OU students bring Grizzlies pride to Rochester Christmas Parade

The OU cheerleading squad and Dance Team have participated in the Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade for the past six years.

Nearly 100 Oakland University students and staff rounded out OU’s entry in this year’s Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade, televised live on Channel 7 this December. The parade annually welcomes more than 100,000 spectators to downtown Rochester.

Oakland University Cheerleaders and Dance Team members performed the OU Fight Song and other routines as they marched down Main Street, giving parade-goers a taste of Grizzlie pride and spirit.

OU’s mascot, Clawzz, also participated in the parade, waving to on-lookers, slapping high fives to young children and impressing the crowd with tumbling routines.

“It’s always fun to get the university together with the community. I’m a resident in the greater Rochester area. What a great place to live, to raise a family, and to have a university. With things like the parade, the lights show, fireworks… It’s good to see the increasing connections between the community and the university,” said Associate Professor of Sociology Richard Stamps.

In 2005, Stamps and students from the La Pittura student art group and Anthropology Club built a small-scale replica of the Griggs Grain Elevator as a float in the parade. Their efforts helped raise awareness and preserve a piece of history when plans were underway to move the grain elevator to its present location just east of Rochester Road along the Clinton River.

Students from The Honors College at OU marched in the parade.

More than 25 students from The Honors College braved the cold temperatures to walk in the parade.

“It’s exciting to show people in the area how great Oakland is. I was in the parade last year too. I carried a flag and screamed my heart out," said Jim Van Nada, a sophomore and sociology major in The Honors College.

“It feels awesome to be involved in the parade. Rochester is definitely a hang out town for shopping, restaurants and coffee stops. I work at Antonio’s and come down here a lot,” said Ashley McIntyre, a freshman from Midland in The Honors College, majoring in nursing.

“I like the idea of showcasing The Honors College. It’s fun to be with friends and to come down here for the parade. People from Rochester see us and think of OU as a good neighbor. It’s cold out, but still nice,” said Travis Nagler, a freshman from White Lake majoring in chemistry and secondary education in The Honors College.

The OU cheerleading squad and Dance Team have participated in the parade for the last six years. “It’s a good experience to be part of the parade. There are lots of little kids who want to take their picture with us. It’s cool to represent OU. With the basketball team doing so well, we’re getting a great response from the crowd,” said Hayli Ziegler, an OU Cheerleader from West Bloomfield and a senior and communications major.

“We look forward to participating in the parade each year,” Laura Mutz, communications director, University Relations said. “It’s a fun occasion and we appreciate the volunteer time given by our dance, cheer and mascot squads, as well as Honors College students even as finals are approaching, to represent Oakland in the community.”

Coverage of the parade will re-air on Channel 7 on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 4 – 6 p.m. The parade will also be broadcast throughout the month of December on Community Media Network.