MURFREESBORO, Tenn. —
With a flurry of boxes, hangers and paraphernalia essential to making a
dorm room a home away from home, MTSU welcomed students into their residence
halls Aug. 24, day one of the annual We-Haul move-in effort.
Volunteers from the Division of Student Affairs and
fraternities and sororities were on hand to provide dollies and physical
assistance as parents off-loaded their youngsters’ items and found places to
park.
“It is always an exciting beginning to the new school year,”
said Debra Sells, vice president for student affairs and vice provost for
enrollment and academic services. “We love to see the new students coming, and
their parents are always so excited, as well.”
As the MTSU band played, President Sidney A. McPhee welcomed
visitors under a tent across the street from Corlew Hall.
“The thing that is really special is the gratitude I hear
from parents,” McPhee said. “They’re blown away! The excitement and the
willingness of the community to be a part of this has been fantastic.”
Murfreesboro mom Tilina Hill was on hand to help her son,
Cole, move into Corlew. She said she took more of a hands-off approach to
helping him decide what to bring than she had done with her other child.
“I took a lot of control, but I did, this time, allow him to
be way more involved,” Hill said.
For his part, Cole said his mother still took charge.
“I just kind of looked around and looked at what all I use
every day, and then she told me what to bring,” he said, pointing to his mother
and laughing.
While he could have lived at home and commuted, Cole Hill
said he wanted to be more connected with the campus community.
“I thought if I lived on campus that I’d become more
involved in the campus life and do more with the school and be a part of it,”
Hill said.
Sells said the key to a smooth move-in experience is the
summer-long communication between the university and parents and students about
what to do and what not to do.
“Giving them information on the front end is the most
important part, especially right now when we have so much construction
happening on campus,” Sells said.
Chloe McKessy, a freshman video and film production major
from Germantown, Tennessee, said she believed she packed everything she would
need.
“To be honest, I probably brought more,” McKessy said. “The
only thing I had to buy was a bedspread.”
Later Friday, new and returning students were slated to
enjoy dinner and a carnival on the Student Union Commons. The two-day affair
continues from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25.
Bryan Stevenson, author of “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice
and Redemption,” will deliver the University Convocation address at 5 p.m.
Saturday in Murphy Center. Stevenson’s book is the summer book reading
selection for new students.
The President’s Picnic will follow on the Kennon Hall of
Fame lawn. Fall semester classes are to begin Monday, Aug. 27.
For more information, contact Jackie Victory, director of
student organizations and service, at 615-898-5812 or jackie.victory@mtsu.edu.
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