fall because that time of year is less busy, and the weather is just as nice," Budnick said.
Moore agreed that the fall would be a better time for the tournament for a number of reasons.
"Fall would be better because first years would be more willing to participate when they are not freaking out during their first finals experience," Moore said. "And everyone is really excited to be here at the beginning of the year."
Moore also said the crowding of multiple charity events in one weekend made it difficult for students to choose which to participate in.
Despite the obstacles, Budnick and Moore agreed the event was a success.
"I think it went as expected," Budnick said. "We had great turnout for it being the first time, and it was such a busy weekend for philanthropies. We're looking forward to seeing it grow."
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