Ball State University's 2005 Homecoming parade will take participants and spectators along a new route today.
The parade used to begin at Muncie Central High School, but due to construction on the High Street bridge, the parade will begin at Delaware County Fairgrounds at 9:30 a.m. and will end on Neely Ave.
Jennifer Roherty, parade chairwoman, said she prefers the new route and hopes it becomes a new tradition.
"Delaware County Fairgrounds provides a much bigger space for the lineup than there has been in the past," Roherty said.
President Jo Ann Gora will lead the parade, which typically lasts two hours and will consist of about 150 campus and community organizations, including residence halls, fraternities, sororities, social and professional organizations and local businesses. Roherty said with Gora being an important figurehead at the university, it only seemed fitting that she lead the parade.
Gora will also conduct the dedication ceremony of the McKinley Ave. project between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. by temporarily halting the parade at the first crosswalk north of Riverside Ave.
Also attending the dedication will be Mayor Dan Canan, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, former U.S. Rep. David McIntosh, Tony Evans from E&B Paving Contractors and members of Ball State's Board of Trustees.
"It's an amazing way to connect Ball State with the Muncie Community," Roherty said. "I'm really excited about it."
Roherty said the Muncie community looks forward to the Homecoming parade every year, and she expects an equal turnout between students and local residents.
At least 40 floats will participate in the float competition, she said.
Chris Dorman, a member of Public Relations Student Society of America, is excited about the group's participation in the parade. PRSSA will be doing a combined float with the American Advertising Federation and Cardinal Communications.
The theme of the float will be "In It To Win It ... You're Hired," the idea of which came from the television show "The Apprentice" featuring Donald Trump. The groups decided to keep the float relevant to their career goals.
"It's a great opportunity to get the name of each individual organization out there and to show that we're the best of the best." Dorman said.
Delta Sigma Theta sorority will also march with its decorated banner for the first time in a couple of years.
"The banner has an elephant, which is our unofficial symbol, with a cardinal on its shoulder and a rocket symbolizing the opposing team." Cequila White, president of the sorority, said.
The sorority's 15 members will be marching, she said.
"We're really excited about participating in the parade this year, and we hope a lot of people will come out and add to the school spirit," White said.
Mark Kimble, a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, also known as FIJI, said the fraternity is paired with Pi Beta Phi sorority. They will have a "Rocky" theme for their float, complete with a boxing ring. FIJI has won the greek division of the float contest three years in a row. Last year, the fraternity was the overall winner, Kimble said.
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