Oakland University faculty, staff and students gathered under the Elliott Tower to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a Mexican fiesta complete with a taco bar and mariachi band.

The Women Employee Resource Group (WERG) organized the event, where anyone could “pie” an OU administrator for $1. All proceeds from the pie smashing will be donated to the Hispanic Outreach Center in Pontiac.

“As a university, we are committed to reaching out to Pontiac and our surrounding communities,” said Jennifer De La O, a member of the WERG who helped organize the event.

Pie-able faculty and staff included Scott Crabill, interim vice provost for undergraduate education; Kevin Corcoran, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; David Archbold, director of the International Students and Scholars Office; Sherry Wynn Perdue, writing center director; Police Chief Mark Gordon, and more.

“I just wanted to raise money for a good cause,” Wynn Perdue said. “Plus I like whipped cream.”

A total of $417 was raised between the pie smash and donations. The taco bar was catered by Trini and Carmen’s and music was provided by Mariachi Cristal Band.

“It’s a beautiful day to be pied and a good cause,” Corcoran said.

When asked if he was going home to clean up after the event, Corcoran added, “Oh no, I have work to do. The people in the afternoon will just have to put up with the cream coming out of my ears.”