From metallic outfits and rocket ships to Ralphie wrapped in foil, festive floats dominated the homecoming parade Friday. Cheers from the parade could be heard from blocks around the Hill as CU students celebrated the beginning of homecoming weekend.
“CU in the Future” is the theme for 2006.
“2006 offers a bright future and a new beginning for CU in many ways,” said Adam Baronfeld, a member of program council and the homecoming committee. “Couple that with our academic strengths in the space sciences, and we’re very excited about the creative possibilities that aluminum foil can bring to this parade.”
Student groups, Greeks and residence halls all built floats that complied with the CU in the Future theme.
“They all have to register their floats with the CU homecoming Web site and abide by all the CU homecoming rules,” said Tera Haselden, the Panhellenic president.
Each float in the parade had a theme of its own that fit into the larger theme of CU in the Future. The themes ranged from Ralphie dressed up as a football player to Ralphie covered in foil as an astronaut. Most floats had signs that correlated with the theme by expressing wishes for CU in the future.
“Most of the houses dress up for the theme,” said Haselden.
An arrangement of matching shirts, metallic jumpsuits and painted skin danced around the Hill chanting the CU fight song and other various cheers to get the bystanders involved.
“Each fraternity and sorority is paired up, and each pair can create their own theme within the CU in the Future theme,” said Alexandra Alward, the Panhellenic director of affairs.
Haselden said that with much planning and hard work, the floats are put together in about a week.
Most floats required either a truck or a trailer to safely carry the sculpture of school spirit through the Hill.
“I make sure everything is put together well, follows the theme and is non-offensive,” Alward said.
Floats will be judged on the overall design, how well they relate to the theme and the excitement level of participants. They are judged in separate categories, divided by residence halls, student organizations and Greeks. First-place winners receive $600, second-place winners $400 and third-place winners $200.
Homecoming weekend continues with the CU Buffs vs. Baylor Bears football game on Oct. 7 and CU soccer vs. Texas on Oct. 8.
