Marching home

Hundreds of students and Bloomington community members lined up along sidewalks from Third Street all the way to the Sample Gates to see Friday’s Homecoming parade, led by IU President Michael McRobbie and his wife, Laurie Burns McRobbie.\nThe parade featured a wide variety of special guests and student groups, including the new addition of “Get Psyched,” a student-interest group, representing IU’s psychology and brain sciences department.\n“It took two to three weeks to prepare for the parade,” said freshman Erin Johnson, a member of “Get Psyched” who marched in the parade. \nOther groups, including the popular IU Marching Hundred used a little less time getting ready for the event.\n“We spent one practice on it,” said freshman Nick Waldron. “So about an hour and a half.”\nDespite the short preparation time, the Marching Hundred as well as the reunion bands did not fail to impress.\n“My favorite part was when the bands played,” said 6-year-old Dexter Griffin.\nOther favorites included the football team, representatives from several fire stations, including those from Bloomington and Ellettsville, and horse-drawn carriages that carried some participants.\nThe parade ended at the Sample Gates with a pep rally. Speakers included Athletic Director Rick Greenspan, men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson, Provost Karen Hanson and President McRobbie.\nMany spectators agreed that the parade is an indispensable part of Homecoming tradition.\n“It brings all the students together,” said sophomore Ashton Abrams. “We may be from different sororities, fraternities and dorms but we all come together for one purpose: to support IU.”\nThe extensive turnout of the Bloomington community also proved that the parade is for more than just students.\n“The parade should definitely stay,” said freshman Chelsey Stegmaier. “It incorporates all of the Bloomington community and not just the campus.”