Following the Hollywood theme, the students in the Homcoming parade presented number of elaborate floats. (CU Independent/Adam Alberti)
The annual Homecoming Parade provides students with a chance to express school spirit and show off their creative sides by building floats to represent a variety of residence halls, sorority houses and student groups.
The 2009 parade had a decent turnout, and a respectable exposition. Students cheered and clapped as they watched the procession of themed floats including: “Alice in Wonderland,” “Star Trek,” “Transformers,” The Beatles, “Brangelina” and children, “Toy Story,” Rastafarian and “Wall-E.”
Also in the parade were CU alumni, honored faculty and staff and CU’s costumed-mascot, Chip. This year’s theme, “CU in Hollywood,” included the latest celebrity CU alum, Grand Marshall Hosea Rosenberg, winner of Bravo’s “Top Chef,” in New York.
Various members of student groups, sororities and residence halls tried to make their floats original and win the competition.
Following the Hollywood theme, the students in the Homcoming parade presented number of elaborate floats. (CU Independent/Adam Alberti)
“I’m really excited; I really hope we win,” said Hannah Gordon, a 20-year-old junior chemical engineering major. “It would make all the work worth it.”
Gordon is president of Andrews Hall and was a major player in the building of the Kittredge float, “Swamp Thing of Kit Pond.”
“Swamp Thing,” based on the film, showcased a damsel in distress, a “swamp thing” tiger representing the University of Missouri, who CU will be playing in the Homecoming game and a buffalo wrestling the tiger back into the swamp. The scene is set to completion with a cameraman pretending to videotape it for the film the float is based off of.
Other teams expressed why they thought their floats were good.
“I think our float was cool because we had a really cool tea party on it,” said Kelly Fraser, a 20-year-old sophomore communication major. “Also it was a good way to get to know people, bond over float- building.” Fraser was a part of the “Alice in Wonderland” float, presented by the Alpha Phi sorority.
Some students had high expectations for the parade.
“I’ve never been to a school parade so I’m really excited to see what it’ll be like, and to see the floats because I know a lot of people in frats and sororities,” said Devon Trimble an 18-year-old freshman psychology major.
Following the Hollywood theme, the students in the Homcoming parade presented number of elaborate floats. (CU Independent/Adam Alberti)
The Homecoming Parade managed to reach the expectations of any school-spirited event according to participants.
“There’s nothing in the world that can make a parade suck,” said Kristian Hahn, a 23-year-old senior aerospace engineering major. “They’re always cool because people all wave and throw candy.” Hahn said her favorite float was the old-school fire truck float because of its siren and “really cool” horn.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Ana McIntosh at Anna.mcintosh@colorado.edu.
