MU will hold its Homecoming Parade this Saturday at 9 a.m. The parade will begin on Rollins Street in front of the College of Business and end at the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Street.
The parade is one of the many events planned, organized and executed by MU’s Steering Committee (SteerCo). It comes annually as a part of MU’s Homecoming tradition that dates back 111 years, when then-MU football coach Chester Brewer invited alumni to return to campus in 1911 to watch MU’s football game against Kansas.
The parade allows for any and all student groups to participate and attend the event, according to Karsen Idelman, one of the SteerCo tri-directors responsible for overseeing the outreach process.
“We let any student groups that want to walk in the parade walk in the parade,” Idelman said. “They are all welcome … Basically, they just fill out an interest form and it’s super simple from there. We’ll reach out to them and get them all set up.”
Groups participating in the parade range from Greek Life chapters to local businesses, members of university administration, student organizations, athletic clubs and local high schools. Participating in the Homecoming Parade has become popular among groups around town, with as many as 153 different entries submitted for participation, according to Matthew Rothermich, one of the Tri-Directors of SteerCo.
“[Participants are] all represented from all different kinds of organizations,” said Abigail Klapatauskas, a member of the Homecoming Committee.
Greek houses have paired up for the parade, with members of different houses riding through Downtown Columbia together in groupings, according to Klapatauskas. Following this year’s Traditions Level theme, their floats will be decorated with cartoon character designs that the houses decorated and built themselves.
All 10 contestants for homecoming royalty will be involved in the parade.
Missouri political candidates such as Trudy Busch Valentine, the Democratic candidate running for U.S. Senate, and John Martin, the Republican candidate for Missouri State Representative will also attend.
This year, the parade will include a sensory-friendly area. This designated portion of the parade covers only the last block, between Broadway and Fifth Street, where participants will substitute their chants and cheers for smiles and waves, with sirens and music turned off. Klapatauskas helped develop the idea for the sensory-friendly area.
“It’s just a matter of creating a space for people that deserve to be there and may have otherwise not felt like they could go,” Klapatauskas said.
Klapatauskas’ commitment to making the parade accessible and enjoyable for everyone stems in part from her relationship with her sister Madilyn, who has Down syndrome, a genetic disorder which can cause sensory sensitivity. Approximately 49% of individuals with Down syndrome experience sensory processing challenges, according to the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation.
“When Madilyn was really young, my mom would just kind of stay home [with her] and would not go to the parade to kind of keep her protected from that,” Klapatauskas said.
When planning the parade last March, SteerCo focused on inclusion.
“I think seeing all of those different communities is really inspiring for the students that are a part of it, and also prospective students and alumni just to see that this community is still strong and thriving,” Klapatauskas said.
Edited by Emma Flannery | eflannery@themaneater.comCopy edited by Jacob Richey | jrichey@themaneater.com