A barbecue cookout will be held Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as a precursor to the Presidential Installation happening Friday.

The cookout was originally planned to happen on the South Campanile Lawn, but incoming weather led organizers to push it indoors to the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. The event will give people the opportunity to meet President Wendy Wintersteen before her installation as well as allow them to RSVP for Friday’s event.

“We highly encourage that you all attend,” said Student Body President Julian Neely at Wednesday’s Student Government meeting. “It is, for one, our new president, but also the first female president of Iowa State University, which is a big celebration you should recognize.”

The Presidential Installation is happening Friday in Stephens Auditorium at 10:15 a.m. and is the official placement of Wintersteen as the 16th president of the university. The event will also be streamed online on Iowa State’s website.

Neely encouraged those who attend the cookout to donate any non-perishable goods to the SHOP, the campus food pantry, which hopes to help people who face food insecurity on campus.