Sunday saw the first "Inside Edition" of UVI’s annual Afternoon on the Green at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. It wasn’t planned that way; the decision was dictated by the elements.

Organizers met at 6:30 a.m. Sunday to take a look at the planned venue, the UVI golf course.

"We took one look," said Lisa Margolis, UVI special events director, "and that was it. We knew we had to move inside."

Then began the work of changing horses mid-stream, setting up what has to be the island’s largest picnic in the fitness center. After notifying as many contributors as possible, one of the first things to do was lay huge tarps to protect the floor of the Sports and Fitness Center.

Folks driving to the 21st celebration of the event, were cut off at the pass at the regular UVI campus entrance by National Guard volunteers re-directing. the traffic. At noon, committee members were putting the last touches on the new venue. And it looked fine, rows and rows of dishes lined up, a ticket table organized, smiles everywhere, with Jacqueline Sprauve, in three places at once, putting a last professional touch on the event.

It’s been an active week for the university staff, celebrating the inaugural of new president David Hall, honored guest at the event – "An Inaugural Feast with an International Flair.", but it went off flawlessly.

Hundreds of folks poured in to the gym, mostly clad in rain gear, glad to be inside.

"One thing," said master of ceremonies Tony T, "we have built-in seats."

Many said they were simply happy to be there for the camaraderie, the music, and, oh yes, the food.

Food almost beyond description – corned fish and cattle tongue dumplings and smoked turkey neck souse, mixed in with the tamer traditional West Indian dishes of veggie or meat lasagna, rice and peas, Trinidadian pilau, kallalo with or without shrimp, roast lamb, baked ham, and tofu of every description ranging from "enchanted" to "Jack Daniels."

The Becca Darling Band featuring a violin duet started off the afternoon’s music, followed by the Spectrum Band, the Mungo Niles Cultural Dancers and the Caribbean Ritual Dancers.

A large groaning board of homemade deserts featured everything from innocent little sugar cookies to three-layer chocolate cakes, nut breads, cheese cake, carrot cake and, of course, Vienna cake, even an early St. Patrick’s Day cake frosted with little green shamrocks.

Outside before the entrance, Glen "Kwabena" Davis was grilling his famous chicken. Rubbing just the right amount of thyme on a bird, he said he’s been grilling for the last 20 years. The wonderful aroma wafting from grill almost kept one outside. But, you have to get tickets inside. Next to Kwabena, Boy Scouts Troop 220 was busily grilling burgers and huge hot dogs for $2 a pop.

The tickets were the key to the most varied meal on the island, and certainly the best bargain. Most entrees were $3, and if you purchased $10 worth of tickets you could be a judge.

The new president spoke briefly, thanking everyone for coming out in the weather. Then, he took the opportunity to introduce "UVI Brothers with a Cause," a male focus group developed by students, headed by St. Claire Hodge, at Hall’s instigation. Hodge said the goal of the group is to improve academic achievement through strategic intervention at the kindergarten through high school levels by means of recruitment, retention and graduation initiative.

Speaking later, Hall expressed his concern about the young male population.

"The student body is only 25-percent male," he said. "We need to increase that population, get more young men in school."

He had lamented that statistic in remarks last year. He said Sunday he had called a group of students together to ask them their ideas about developing a program, out of which the current initiative developed.

On a more immediate note Hall and his wife, Marilyn, set off to explore the local cuisine.

"We’re really looking forward to this," he said.

Upstairs the UVI academic booths were set up, featuring information on everything from the 2010 census, to the business programs, and the UVI Master of Marine & Enviromental Science program.

Youngsters were gathered, busily putting colored objects together, blocks and spheres, at a display of the science and math division.

"They are doing math now, but they don’t know it. You see, they are working out patterns,” said Division Dean Camille McKayle. "We want to get them excited now so we can get them when they’re 18."

Results of the food judging will be announced later.