Late Thursday night, 18 individuals wearing black hooded ponchos met at the Sports Pavilion and Aquatics Center and scurried toward Bobb and McCulloch halls, large drums in hand.

Minutes later, sounds from the loud beating of the drums and the “Go, ‘Cats, Go!” cheers reached students in their dorms and many looked out of their windows, wondering what was causing all the commotion.

As the cheers grew louder, it was apparent that the 18 individuals were not part of a Halloween party gone wrong, but of a Homecoming celebration put on by members of the Northwestern University Marching Band.

Drum line members played cadences Thursday night outside several areas on campus where students reside — making their way from North Campus to 1835 Hinman on South Campus. The “Drum Line Serenade,” as the event is called, is an NU Homecoming tradition that signals the beginning of Homecoming weekend.

“We’re trying to get students pepped up about Homecoming … and let them know that there is a game on Saturday and that they should go watch it,” said Weinberg junior Samir Mayekar, NU’s drum line captain. “(The serenade) is one of those things you’re not supposed to do, but we do it because it’s more fun that way.”

To encourage students to step out of their dorms, Weinberg junior Jenny Tison and Communication junior Joe Filipas, who make up the NU Marching Band SpiriTeam, used loudspeakers to cheer on the drum line and to encourage others to join the celebration.

“(Being the emcees for the drum line) was really fun, especially because we attracted a large number of people,” Tison said. “It was awesome to see so much school spirit. People really bought into it this year.”

A crowd of about 300 students followed the drum line through its trek to dance and perform cheers with the respective cadences.

The serenade route began in the courtyard of Bobb and McCulloch halls. The drumming, black-clad members also made several stops at the Fraternity Quads, The Rock, the courtyard between Allison Hall and Shepard Residential College, the Sorority Quads, the Foster-Walker Complex courtyard and the courtyard between 1835 Hinman and Jones Residential College.

“(The serenade) was pretty good and I enjoyed myself, especially because the (members of the drum line) are just really talented,” said Weinberg freshman Mike Breidenbach, who watched the line perform in the courtyard between Allison and Shepard.

Traditionally, the event does not end until the police say the celebration needs to stop, Mayekar said.

But this year things were a bit different.

“Last year, we were stopped by the police because someone called the cops on us,” Mayekar said. “This year, we didn’t get in trouble with the police. They were actually watching us.”

The crowd following the drum line began with about 75 people and grew to 300 by the time members reached their final spot at 1835 Hinman and Jones.

“No one really understands how much work we put into (the drum line), and to have (so many people) around is one of the most enjoyable things that could happen to us,” Mayekar said.

After the serenade at 1835 Hinman and Jones, students formed a circle around the courtyard and sang the university Alma Mater, concluding the festivities.

“(The serenade) showed that there are a lot of people who care about school spirit and who are willing to share their passion for Northwestern,” said Education senior Stephen Bosky, a member of the drum line.

Reach Allan Madrid at [email protected].