There will not be a homecoming parade Saturday. Organizers did not expect anyone to show up.
The parade, which usually starts around noon and goes from Uphill to the football field for the team's homecoming game, was cancelled by the Tufts University Spirit Coalition (TUSC), the group in charge of the weekend's student events.
Student organizations, many of whom make floats for the parade, were informed of the cancellation in an e-mail Monday. The parade was cancelled because of the lack of attendance in past years, the e-mail said. It was sent by senior Sarita Parekh and sophomore Brittany Sommer, TUSC's co-chairs.
"The parade is supposed to bolster community," Sommer said. "In past years, we haven't had an audience." Sommer said a possible reason is that students did not want to wake up that early during homecoming weekend.
TUSC will use the money intended for the parade instead to expand the pep rally, scheduled for tonight. The extra money will be used for a bigger stage to accommodate more athletic teams. Ten are schedule to appear, as opposed to the four invited last year.
In addition to the four last year, Sommer said, some other teams "just showed up randomly." Sommer said the larger event is modeled on last year's Tuftonia's Day.
The pep rally will take place in the campus center. It was originally planned to be held outdoors for the first time - a plan made possible by the bigger budget, according to senior Jason Bauer, the co-chair of Programming Board and a member of TUSC.
TUSC planned to put the stage on the academic quad, but because of forecasted rain, it was moved inside as in previous years.
Among the student groups that usually make homecoming parade floats are the many groups within the Programming Board, including all four class councils, Concert Board, Lecture Series, Entertainment Board, Film Series, and the main Programming Board leadership.
Groups usually compete for the best float.
Bauer helped make a float as part of the Sophomore Class Council two years ago. "We dressed up a shopping cart like an elephant, and we all kinda dressed up like elephants," he said.
Sophomore Class Council member Lauren Kari also helped make a float last year as part of the Freshman Class Council. "Last year we were all concerned about winning but we didn't," she said. "I was excited about coming back and doing something interesting this year."
Kari was not aware that the parade was cancelled until Wednesday, but she said she understood the decision to cancel it after last year. "Even though it was exciting and fun, there was nobody there," she said.
The lack of interest in the parade was not limited to the student body, but also applied to members of the Programming Board.
The Concert Board decided before the parade was cancelled to focus most of its energy on Thursday's fall hip-hop show and not make a parade float, according to co-chair Alice Chiou, a senior.
TUSC members did not regret the cancellation of the parade, Sommer said. "We wish that it happened but why not put the effort into something with greater potential," she said.
The Office of Student Activities oversees the homecoming activities, but the responsibilities of planning and running the pep rally, parade and homecoming football game halftime show are delegated to the TUSC.
According to Sommer, there was no administrative opposition to the cancellation of the parade. TUSC leaders conferred with Director of Student Activities Jodie Nealley. "She's on board with us," Sommer said.
