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Students and businesses join to ‘Paint the Town Red’

Miami students, coaches and officials were part of a kickoff last week, along with Oxford city and business officials, for the “Paint the Town Red” effort. Student organizations teamed with local businesses to paint store windows with Miami themes as part of the celebration of Miami’s Bicentennial Homecoming. Staff photo by Bob Ratterman

Bob Ratterman Miami students, coaches and officials were part of a kickoff last week, along with Oxford city and business officials, for the “Paint the Town Red” effort. Student organizations teamed with local businesses to paint store windows with Miami themes as part of the celebration of Miami’s Bicentennial Homecoming. Staff photo by Bob Ratterman

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By Katie Rico, Contributing Writer 5:12 PM Thursday, October 22, 2009

Uptown Oxford has an extra splash of color this weekend, as Miami University student organizations and Oxford businesses team up to “Paint the Town Red.”

The bicentennial homecoming event, put on by Miami’s Campus Activities Council, the Chamber of Commerce, Miami’s Bicentennial Committee and Miami’s Athletic Department, is a window-decorating contest not only meant to show the school’s homecoming pride, but also to bring Oxford and the university together.

“It is an opportunity for the Oxford business community to work with Miami University to promote a united front,” said JoNell Rowan, president of the Chamber of Commerce.

Rowan said that Oxford businesses were partnered with Miami student organizations to compete for the best window display. Today, Oct. 23, the student organizations headed Uptown to decorate their designated store fronts.

Leeanne Cornyn, Campus Activities Council Homecoming Co-chair, said that the 23 decorated windows would be judged this afternoon, with the winning organization receiving $500.

She said there has been a very good response from local businesses and students alike.

“It’s definitely been an integrated process between us and them. It’s a great way for Uptown businesses to associate more intimately with the students,” Cornyn said.

Jerome Conley, the Bicentennial Homecoming Committee Chair for Miami University, said the committee has been looking at ways to strengthen the Oxford-Miami relationship, and “Paint the Town Red” has been a great start.

“We have attempted to have bicentennial homecoming serve as a catalyst and to lay a foundation for a new relationship,” he said.

Director of Marketing for the Athletic Department Anthony Azama said he sees momentum for a great partnership and a win-win situation for everyone even beyond the bicentennial.

“People don’t talk about Miami without talking about Oxford, and people don’t talk about Oxford without talking about Miami,” Azama said. “This gives us the opportunity to leverage resources and show the best of what we have to offer.”

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