SEMO students spend the day moving in

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been changed to give New Hall the correct name.

Molly Bell, Kortney Hunn and their parents shuffled around dressers and desks in room 325B trying to find the right fit.

"We've changed it like eight times already," said Bell, a freshman at Southeast Missouri State University.

Bell, 18, moved to campus Thursday from St. Louis. Her roommate, Hunn, 18, also moved from St. Louis to her new home in New Hall on Henderson Avenue.

The $23.7 million facility at the corner of Henderson Avenue and Broadway was completed in July. Across the street on Broadway, students also have access to a new parking lot.

Hunn's mother, Kelly, said she liked the decor of the new building.

"The first thing that struck me was the color," she said, pointing to the tan wall. "... It's not white."

After moving her two older sons into dorms, she said she knew the routine.

"It's just a lot more stuff for a girl than a boy. That's for sure," she said.

Christine Nye, the dorm's hall director, said she and her staff checked every toilet, faucet, drawer, closet door and light thoroughly to prepare for move-in day.

"We were really detailed," she said.

The L-shaped building includes a view of Houck Stadium and is the first hall to have access by key cards instead of keys.

The building will also start learning communities, which are academic-focused programs.

"I'm really excited to see what happens" with the communities and how they grow," said Stephanie Lott, one of the new hall's 11 resident advisers.

Lott, a sophomore in communication studies and English, walked around helping her residents during the move-in. She said a common question among parents was who would wake their child up for class and do their laundry.

"I tell them that coming to college is a learning experience and new responsibilities are involved," she said.

More than 1,100 students arrived on campus Thursday, said Bruce Skinner, director of residence life. About 250 came before 8 a.m., he said. Skinner said 750 volunteers from campus groups helped with the move-in process at halls throughout campus.

The early morning rain did not deter the movers and their volunteers, he said.

"It's raining. It's 6 a.m., and they're college students. Those are usually mutually exclusive terms," he said.

This year, 2,820 students will be housed in campus residence halls. Last year, some students lived in temporary housing to alleviate the record number of students living on campus, 2,727. The new residence hall will house about 300 students.

Terri Androusse's room on the second floor of the new dorm was almost arranged by 9:30 a.m. Androusse, 19, of Portageville, Mo., arrived with her mother and aunt by 7 a.m.

"Living in such a little area is kind of making me nervous," said Androusse, who is rooming with a high school friend.

Her mother, Janet Stafford, said they shopped for a "solid week" to prepare for the move-in.

"What one didn't think of, the other one did," said Karen Ivie, the roommate's mother.

Except for hangers.

"She came with all these clothes and no hangers," Ivie said of her daughter.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

One University Plaza Cape Girardeau, MO