ANN ARBOR, MI - Ethan Davis and his parents hoisted a bed above their heads, exhaling like power lifters to set up his new dorm bunk bed.
After catching his breath, the incoming University of Michigan freshman from Lapeer County said the start of his first year is filled with mixed emotions. Davis is ready to explore Ann Arbor and all it has to offer, but will miss his parents, he said.
“It’s nice that I’m going to be independent,” he said. “But also they will be an hour and a half away if I need something,
Davis shared the experience with thousands of incoming students, including more than a thousand in Bursley Hall on North Campus, on the first day of move-in week on Wednesday, Aug. 23.
Read more: Your guide to University of Michigan move-in week 2023
There are about 7,000 students moving into dorms this week across the Ann Arbor campus, said Amir Baghdadchi, the university’s Housing Senior Associate Director of Administration and Public Relations. About 3,000 more older students, plus supportive families, are also in town, he said.
“Once you add the families, you realize the volume of human beings that are coming here, say nothing of the volume of vehicles, too,” Baghdadchi said.
Bursley Hall is the single largest dorm on campus, he said, as it houses about 1,300 freshmen. Volunteers, such as freshman Sandra Attisha of Sterling Heights moved into their rooms early to help fellow freshmen during the normal move-in week.
“My move in week was a little quieter, but still busy” Attisha said, adding that volunteering helped her get settled early.
Attisha helped freshmen, such as Carson Andree of Muskegon and his family. The prospective aerospace engineering major is ready for his independence, he said.
“I’m excited to figure things out on my own,” he said.
Carson Andree and his friend Noor Saini open the door to Andree’s dorm room for the first time during the first day of student move-in at Bursley Hall on the University of Michigan’s North Campus on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.comJacob Hamilton | MLive.com
Housing officials sent emails to families for the last few months to get them ready. Despite the time to emotionally prepare, parents, such as Andree’s mom Becky, were still emotional about the departure.
Carson, on the other hand, is ready to hit the ground running, his mom said.
“He’s been ready for almost a year to be on his own,” she said. “So it’s not quite as hard to let go, because I see he has all the skills he needs to be successful in the world.”
The university emails contained check lists and other information to make move-in smooth. Davis said, with a laugh noting he started packing only a week ago despite a few months of emails, while freshmen like Katie Rose has been “connecting the dots” for a few months.
“I’ve had to get a lot of storage,” she said. “Last night, (my parents and I) realized we almost forgot a pillow. We also watched YouTube videos to get an idea of what the room’s dimensions would be.”
This was the first normal move-in day experience for her sister Molly, a senior who had her on-campus experience interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. That meant wearing masks and moving into rooms by herself, she said.
“There wasn’t as much community as you can see here today,” she said. “I see people already talking to each other.”
Katie Rose, a prospective Ross Business School student, is ready for her first slice as a student at New York Pizza Depot near downtown. Andree, meanwhile has heard all about Zingerman’s Deli sandwiches, while Davis said he has yet to research restaurant options.
All three are ready to watch the football team from the student section.
“I’m really excited for my first game,” Davis said.
Despite the mixed emotions of move-in day, many students such as Andree realize its all part of life’s journey.
“It’s just part of life,” he said.
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