With beads around their necks and plates full of crepes in their hands, students swerved through the lines and the crowds at the annual Mardi Gras Breakfast in the Levine Marketplace Tuesday night.

However, outside, members of the Student Government Association and other students stood with stickers, buttons and high hopes that a historically apathetic campus would finally take action.

The chanting nay-sayers were informing students of President Richard Freeland’s announcement of the Ludacris concert’s cancellation.

“I think, this time, you’re going to see at least something [from the students],” said SGA Senator Andres Vargas.

Members of SGA, the Council for University Programming, (CUP) the Resident Student Association (RSA) and other groups tried to make sure students understood their position that Freeland’s decision to cancel the concert in the wake of the riots was not the response the student body was looking for.

“I believe that this is not an adequate response to a few students who rioted. It’s our money from the Student Activities Fee, it should be[students] ultimate decision of how to spend it,” said Felipe Vasso, a junior electrical engineering major. “This is not a move to a better community — not building any community within our own community.”

Music by Ludacris and Jurassic 5 came from windows of Stetson East and a boom box provided by SGA. Students lined the nearby walkway to the front door with signs reading, “What’s next, cancel graduation?,” “No Luda and J5, No Mardi Gras, we don’t want beads” and “Dick we don’t want beads, we want Ludacris.”

Some students disagreed.

“Free food is way better than Ludacris,” said Matt Bonnell, a senior mechanical engineering major.

SGA called Public Safety ahead of time to inform them there would be students gathering outside of Levine Marketplace to spread the word on the cancellation.

“Us getting out of hand doesn’t bode well for our case,” said SGA Executive Vice President for Student Affairs Allyson Savin.

President Richard Freeland slinked past the crowd nodding his head, looking shocked at the students who had gathered. Once inside, President Freeland said he was available to discuss the situation.

One student, Drew Pepoli, a junior finance major, took advantage of Freeland’s presence. He approached Freeland wearing a red T-shirt with the slogan, “Higher Tuition, Richer Freeland” and a sticker that was distributed outside which read, “Springest to be canceled? Fine. Don’t support a safe event, don’t wear this sticker.”

“[The cancellation] is the main reason I’m here. Twelve students ruined it for everyone. I think the whole fact that the [Public Safety] Web site turned the students against each other — it ruined the student body spirit,” Pepoli said.

The dozens of students weren’t discouraged by others going inside for the free cuisine, Savin said. They viewed it as an opportunity for students to confront the administrators.

“I’m not too worried [about students continuing inside], not too offended,” Savin said. “I just want to make sure they know that while Freeland is flipping a pancake, they know why the hell he did this.”

While some students felt it was a time to address their dissatisfaction with Freeland, other students were there for the food.

“I definitely think what the president did was unfair, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take part in the little things they give us,” said Patrick O’Malley, a junior business major.

Some students even volunteered at the event, and said they did not want their hard work to go unnoticed.

“Chartwells worked very hard on this. It’s not fair for students who don’t get to see this and that were discouraged, to see how much work went into this,” said Michelle Broisman, a sophomore biology major.

Inside, students were feasting on crepes, eggs and pancakes.

“This is really good, they should do this more,” said Staci Widlansky, a middler political science major, who was eating eggs and bacon.

Her table mate Isabel Cancel, a middler psychology major, who was eating a strawberry-covered waffle, suggested the university host more events like Mardi Gras during midterms and finals.

Some students were still torn on whether or not they wanted to enter the event at all.

“We’re kind of in debate right now because either side of the coin, you’re kind of losing,” said Sarah Sargent, a sophomore biology major.

— Staff writer Stephanie Vosk contributed to this report.