The success of this year’s Homecoming parade left city officials without regrets.

Contrary to last year’s disappointing parade, enhanced security and cooperative student efforts gave this year’s parade a more positive image.

Earlier this month, council members approved street closures for the parade after working with Eastern’s Homecoming Committee to establish a collaborative plan to prevent obscene language, thrown objects and other inappropriate behavior attributed to last year’s event.

Homecoming Coordinator and junior political science major Chelsea Fredrick presented the council a plan outlining parade rules, punishments and the idea of a parade escort team made up of Student Senate members, resident hall night assistants and police.

Mayor Dan Cougill said he attributed much of the good behavior to Eastern’s homecoming committee’s efforts.

“I think it is interesting- the perception that there were a lot more police officers out there,” Cougill said. “There weren’t any more than in the past.”

Council member Lorelei Sims said she did not see the security Parade Escort Team standing out from the rest of the parade, but did notice the team’s effects.

“I saw that everything went fine,” she said.

Fellow council member Larry Rennels saw the parade from Seventh Street north of Lincoln Avenue.

“From what I saw, people were pretty well-behaved,” Rennels said.

His location near fenced-in parties was “a little noisy, but there were a lot of people in a small place so that is to be expected,” he said.

“I did not see anything being thrown or anything like that.”

The parade security efforts’ effects were apparent. It was also evident something was missing.

Eastern’s Marching Blue marching band was the only musical contribution to the parade since former junior high and high school participants canceled after problems at last year’s parade.

“The parade was short and not nearly as musical as in the past,” Sims said.

“I would have liked to see more bands,” Rennels said.

No other complaints were made, only compliments.

“What I saw, I really enjoyed,” Sims said. “I am hoping the efforts the student committee made and the respect of students along the route are indicative of a better image for the parade.”

“It is important that we give credit to the students,” Cougill said. “It gives the signal to nonparticipants that they have a will to change and the students are behind that.

“Hopefully the bands will return next year,” Cougil said.

City editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected].