New group promotes friendship with bikes

A new organization is working to make the UCF campus a friendlier place and ride bikes at the same time.

Keyon Davoodian, a micro & molecular biology major, and Chris Scott, a nursing major, said they were lonely at UCF during their freshman year. Now sophomores, the pair  decided to form a club called Central Florida Friendship Yeah! this semester  to solve this problem.

Mike Capps, a senior with majors in political science and psychology, said the club's mission is to unite the UCF student body in a more harmonious congress and inspire happiness.

"It sucks to come to a university with 55,000 people and not know anyone," Rusty Townsend, a junior psychology major, said.

Only a few months since its inception, CFFY! has about 35 core members, Capps said.

He said in order to attract people, members sometimes set up a table in front of the Student Union and shout things like, "We'll drop-kick your enemies!"

He said they usually attract the kind of people that give hugs and high-fives, which is what they want.

Alice Korosy, an instructor in the UCF modern languages and literature department, is the club's adviser.

"As soon as Mike told me the premise, I said yes," Korosy said. "It's my philosophy to make the world a better, more beautiful place – I think that's why he asked me. So when you have an organization that's trying to do the same, you kind of have to say yes."

Members meet every Sunday at the Oviedo Riverside Park and participate in various activities, including picnics and kickball games.

Davoodian said that every member in the organization is a president.

"No one has more power than anyone," he said. "Everyone is allowed to do what they want."

Many of the members ride bicycles, but they said it is not necessary.

"You don't have to wear cut-off jeans either," Davoodian said.

"We have all kinds of members," Capps said. "We're like a diversity poster."

The group is involved in an ongoing project called the Campus Nap Initiative. Members plan to set up hammocks around campus for students to sleep in between classes.

Davoodian said they have been testing a prototype hand-made hammock of duck cloth, a heavy cotton fabric, and rope. They are trying to work with UCF administration to ensure that the hammocks are safe to use and will not be removed.

Capps said that once the hammocks are up, the next CFFY!  project may be to create a lemonade service.

Members would bike to the various hammocks on campus and serve students lemonade free of charge.

Scott said the purpose is to make the UCF campus more fun.

Allowing students to nap between classes would increase productivity and student morale, Capps said. 

Korosy said she thought the Campus Nap Initiative was a great idea.

"When I think about hammocks hanging up around campus, it makes me smile," she said.

"That's the point, isn't it?"

CFFY! is also planning to work with UCF Spokes Council and Central Florida Cyclists to host the Bicycle Olympics.

"We'll have events like bike jousting, bike fencing, bike racing and bike hugging," Scott said.

Another event they are planning is a thumb-wrestling tournament between the College Democrats and College Republicans.

Ricky Burke, a junior accounting major, said that right now the group is self-funded.

"We bring our own stuff out of interest for the whole group," he said.

Davoodian said the group is working to become a registered student organization so they can receive additional funding to accomplish their goals.

"Our humor is just a front," Davoodian said. "We're very serious about what we say. This is far from a joke club."

Capps said he wants UCF students to know that CFFY! members love them, even if they've never met them.

"We're overstocked on hugs and high-fives," Capps said. "Our storage fees are way over our heads. Please come today for your free love."

CFFY! hosts bike rides throughout Central Florida, which are open to anyone interested in a ride.

For more information, visit the CFFY! Facebook  group.