In preparation for this year’s homecoming with the theme “Camp NMU,” the Special Events Committee worked hard to organize exciting events prior to this weekend’s activities. They hosted a scavenger hunt, the football game against UW-Lacrosse and plan to hold Dead River Games on Sunday, Sept. 17.
Students of all different clubs, sports and residence halls walked in the homecoming parade, which started behind the Superior Dome at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15. On Sept. 14, those participating in the parade took the time to decorate their floats or golf carts at the Pre-Parade Party, which took place behind the Dome. Participants gathered with their groups and enjoyed pizza while they socialized and designed their floats.
Many participants of the parade this year were residence halls. The resident advisors chose a theme or design for their float that their hall members helped make come to life. Ava Kyer, a resident advisor for Maple East, joined to decorate her hall’s golf cart at the party. Her hall chose a Smokey Bear theme for their golf cart, which was one of many things that she enjoyed about her experience that day.
“I was really excited that the theme this year is Camp NMU, because I love the national parks,” Kyer said. “I was excited to see how everyone uses the theme in their floats. I just want to see everyone having fun, because I think it’s important to get involved around campus and do things with other people.”
Aside from residence halls, many clubs, sports teams and organizations joined to prepare for the parade as well. They took it as an opportunity to promote themselves and expand. For Nora Lynch, president of the American Sign Language (ASL) Club, socializing was one of her favorite things about the event. She wanted to bond with her club members at any chance she was given.
“I like finding and forming relationships [in the ASL club], because that’s how I formed new relationships last year,” Lynch said. “With student organizations, you get together for one common reason and find out that you have so much more in common, and all of a sudden you have a ton of new friends.”
The Pre-Parade Party allowed students to do just that, while socializing with their friends and teammates as they prepared for the parade. Many of them planned to wear matching shirts and spirit wear and pass out candy to the surrounding community as they walked up Third Street.
