DAY, SEPTEMBER 12,1961
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
DAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1961 TIlE MICHIGAN DAILY
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IIENNIAL SPRING GALA:
MichigrasBrings Carnival Air
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With all of the fun excitement
and color of a carnival Michigras
returns to the University this year
to bring spring into Ann Arbor.
The biennial carnival event,
co-sponsored by the Women's Ath-
letic Association and the Michi-
gan Union, is the biggest weekend
of the year at Michigan and may
perhaps be the biggest college
weekend of its kind in the coun-
try.
Michigras begins with a gala
parade down State Street Friday
afternoon. Huge floats glide down
the street as students forget their
studies for one weekend and turn
to "just plain fun."
Teams Compete
Housing units are divided into
teams which compete for prizes
for building floats and booths. All
effort is turned to the colorful
displays, games and refreshment
areas as the units vie for awards
based on originality, construction
and theme.
Friday and Saturday nights,
Yost Fieldhouse is transformed in-
to a carnival midway. Outside, the
bright lights of the rides shine
through the night air and the cal-
liope music drifts through the
-crowds.
This year's co-chairman, Pam-
ela. Marzulla, '62, predicted new
and more novel things for this
year's 'Michigras, but cautioned
"we'll just let everyone come and
see for themselves precisely what
they are."
Bigger Affair
She and co-chairman Edward
Stein, '63, foresee a bigger and
better Michigras this year. "We
hope to make this year's Michigras
the best in Michigan's history."
The rides and booths presented
are judged beforehand to elimi-
nate any chance of "strictly chil-
dren's rides." All events are cat-
ered to the appeal of college stu-
dents, although on Michigras
weekend, everyone goes back to
their childhood "just a little."
Saturday night is the climax of
the hectic weekend. Again, the
booths, rides 'and refreshment
stands are open. Again, the spirit
of frivolity prevails. And, late in
the evening, the climax of one
year's work is culminated with
the announcements of the win-
ners.
'Year's Planning
"Michigras takes one year to
plan and put together," Miss Mar-
zulla said. "Last June housing
units chose who they wanted to
work with and they started in the
fall to make plans for the big
event."
Michigras, since it comes to the
University only every other year,
alternating with Spring Weekend,
"is the extravaganza of any stu-
dent's year at the University,"
Miss Marzulla added.
Michigras started as a county
fair in 1902. The project was then
sponsored by the WAA and the
'M' Club. Then, as now, all profits
go to charity.
Parade Added
The parade was added to this
fund-raising project three years
later and the event came to re-
semble its present form. The name
Michigras was first applied in
1937.
Housing units-both affiliate
units and residence hall houses-
are paired together between each
men's and women's house to pre-
pare plans in early February for
both the booths and parade.
Plans are submitted in mid-
February and numbered in the or-
der in which they are turned in
to the committee. Duplicates are
then eliminated in the order in
which they were returned and the
housing units affected are given a
second chance to draw up plans.
None of the committee members
know what unit's petition he is
judging. Names are detached when
the plans are submitted.
Finally, at the end of February,
all petitions are judged on the
basis of which ones will make the
best contribution to the overall
theme and atmosphere of the
weekend in relation to the space
limitations which must be ac-
commodated.
In past years, Michigras has
been ' an outstanding financial
success, donating as much as $38,-
000 to charity in one year.
The parade begins Friday in the
campus area, completing its march
in a little over an hour in the
campus area. In the past, the
famed Michigan Marching Band
has led the marches.
Also, high school bandsmen have
engaged in marching contests as
a part of the parade. Later the
same day, the carnival begins,
continuing through Saturday.
Games of skill offer Michibucks
as prizes, legal tender for the pur-
chase of a variety of goods and
services, ranging in nature from
cashmere sweaters to auto lubri-
cation jobs.
Games are student operated and
built and are so constructed that
they blend into the general theme
'of the event.
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MARIONETTE MANIA-One of the entertainment booths from
the last Michigras featured a human puppet show. Other booths
sought to earn Michibucks from patrons with refreshments and
games of skill in order to win the festival trophy.
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Home of SGC -Student Activities Building
Your
Representative Body
CUBES AND CLOWNS-The parade was led by clowns wheeling the giant'-sized toy blocks spelling
out "Michigras". The theme of the affair was "TOY-To Our Youth".
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MIDNIGHT MIDWAY-Carnival rides are brought into the athletic department grounds for the
two-day celebation. Their bright lights provide a colorful panorama spread across the darkened sky.
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