Ed Shipley remembers when building Homecoming floats was the thing to do.
In the 1960s and 1970s, members of his Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity adjusted a flatbed wagon trailer to make it appear as though it was being self-propelled along Ball State University's parade route.
It was all about being creative and innovative. But things have changed since then, Shipley said.
"Floats are different," Shipley, executive director of alumni programs, said. "At one time, floats were more elaborate, more time was spent, a lot more energy was spent."
But amid students' consistent involvement in Homecoming spirit activities during the past 79 years, Shipley attributes the decrease in the time spent on building floats to today's increasingly fast-paced society.
"It's a time commitment," Shipley said. "It was the thing to do at that time. They spent weeks doing it, and every night for weeks they spent time working on the float. It was a tradition. It was a history. It was the thing to do. Things are different today."
Melinda Messineo, assistant professor of sociology, said many of today's college students generally feel less connected to school and community events because they have so many other social, academic and career obligations.
Sophomore Ben Mastarone said his classwork has prevented him from attending Homecoming activities and will keep him from attending today's game.
"Personally, I just treat it as another game," Mastarone said. "All I can think of is it's something fun to do. It's a good excuse to bring alumni back to see one game. Maybe I'll get excited about the football team just for once."
Although many students are engaged in local Homecoming efforts, Messineo said the general trend in society is toward increasing individualism. The push for engaging in more individualistic activities and devoting less time to group or spirit-building events will remain a challenge during the next few years, Messineo said.
"This is an issue that we as society are going to have to look at for the foreseeable future," Messineo said.
Meryn Mahoney, secretary of the Ball State University Student Foundation, said her organization will have a parade float today. At least seven group members planned to work on the entire float Friday night because of their busy schedules during the past few weeks, Mahoney said.
"That's why we waited the night before to do it," she said. "I am working two jobs and work 25 hours a week in addition to taking 18 credit hours."
The Student Foundation, however, is excited about displaying a creative float for this year's parade, Mahoney said.
Libby Skiles, Homecoming chairwoman, said even though only about 40 of the nearly 150 organizations in the parade will feature floats this year, students are focusing more on promoting their groups rather than on the quality of the decorations.
"I think students have a little less time than they did in years past to really put a week or two weeks into decorations for these incredibly elaborate floats," Skiles said. "You'll still see floats that are just incredible ... but I think people are going for the participation now instead of just how their float looks."
But the decrease in student involvement in float building is not a reflection of student participation in Homecoming overall.
"A lot of activities are very much the same," said Shipley, who served as Homecoming chairman in the falls of both 1966 and 1967. "They've been enhanced, changed. What the culture is in 1960 and what the culture is in 2000 has changed, but students being involved with the institution, students having fun, that hasn't changed."
The Homecoming week of events built excitement among students for today's game against Toledo, Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham said. He said he expects to see about 4,000 students in attendance at the game. "I think that the change in the parade and bringing that right through McKinley Avenue is really terrific, and having that progression to the stadium there, that's a wonderful way to build campus community," Cunningham said.
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