The aura of school spirit was thick in the air going into last Saturday’s Homecoming Game as the local community, students and supporters of the Lions, alumni watched decorative floats  during the “Around the World” themed Homecoming  Parade.

As the participants or those riding on floats, convertible luxury cars and marching bands met on the North Campus at the beginning of the route, organizations, hungry for the festive flaunting of Roomie and his brigade to arrive, cooked and set up tents at Friendship Circle along Western Avenue. Alumni and students were excited to see the faces of Southeastern come together because of a common interest, which was to share support for Lion football and the annual homecoming day.

“Well I’m pretty excited; like I get to see all the people I went to school with and the parade’s just a lot of fun,” said Matt Taylor, alumnus and kinesiology grad student. “You get to see like all the organizations hard work going into the floats, getting to see it all come together because I know what it’s like to put one of the floats together…everyone’s out for the game so it’s a big crowd, just an exciting time.”

Taylor helped build a pirate ship and Incredible Hulk-themed float during his undergrad years  from 2006-2010.

“I’m riding on the float this year with the Black Student Union (BSU), in conjunction with Delta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha so we have our own float, so I’m just looking forward to seeing the excited faces from everybody out here supporting SELU,” said Winfred “PJ” Hills, a senior math major and member of Kappa Alpha Psi.

Since the organizations were taking part in tailgating, which took place during the same time as the parade, members rotated duties, forcing them to see the parade from a new angle.

“Well, last year I was on the parade route, and it was so much fun seeing everyone have a good time at Southeastern’s game and rooting for the Lions,” said Marcela Spicuzza, member of Alpha Omicron Pi and a sophomore Spanish major. “This year I’m excited to see the parade from a different perspective. I get to see all my sisters on the float and will be able to cheer them on.”

As the floats made their way down North General Pershing Street Extension towards Alumni Field, participants met mostly local families from Hammond, but the peak of the route began once Roomie and his green and gold firetruck arrived at Friendship Circle. The largest number of  spectators met on Western Avenue.  Individual floats themed as: Alpha Omicron Pi’s “Welcome to Graceland” float, Housing and Hall Council’s “Hollywood” float decorated with movie posters, Theta Phi Alpha’s “Roomie takes a Roadtrip to Vegas” and the Baptist Collegiate Ministry’s (BCM) “Roomie goes to Amish Paradise.”

The parade was deemed a success by spectators, which included students, alumni and Luke Holloway, president of the Student Government Association.

“I could tell that a lot of the organizations put a lot of work into it and I believe it’s one of the best we’ve had at Southeastern, we definitely promoted ‘Roomie Takes a Road Trip,’ promoted the theme of Homecoming 2011. I was very excited to just sit back and enjoy the parade,” said Holloway.

“I always love coming back to the parades,” said Whitney Driscoll, 2010 Alumni of Southeastern and former member of Alpha Omicron Pi. “It was a beautiful day, beautiful weather, and we especially loved cheering on the Alpha Omicron Pi float.”

Overall, Delta Tau Delta and Phi Mu were awarded first place in the float contest.