President Lou Hencken knew he wanted something easy when he walked into Taylor Dining Center last year.

Hencken is usually on “banana duty” – slicing up bananas for students who want a banana split for the Free Finals Feast.

After 14 years as housing director, he’s usually the go-to guy for the perfect banana split.

But not this year.

Hencken will be in Dallas on Sunday for the football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints.

It’s a chance to see two Eastern alums at once, Hencken said.

Tony Romo, quarterback for the Cowboys is a 2002 Eastern grad.

Sean Payton, coach for the Saints is a 1987 Eastern grad.

This is the third feast, but second year for the program. In fall 2006, Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs had an idea for something to break up the stress of projects, final papers and exams.

After brainstorming with Mark Hudson, director of housing and dining, the final plans were set.

On Sunday, students can come to Taylor Dining Center between 9 and 11 p.m. and feast on pancakes, including a topping bar, scrambled eggs, bacon, seasoned potatoes and banana splits.

This year’s theme is “Don’t Flip Over Finals.” Banana splits are always the staple, but the theme changes each semester.

The meal will be served by Eastern “celebrities,” including: Vice Presidents Jill Nilsen and Nadler; Provost Blair Lord, and Deans Robert Augustine, Bonnie Irwin, James Johnson, Mary Anne Hanner and Allen Lanham.

Students don’t usually have the chance to see administrators get out of the office, especially during finals week, Hudson said. This event is one last sugar rush before exams and also a way for both administrators and students to interact.

The current event provides students with a study break, combined with opportunities to connect with peers and administrators.

Nadler said this event is special to Eastern and shows what kind of faculty and staff we have.

“Where else would you find a university president so willing, and eager I might add, to make an ice cream sundae, a provost flipping a pancake, and other vice presidents and deans serving a late night feast for students?”

Hudson calls events like these a “living example” of Eastern’s philosophy. “Interacting with students is good,” he said.

Hencken said he’s sad to miss this semester’s feast.

Last year it was great to see students forget about their stress of the last week for a few hours, he said.

But this year, instead of slicing and dicing bananas, he’ll see both Romo and Payton, who Hencken said have put Eastern in the news again.

And he won’t cheer for one team over the other, he said. Hencken plans to wear an Eastern shirt, supporting the men’s alma mater.

But who’s going to serve the bananas?

“Blair will do a fine job, Jill will do a fine job, and Dan as well,” Hencken said of his fellow Eastern celebrity servers. “But stay away from Jeff Cooley,” he laughed, mentioning the vice president for business affairs. “Jeff and knives don’t get along.”