While the University of Central Missouri is going ahead with their parents weekend, the University of Missouri has chosen to cancel theirs along with their homecoming parade due to the pandemic.

Dr. Bill Stackman, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, wrote on the Mizzou Families website that the University has decided to postpone their family weekend with the hope that it can be rescheduled for the spring.

Dr. Stackman wrote:

Please understand that this was not an easy decision to make, but we need to do all we can to protect our students, your Tigers, and all members of the Mizzou community.

Hosting Family Weekend events at this time would run counter to university policies and procedures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, such as those limiting events to no more than 20 people and limiting travel for all community members.

The Columbia Daily Tribune in a story on the postponed family weekend also says organizations and people who wanted to be involved in the Mizzou Homecoming Parade received a notice that it was cancelled. The paper quotes from the note:

The parade does not meet University of Missouri or City of Columbia standards for social distancing. While we are heartbroken to make this announcement, we must prioritize our campus and community safety.

As for the rest of Mizzou's Homecoming a note on Mizzou.com says that in times like this traditions are important and the Mizzou Alumni Association is committed to hosting some kind of homecoming experience for alumni and students.

Todd McCubbin, executive director of the Alumni Association, told the Columbia Daily Tribune that other homecoming events like the largest in person blood drive and decorations at fraternity and sorority houses may need to be discussed as well.

One thing the Alumni Association is promising is that while Homecoming may look different this year, fun, new virtual experiences will bring Homecoming to alumni, students and the Mizzou community.

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