The Program to Improve Emporia will host a community meeting on Flintstock at 6 p.m. tonight at Pyramid Pizza on 6th Avenue.

Tonight’s meeting will focus on brainstorming methods to get the Emporia community involved at Flintstock, said Harrison George, junior sociology major and creator of the Program to Improve Emporia

“The goal will be to discover what we can do to attract community members to come to Flintstock,” George said. “All PIE meetings are open to everyone, student and community member alike. The more ideas, the better.”

Flintstock is Emporia State’s annual outdoor music festival. This year’s festival will go from 6-9 p.m. April 22 near Kellogg Circle, on the lawn between Plumb Hall and 12th Avenue. UAC and PIE are co-sponsoring the event.

Flintstock was once a popular annual spring tradition at ESU, with live music and various outdoor games and activities. However, the festival was not held in 2008 because of economic concerns, said Lacee Hanson, sophomore communication major and UAC live music chair.

George said he hopes that, through student involvement, Flintstock has the potential to increase in quality and participation.

“Flintstock has been kind of mediocre the last few years I’ve been here,” George said. “It’s very sad that the event has become less than what it was in the past… UAC and PIE are really interested in turning it back into the yearly program that it was.”

In the past, UAC has contracted nationally known bands like Better Than Ezra, Superdrag and Veruca Salt to perform at Flintstock.

Hanson said that three local bands, The DeWayn Brothers, Radio City and Kids Can Dream, have been contracted to play at this year’s event.

Aside from live music, Hanson said that UAC is also in the process of planning other outdoor activities for Flintstock, though little has been finalized yet. Promotional materials for Flintstock will become available as these plans are finalized, Hanson said.

George said that a block party is among the potential ideas for Flintstock that will be discussed at tonight’s meeting.

“One idea (for Flintstock) is to set up the event in the same vein as the block party that happens every August,” George said. “That would be a good way for local businesses to meet and greet with students.”

George said he encourages all students who are interested in discussing possibilities for student and community involvement during Flintstock to attend tonight’s meeting.

“I hope Flintstock will be a fun, easygoing event with lots of good music and a chance for community members and students to improve Emporia,” George said. “I hope that we can start to rebuild it into something that will bring people out and have a good time.”

For more information about the Program to Improve Emporia, students can join the group on Facebook or contact Harrison George at hgeorge@emporia.edu.

Ali Nashatizadeh/The Bulletin

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