Drawing a large crowd of ’Canes, the Organized Cheer Competition proved to be a favorite among the string of Homecoming events so far this week.
The skit and dance competition celebrated the University of Miami’s Homecoming theme, “Game On,” with spirited performances from various student organizations. This year, the United Black Students Union, Federación de Estudiantes Cubanos, Hurricane Steppers, Club Cheer, Association of Commuter Students, and oSTEM & Spectrum competed in “OCheer.”
“OCheer is a great way to highlight the creativity of student organizations in a fun, spirited way. Everything is student-led—they are in charge of planning their costumes, choosing their songs, and bringing their skits to life,” said Joshua Abel, chair of the OCheer Homecoming committee.
Embedding the “Game On” theme within the event, each OCheer team was assigned a classic video game to incorporate into their performance. From Minecraft to Wii Sports, students cheered and sang to the beat of carefully curated dance and skit sequences.
“We have been preparing for this event for weeks now. With practices multiple times a week, we have built a community with just our preparation. The experience is so rewarding,” said David Raez, vice president and Homecoming chair of the Association of Commuter Students.
Led by animated student moderators, the event not only captivated its spectators but also made students aware of the variety of organizations on campus. Incorporating program history along with props and themed segments, student groups helped usher in a sense of excitement and spirit for the upcoming Homecoming football game on Saturday against Florida State University at Hard Rock Stadium.“The diversity and school spirit makes OCheer feel like home,” said Brianna Benjamin, a junior studying political science, who was watching the performances.
While judges deliberated on the winning team, the National Pan-Hellenic Council also performed its inaugural showcase, highlighting Black student Greek life for the first time during Homecoming week.
Following the performance and a dramatic drumroll, the United Black Students organization was named this year’s OCheer champion, with the Association of Commuter Students and Federación de Estudiantes Cubanos taking second and third place, respectively.
“It was a great way to celebrate our community, especially considering many students look forward to our performance each year. It’s a staple event for our organization and it feels great to win it,” said Asia Chester, a senior studying biochemistry and the vice president of United Black Students.
Get more details on the remainder of events this Homecoming week.
