Although Leslie Madden only is finishing up her first year away from home, she knows how to move. The physiology freshman moved her belongings home last weekend so she wouldn’t have to think about it during finals week.
“I kind of wish we had a week after finals to relax and move out our stuff,” Madden said. “If I hadn’t moved my stuff out though, I’d be really stressed with getting everything cleaned up and organized. But I’m happy there’s not a lot left to do.”
University officials say moving belongings home before finals week can help make moving day less chaotic and stressful. Students must be moved out of residence halls by 8 p.m. May 3. They also recommend having plenty of garbage bags and boxes available, taking books back early and packing up during any spare time students might have.
“When I was a hall director in the dorms, you’d be amazed at how many people are still trying to pack at 7 p.m. on Friday,” said George Athanas, area coordinator for the Department of Residence Life.
Athanas said although some students stress out about packing during finals week, it might be a good way to relieve stress.
“It can get hard to study for 12 hours straight,” he said. “During study breaks, students can pack up clothes and decide what to take home and what to leave until the very end.”
Sharri Margraves, associate director of University Housing, said last year, MSU students donated 30 truckloads of wood, 19,000 pounds of clothing and nearly 3,000 pounds of food after move-out. Also, 27 truckloads of wood were sold through the MSU Surplus Store.
The clothing, food and wood goes toward local community groups and charity organizations.
Each residence hall has a location and bins for students to put wood, carpet and trash.
Margraves, who sent out an end-of-the-year traffic control guide to residence halls, said it’s important for families and students to remain patient while driving home.
“We sent out a letter to parents telling them which areas to avoid and where to park,” she said. “This is important this year, especially if Vice President Dick Cheney comes to campus on Friday for graduation. Traffic usually gets tied up when we have security on campus.”
Political science junior Patrick O’Reilly said it only takes him half an hour to pack up his stuff and move out of the dorms.
“I’ve been doing it for three years,” O’Reilly said. “I don’t have a lot of stuff and I don’t ever remember being stressed out about moving home. I usually pack up the night before my last final so the next day I take it, and then leave.”
