Students 'paint the town' with spirit

Students painted local storefronts on Sept. 30 in an attempt to spread school spirit and raise awareness for an IU Student Alumni Association event during Homecoming week.

The event, “Paint the Town Crimson,” involved more than $300 worth of painting supplies for 16 businesses on Kirkwood Avenue and downtown Bloomington.

Participants advertised the Homecoming football game, IU vs. Michigan State, and other IUSAA Homecoming events scheduled during the week. IUSAA volunteers were aided by members of seven other student organizations, some of whom worked in their own logos and themes.

Jennifer Lynch and Sam Hill, members of Collegiate 4-H, added the 4-H logo to a window at BuffaLouie’s on Indiana Avenue.

“It’s free publicity,” Lynch said. “We know everyone is going to come here after the Nearly Naked Mile.”

Members of Kappa Kappa Psi painted a movie camera and director’s clapboard outside of Campus Candy on Kirkwood Avenue.

Victoria Culver, a graduate adviser at IUSAA and director of the event, said the event was meant to unite the Bloomington community with IU students for Homecoming week.

“I’m pleased,” she said. “We’re going to reevaluate the events, but we plan to do this every year.”

Culver worked with Bloomington to reach agreement with the local businesses.

Cameron Hammel, an IUSAA volunteer who was painting the Indiana Shop, said they haven’t had much feedback from the businesses.

“They haven’t actually said anything,” Hammel said.

Some volunteers said they were hopeful the event would create awareness of Homecoming week.

“We’re doing a lot on Kirkwood,” said Carlin Way, an IUSAA director. “I think it will help upperclassmen be aware.”

On the other hand, Heater Bofia, another IUSAA volunteer, said she hoped younger students will notice the paintings.

“I didn’t know anything about Homecoming when I was a freshman,” Bofia said. “This helps them learn about Homecoming.”

Marketing purposes and awareness generation aside, many participants said they liked seeing school spirit around Bloomington.

“It has a small-town feel,” Way said.