Long trips, heavy lifting as students move in on campus
Between parents, cousins and siblings, Mary Elizabeth Foster and Macy Sellers had seven helpers as they moved in to Greene Residence Hall Wednesday at East Carolina University.
Apparently, they needed all the help they could get.
“I don’t think I have anything that’s light,” said Sellers, a freshman from Boliva, North Carolina.
“One of my bags of clothes was just filled,” said Foster, a freshman from Wendell. “I couldn’t carry it. It was so heavy.”
The roommates are among about 5,500 students moving into campus housing for the fall semester this week. Nearly 3,900 of those are freshmen.
“Move-in has been great. All the help that we’ve received has been tremendous,” said mother Holly Sellers.
While move-in can be an emotional time for parents, Holly Sellers came up with a unique approach.
“I’m OK so far. I’m thinking that I’m just dropping her off at a friend’s house for a while,” she said.
Chancellor Philip Rogers greeted students and parents throughout campus, including a stop in Greene Residence Hall as Foster and Sellers set up their room.
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t know that was him. I wasn’t expecting that,” Foster said after visiting with Rogers. “He seemed nice. He gave me some dad vibes.”
Volunteer Effort
About 500 volunteers are helping with move-in, many of whom are members of the ECU Marching Pirates. Rogers made a point to thank the volunteers as they gathered for an appreciation breakfast.
“This is the gateway experience to East Carolina University, and you’re going to be opening up the doors to these folks for their first real college experience,” he told them. “For many parents, it’s the first time they drop off their loved ones, their children, into a new adventure. Do all that you can to embrace that relationship. Ask someone if they need help. Give them a smile. Help them to see that ECU is a place that values who they are and will care and take care of them through every step of the journey.”
Macy Sanderson, a senior exercise physiology major from Kinston, volunteered at Greene Residence Hall.
“I’m a senior, so this is my last opportunity to give back for all that the Honors College has given to me and all that ECU has given to me,” she said. “Move-in day is a day I will remember forever and the people were so helpful, so I wanted to help anyway I could.”
Chancellor Philip Rogers helps move-in volunteers from the ECU Marching Pirates outside of Cotten Residence Hall. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)
Peter Groenendyk, associate vice chancellor of Campus Living, said about 1,800 families took advantage of the drop-off period in early August, the most ever since the program began in 2020. He said the excitement for move-in has been building.
“This is what we work for, really starting in the spring and all summer long,” he said. “This for us is the best time of the year, and we have tremendous demand for students who want to live on campus. It’s always exciting to see the new families come in and our new students.”
ECU Police Deputy Chief Chris Sutton appreciated the support of the city of Greenville during move-in and urged safety with the increase in vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
“All of the crosswalks on campus, I would recommend that all of the drivers be aware of pedestrians in those crosswalks,” Sutton said. “Pay attention to those crosswalk signals. We will be increasing enforcement action and activity at all of these crosswalks because ultimately we want to see the roadways around campus safe, not just for the pedestrians but also for the motorists.”
Long Journeys
Chancellor Philip Rogers, center, meets parents Edwin and Michelle Foster as students Macy Sellers, left, and Mary Elizabeth Foster move in to their room at Greene Residence Hall. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)
For parents Elaine and Steve Baxter, their son Tanner’s decision to attend ECU means the Charlotte family has nearly the entire state covered.
“We’ve got kids all over the place. We’ve got one at App State, one in Chapel Hill and now one at ECU,” Elaine Baxter said.
Tanner Baxter, a criminal justice major, said he looked forward to meeting new people.
“I always said I was going to ECU,” he said.
Justin Parker made the 11-hour, 750-mile trip to ECU from Jackson, Tennessee, and moved in to Garrett Hall with assistance from his parents, Anita and Jonathan, as well as the ECU Marching Pirates. A freshman, Parker is majoring in exercise physiology.
“I wanted to go far from home and find something new and different,” said Parker, who also is looking to play football for the Pirates.
Parker met his roommate, Jeromy Lane, online.
“I met him online and we got close. He’s pretty chill so I don’t mind living with him,” said Parker.
Lane, from Whiteville, plans to study nursing.
“I heard about ECU’s nursing program and that’s what did it for me. I want to be a nurse,” said Lane. He chose ECU over UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Asheville and Appalachian State and looks forward to starting the school year.
“I’m excited to meet new people and make new connections,” he said.
Jeromy’s mother, Priscilla Lane, helped set up his room.
“I’m excited for him to start his next chapter in life,” she said. “I’m a little nervous that he is my only son, but I’m excited that he’s excited.”
She said the three-hour distance from Whiteville factored into her son’s decision to attend ECU.
“He didn’t want to go to a school closer to home and this is his opportunity to find his way, and I supported that decision,” she said.
ECU freshman Tanner Baxter takes a photo with his father, Steve, and mother, Elaine, at Minges Coliseum. (Photo by Rhett Butler)
She offered her son a bit of motherly advice.
“Be safe, have fun and give it your best shot,” she said.
Early Start
Hugo Guerrero, a sophomore construction management major from Hillsborough, was the first student to move in to Cotten Residence Hall on Wednesday, arriving shortly after 9 a.m.
“I was just around the corner and figured I might as well get here before it got hectic,” he said.
With a year of campus living under his belt, Guerrero has a greater sense of confidence in his second move-in compared to his first.
“I was more lost and confused last year at move-in,” he said. “It was pretty new to me. I had never done anything related to college.”
In his sophomore year, Guerrero is excited to dive deeper into his major.
“I’m looking forward to learning more of the ins and outs of the construction management process,” he said.
Freshman Sarah Litton sorts through items in her room at Cotten Residence Hall. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)
Sarah Litton, a freshman interior design major from Poquoson, Virginia, moved in to Cotten with assistance from her mom, dad, boyfriend and brother as well as volunteers from Covenant Church in Winterville.
“I’m excited to start college,” she said. “I chose ECU because of the interior design program.”
Litton was one of the earliest arrivals on Wednesday.
“I wanted to get in before everyone else because I was hoping it would be less busy,” she said.
Daniel Litton helped Sarah, his oldest child, move in while her mother moved their vehicle to a parking lot as part of ECU’s “stop, drop, roll” move-in plan.
“I have mixed feelings. It’s bittersweet,” he said of move-in day. “ECU has a great interior design program, and we’re looking forward to an exciting four years for her as she goes through the program.”
With Sarah moved in and ready to start her Pirate experience, her dad offered some fatherly advice.
“Have fun, study hard, enjoy and make the most of your time here,” he said. “You are going to do great here, and we are extremely proud of you.”
Delaney Georgeff gets some help from his mother, Kimberly, as they set up his dorm room in Ballard East. (Photo by Rhett Butler)