Parade steps off tonight

Tonight at 5:30 p.m. people will crowd the streets from Rose Avenue to Third Street to the Sample Gates, as the 2003 Homecoming Parade begins.\nSome will congregate on the sidewalks and position themselves to view the action. Others will walk, dance, maneuver bicycles, or ride in cars or on floats as children wait anxiously for candy to be thrown in their direction.\nOrganized by the Student Alumni Association, the theme for this year's parade is "Sweet Home Indiana."\nSondra Inman, director of student programs for the Indiana Alumni Association, helped coordinate the parade. Inman said the theme for this year's festivities was nominated by several individuals who attended the Senior Salute event last year. \n"SAA coordinates a Homecoming theme contest each year," she said. "At the event the band Dave and Rae performed 'Sweet Home Indiana,' their own version of the classic rock song."\nMark Warner, vice president of alumni affairs and a parade coordinator, said he felt the theme left a lot of room for creativity.\n"We decided to use this theme because it was vague enough that students could be very creative in how they develop their banners floats, and skits for 'Yell Like Hell,'" he said.\nAll participants have been encouraged to decorate their banners, vehicles or floats to go along with this theme. About 75 groups and organizations will participate in the parade, including local businesses, greek chapters, clubs, dance and poms squads and residence halls.\nParticipants in the parade will be judged by three staff members of the IU Alumni Association and awards include The Craftsmanship Award for the overall best float entry, The Cream and Crimson Award, presented to the Homecoming parade entry that best exemplifies the use of the "Sweet Home Indiana" theme, and an award to recognize the best marching group.\nNo matter what the judges decide, Warner said he will still have his own favorites.\n"Every year brings us new enjoyment ... and amazement," he said. "I think the most enjoyable one last year was Professor Bill Head's P100: Introduction to Criminal Justice class." \nWarner recalls how students from Head's class dressed up as lawyers, officers and criminals in jail suits and balls and chains, who were then chased down by police. The officers would hand out Miranda rights to the college students watching the parade. \nMeredith Fitzpatrick, president of Alpha Omicron Pi, recalls watching the parade for the first time. \n"I watched it my freshman year and thought it was great especially with the pep rally and fireworks at the Sample Gates at the end," she said.\nLast year Fitzpatrick was involved in helping her chapter represent its own school spirit. She drove her red Volkswagen Beetle in the parade, accompanied by chapter members handing out candy and one chapter member dressed up in a panda costume, which is their chapter's mascot.\nShe said this year her chapter plans to continue their tradition of participating in the parade. \nFor many groups, the parade has become a tradition, and somewhat of a competition to see who can come up with the most creative float, car or bicycle decorations. \n"Obviously the more extravagant the floats, the better," Fitzpatrick said. "That's what really makes the parade."\nThis year's festivities will begin on Rose Avenue next to Willkie Quad, turn right onto E. Third Street, and then advance to Indiana Avenue before ending at the Sample Gates.\nIU Police Department officials and parade organizers said they do not feel the street closings will be a large inconvenience because of the extra steps they have taken to inform the public.\n"By informing the community through the media, we are hopeful that the inconvenience will be minimal," said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger. He advises that people take alternate routes during this time or leave work early to avoid delays. \nInman stressed that she and the other parade organizers have gone to great lengths to ensure that people are aware of the street closures. \n"SAA works very closely with IUPD and the Physical Plant to ensure a safe and enjoyable parade for students alumni, and community members," she said. "Travelers directly affected by the traffic realize that this is a temporary inconvenience."\nWarner is very satisfied with how the parade is coming together this year, but also hopes to diversify the group of participants in years to come. \n"I would love to see more community groups participate such as elementary schools, churches, youth sports teams and businesses," he said. "This parade is not just for the students and alumni, but for the community. A lot of the community is made up of alumni and IU is just as much a part of Bloomington as Bloomington is a part of IU"