Incoming students moved into their dwellings from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. August 18. Alumni, student volunteers, librarians and professors came to help parents and students unload carloads of possessions.

Items ranged from stuffed animals, blankets, microwaves and mini fridges. With the help of volunteers, everything for college survival was moved into the dorms.

“As a SOC, I think it is important for students to have a sense of community,” said Josh Allen, junior respiratory therapy major.

More than half of the student volunteers were former SOCs, which allowed the incoming freshmen to connect to a familiar face. Even President Farley was in attendance and helping students move in, while offering a handshake and a smile to both parents and students.

Inside the Living Learning Center (LLC), representatives of the East and West Halls, Glynis Debenham and Takuma (Taco) Saito, sophomore of communications, coded IDs for students to open their doors.

Saito was excited to decrease the stress of transitioning into a new environment.

Meanwhile, the outside the LLC, Jamie McEwen of the financial aid office and Danny Funk, the assistant director of Alumni Association were giving away popcorn with various flavors of pop corn salt and beverages, including water and soda.

“The popcorn is courtesy of the Alumni Association and STAT, Students Today Alumni Tomorrow. For just $10 a year, students can enjoy many of the benefits of being an Alumni, while in attendance.” The various types of salt were to raise awareness for the SALT program from financial aid, which helps students with student loans.

The entire process was streamlined from previous years, with students showing up at different hours depending on their last name. This allowed students to be unloaded within pulling up to their respective building. This also took away from the stress of unloading and letting them say goodbye to their loved ones.

Among the volunteers, a friendly mini fridge carrying contest arose. The high score, belonging to Josh Allen, was 17.

“It’s nice to see the incoming students,” Debenham said. “It reminds me to be hopeful. As a senior, it can be easy to get bogged down and forget that feeling, but they have hope in their eyes. They need to take advantage of this time and enjoy it while it lasts”