Many students look forward to tailgating with friends this
Homecoming weekend, but tailgating is just one of the many events on
campus students can enjoy.

There is an alumni gathering, a parade, a luau-style dance and a 5K
run as part of the annual attempt to stir up CMU pride.

The Rock Rally at 8 p.m. today will include a Pep Rally, a Mock Rock
contest, a presentation of the 2004 CMU Football Team, an introduction
of the 2004 CMU Grand Marshal and an announcement of the Homecoming
Ambassadors.

If students are willing to get up at 8 a.m. Saturday, the CMU 5K,
sponsored by the running group Striders, is ideal to get their blood
pumping, said Harry Plouff, Striders board member.

“It’s important when the community gets involved and shows people
they should also commit to a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

The 3.1-mile run is for students, alumni and interested community
members.

The run begins and ends at the Indoor Athletic Complex. Registration
starts at 7 a.m. and costs $10 for participants and $9 for Strider
members.

Following the 5K run at 9 a.m., alumni can mingle with one another
in Powers Hall. Alumni are offered a free continental breakfast of
coffee and donuts prior to the Homecoming parade.

The parade will commence at 10 a.m. with Grand Marshals Sid and Judy
Smith. The parade route will start in Lot 22 and covers the CMU campus
and downtown Mount Pleasant.

Also at 10 a.m., a cardboard boat race sponsored by the industrial
and engineering technology department will take place in the ponds by
the Student Activity Center.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. there is a Homecoming Celebration for alumni,
friends and family.

Each CMU college will set up a tent for alumni and hand out various
goodies. More than 2,000 alumni showed up last year for the event and
more are expected this year, said Mary Lu Yardley, executive director
of the Alumni Association.

She said she hopes the event grows.

“It’s important for students to realize after they graduate, they
still have a place to come back to,” she said.

Alumni, in coordination with the broadcast and cinematic arts
department, will also do their annual radio takeover of 91.5 WMHW-FM
and broadcast the homecoming celebration live.

The CMU vs. Bowling Green football game will kick-off at 1 p.m.

The last Homecoming event is a semi-formal dance at 9 p.m. in the
Bovee University Center Rotunda. A donation of two non-perishable food
items must be presented at the door.

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