Before students headed back to the classroom today, the matter of moving back onto campus had to be taken care of first.
More than 14,000 students returned to the cozy confines of the dorms throughout the weekend. But this semester’s move-in lacks much of the drama and anxiety students tend to experience in August, many residence hall managers say.
“It is not like opening for fall, where you are trying to bring the U-Haul in,” said Case Hall Manager Tim Knight. “Most students are anxious to get back. Everyone has at least one semester’s experience.”
Knight, who is responsible for the living needs of more than 900 students, said the ease of moving in can be attributed to both experience and bringing back fewer items.
“They have moved in before and they didn’t bring everything home so they are not bringing everything back,” he said. “The lofts are built and the furniture is already here.
“The only problems I have seen, for a number of years is that your new roommate moves in and all of a sudden, you don’t get along. There is always one or two of those.”
Political science freshmen Jake Williams moved back to Wilson Hall on Saturday and said moving in a day early to beat the crowd was a good idea.
“I thought there would be a lot of people,” he said. “But it was a lot easier than the beginning of the year. It is not as big of a deal.”
Like many students, Williams had help from his family. And despite having a broken ankle, Williams said he had no problems finding a parking spot because he came early.
Shannon Stoddard, who has previously lived in Case Hall, said there is an advantage to moving into dorms such as Mason Hall.
“It is easier because it is a smaller dorm,” she said. “There is more parking for fewer people moving in.”
Stoddard, a journalism sophomore, said she also avoided problems by getting there early - but she didn’t avoid problems with packing.
“Next time I won’t bring so much stuff home over break,” she said. “I really didn’t need half of the things I brought.”
Knight stresses students seriously consider what they need for their dorm rooms.
“We always suggest that parents not bring everything,” he said. “There are all of these people trying to get into the building and that never works. Everyone wants to get set up immediately, so it makes for a difficult time.”
