by Apryl Mock
Staff writer
Homecoming floats provide a challenge and a fun time for students, according to Honors Advisory Council and Sigma Tau Gamma presidents.
Chuck Bull, a junior pre-law major and president of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity chapter at SE, said he is enjoying his third year of float-building.
Adam Grant, a senior computer science major and president of the Honors Advisory Council at Southeastern, said he is looking forward to his second year participating in the float competition. The homecoming float competition is a source of pride to the organizations that compete, he added.
According to Bull, the most difficult part of building a float is obtaining funds. Bull said his fraternity receives the majority of their funding from the Student Government Association and Sigma Tau Gamma alumni.
Grant said that his organization usually spends approximately $250 on their float on various building materials. This money comes from the group’s general funds. The Honors Advisory Council usually receives donations from Honors alumni for tools and workspace, according to Grant.
In addition to funding, time and manpower are also important considerations. Bull estimated that it takes a total of about 24 hours to complete a homecoming float with around 20 people working at any given time. Bull said construction of floats usually begins the weekend before homecoming and lasts throughout the week.
According to Grant, Honors usually spends around 40 hours on their float with around 15 members participating at once and said the group usually starts construction the week of homecoming.
Bull said, “We have huge alumni support.” The Sigma Tau Gammas are grateful for all of the help that the alumni provide them and couldn’t do it without them, according to Bull.
When asked how competitive Honors is when it comes to the float competition, Grant said, “We shoot to win.”