GVSU wrapped up its move-in week Aug. 23 on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. After four days of organized chaos on the Allendale campus, there was something markedly different about move-in downtown.
There were no chutes for cars to go down, no chalk on the windshield and no direction checkpoints. The atmosphere of the downtown move-in was low key, with the only major checkpoint being a table for students to receive their keys after parking.
Friday’s move-in is not the first for many of the students moving into the Secchia and Winter Halls. That experience has helped many of them streamline the process.
“It is a lot less stressful,” said junior Ava Schuyler. “You are so much more comfortable asking questions and not being in the know so that the whole process is so much easier.”
Sophomore Emre Sozen mirrored Schuyler’s sentiment. “It’s a lot more relaxed. I know what to expect this year,” he said.
Whether or not it is their first time living downtown, each student had their own reason for residing on the Pew Campus.
Proximity to classes was an important factor for Sozen, a computer engineering major.
“The engineering building is not even a minute away,” said Sozen, who is living downtown for the second time. “I also really love the dorm that they provide for us. It’s basically like a one bedroom apartment.”
For Schuyler, the opportunity to experience a different environment from the Allendale campus brought her downtown.
“I’m excited to see what downtown is all about,” said Schuyler. “There are more community events over here instead of just GV events.”
But not every student who moved downtown had prior experience. Junior Lily Bullis spent her first two years at GVSU commuting from home. While she is going to miss having home-cooked meals every day, she is excited for the opportunity to leave home.
“I’m excited to walk down and explore more and explore my individuality as a person and independence too,” she said.
Assisting Lily in her move-in was her father, Ron Bullis, who said he is excited for her but will miss having her around the house.
“It is just one of those surreal moments,” he said. “The day has come to start seeing her be independent.”
