Operation Move In | Photo by Bethany Althauser | The Wright State Guardian
On Aug. 21 and 22, WSU students and faculty came together to welcome over 2,300 new residents to campus.
Volunteers
Roughly 270 volunteers throughout the two days of Operation Move In were present to welcome students. Volunteers ranged from student organizations to faculty and alumni, ready to bring in the new students to resident life at WSU.
Volunteers gathered the evening before, Aug. 20, to go through a brief training to prepare for the next day. Each volunteer received a t-shirt to stand out as a part of the group. ReyRey Cafe also generously provided coupons for everyone volunteering their time.
Maggie Mann, an undergraduate student who lives on campus and is a part of the Chemistry Club, volunteered.
“I chose to volunteer to help get the freshmen oriented and help them out, just like I was helped out on my first day,” Mann said.
Volunteers assisted in unloading cars, directing traffic and transporting personal items into different dorm rooms.
Mann explained that with all of the volunteers, it seemed to ease the stress that moving into a new place could bring. The process helped students learn a little bit about what campus life is like.
Incoming students
While dorms are not just made up of freshmen entering their first semester of college life, there are many freshmen that make up dorm residents.
Addie Keplinger is a first-year nursing student at WSU. Kepplinger had first-hand experience moving in during Operation Move In.
“I feel like Wright State had a really organized system when it came to getting the students in, getting things moved quickly, and making sure that everyone was comfortable,” Kepplinger said.
Kepplinger also enjoyed the welcoming environment including streamers, music, and excited RAs who were there to welcome everyone.
Faculty perspective
Jennifer Attenweiler, Director of Residence Life, explains that the volume of students is the largest that Wright State has seen in about a decade. In 2023, Wright State accommodated roughly 2,000 students, while in 2022, there were only 1,700 students residing on campus.
“There’s a lot of different departments that help us out on this day, between police and facilities, the Nutter Center and representatives from all over. We’re just very thankful that it’s all hands on deck and people are willing to come out and help welcome our students,” Attenweiler said.
