The roughly 1,675 members of the Class of 2023 were met by hundreds from the Elon University community to help them settle into their new homes and begin their academic careers at the university.
—
Cars and SUVs were lined up around campus first thing Friday morning, filled with members of Elon's newest class and their family members. They were met by hundreds of students, staff and faculty who spent the morning unloading suitcases, boxes, electronics, rugs and boxes of snacks as the roughly 1,675 members of the Class of 2023 moved into their new homes.
"Everyone has been so helpful," said Rob Weiner of Framingham, Massachusetts, noting that the resident adviser in his son Ari's Global Neighborhood residence hall helped them figure out how to layout the room.
Moving into residence halls is the first step in a robust weekend for New Student Orientation that will be filled with opportunities to learn more about adjusting to university life, immersing themselves in their students, becoming involved in a broad range of social and service activities and getting to know one another.
On Saturday, the Class of 2023 will be surrounded by their friends and family as they gather Under the Oaks for New Student Convocation. President Connie Ledoux Book and other campus leaders will offer them insights into what lies ahead for them during their years at Elon. Each new student will leave the ceremony with an acorn, an acknowledgment of the university's name (Elon is the Hebrew word for "oak") and a symbol of the start of a period of personal and intellectual growth.
For many students, Move-In Day is a chance to first meet a new roommate in person. For Grace Walker and Ella Wise, Friday was a chance to catch up after being apart for years. The two first-year students had gone to the same camp as children but hadn't kept in touch. Both were accepted to Elon, selected random roommate assignment, and ended up paired together in a Virginia Hall room to start their Elon careers.
"It was so funny that that happened," said Walker, who plans to study psychology at Elon. "We've had so much fun settling in today. Everything has been so organized, and everyone has been so helpful."
For Kayla Spalding, Move-In Day is a milestone at a school she says she fell in love with when she first visited. "The campus is so beautiful, but also, the people are beautiful, too," said Spalding, who is from Winston-Salem, N.C., and will major in dance. "They're so spirited and so proud of their school, and so it just makes you so proud to be here. That's the main reason I chose Elon."
Spalding is her parents' first child to head off to college, which leaves her parents, Pamela and Tony Spalding, with a mixture of emotions. "Leading up to this, there were a lot of mixed emotions — we're going to miss having her in our household every day, with her energy and her essence, but then we're also very excited as we watch her move into this next journey in her life," Pamela Spalding said.
New Student Orientation is also a period of learning and transition for parents and siblings. This year, Elon offered resource workshops on Friday afternoon focused on topics including student health and wellness, academic support, student involvement, and how parents and family members can contribute to their student's success.
"Move-In Day helps us understand that in times of need, this whole community is going to pull together, and regardless of your position in this university, if you see someone struggling with a box, you're going to stop to help them," said Jana Lynn Patterson, associate vice president for student life and dean of students. "I also think it helps students understand that the faculty and staff care about them, and care about their success."
Cole Martin and his family drove down from Doylestown, Pennsylvania on Thursday, and arrived at a Global Neighborhood parking lot during the second wave of students who were moving in. Martin learned about Elon from a close family friend who is now a sophomore at the university, and he arrives at Elon as a member of the new cohort of Business Fellows.
"I'm really excited to be challenged academically, and also to have the change to meet new people," Martin said. "Things are off to a great start."