University of Florida - Tower / Seminole Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

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A Gainesville firefighter says hello to some curious on-lookers. Other firefighters rode in their trucks honking their horns and blaring the sirens. They were just a few of the city workers who participated in the 1997 parade. Business senior Mindy Tanebaum and Sean Richardson stand by as the parade floats pass through University Avenue. Most floats were made by student orga- nizations that tried to show aspects of their group through their float design. President Lombardi gets the crowd fired up for the game. Many local and state dignitaries rode through the parade in a classic or new sports cars, and President Lombardi is no exception. Cruising in style with his wife, Cathryn, Lombardi shows his spirit for UF. Two students get their kicks with a kooky clown. Clowns entertained chil- dren throughout the parade, making their way up and down the street and making balloon animals. Clowns acted crazy to keep the crowd smiling. What was your • favorite aspect about the 1997 Homecoming parade? A I liked that there was something for everyone. No matter how old you were. Tiffnay ZED Student Life 19

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Keeping in Touch The Homecoming parade was a chance for the community to connect with the university. The Homecoming parade has been part of the University of Florida ' s Homecom- ing celebration since 1925. The parade, whose route is the same each year, kicks off the largest student-run Homecoming cel- ebration in the nation. The Florida Blue Key-sponsored parade has been and con- tinued to be a time for Gainesville citizens to see what goes in and around UF. Not all residents of Gainesville were aware of what UF students were involved with. It ' s amazing to me how many different groups that participate in the Homecom- ing Parade who aren ' t directly related to the university, said Kristen Wanner. The parade was a time to get Gainesville involved with the University of Florida and to let its citizens know that they con- tribute to its success as well. A number of floats were constructed by student organization , various colleges, fraternities, sororities and local businesses. Local civic groups and bands also participated. One of the highlights of the parade was when the senior football players rode down Uni- versity Avenue with the Gator Marching Band playing the fight song, Orange and Blue. it definitely got everyone ' s orange and blue blood flowing. The comedians for Gator Growl 1997 also participated. You could see Howie Mandel and Jeremy Hotz waving to the crowds along the route. In addition to Mandel and Hotz, the Homecoming court, student ers and various local and state dignitaries also participated. Truly, the whole com- munity took part in the parade, not just those involved with the university. The Homecoming parade was what built the excitement for one of the biggest football games of the year. The 1997 Homecoming parade was no different, and it continued the University of Florida ' s tradition of excellence. Story by: William Mader 18 Student Life

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Outside of Anderson hall, first year Oc- cupational Therapy student, Chris Martoral, displayed a common practice that both on-campus and off-campus stu- dents have used. Bicycle, skateboard, and moped transportation were favored by many students who preferred the conve- nience of quicker travel across campus. It ' s Hall ' When on pus living space spilled into personal space, roommates learned how to get along. rooms. The diversity among floc mates when it came to study habits sleeping patterns and cleanliness (o lack thereof) was not supposed to be, a top priority, was it? All gripes aside, dorm life was natural step that aided the newcome to the rigors and fun of college life Living in the middle of it all force one to see all that the University 0 Florida campus could offer and thu encouraged a new student to utilize his or her new surroundings. Star by: Maritess Repidad Lottery. Temporary triple. Co-op. Communal shower. Fire drill. Lock out. Call box. Laundry. Phone message. Laundry. Burnt popcorn. Laundry. For those who have lived in the University of Florida dormitories, dorm life remained a somewhat remarkable life experi- ence. Usually, the younger students of the university population inhab- ited the halls, from Tolbert and Beaty Towers to Reid and Hall ' 95. With the aid of each floor ' s Resi- dent Assistant and the Inter-Resi- dence Hall Association, new students dents, perhaps, adjusted at a more comfortable pace than, per se, the new student in living off-campus. Floor meetings, hall activities and other events provided residents with the opportunity to meet the other people living in their respective buildings. Living on campus pro- vided easy access to school without the worry of searching for a parking space every morning of the week. Common dorm gripes circulated among the population as each new group of students soon found out for themselves after settling into their 20 Student Life