The University of Rhode Island’s freshman class moved into their dorms on Thursday, Sept. 1 and Friday, Sept. 2, preparing for their first semester on the Kingston campus.
Met with yellow move-in bins, a smiling staff and signs posted on every tree, the class of 2026 had, according to members of past URI classes, a smoother move in than they did.
“There didn’t used to be all of the assistance,” said Ed Givens, the assistant director of campus life, who moved into URI as a freshman in 1985. “The staff and faculty presence just didn’t used to happen.”
This influx of support and organization from the school’s general faculty created a “smoother experience” for parents and students during the frantic move-in process, added Givens.
Classes at URI started on Sept. 7, which allowed freshmen students to participate in a week’s worth of icebreaker activities– ranging from glow-in-the-dark dances to Greek Life sponsored beach trips.
“My move-in required self-sufficiency,” Givens said. “They just gave you your room assignment and pointed a finger. It’s a lot more welcoming now. I worked during the weekend move-ins [this year] and parents had nothing but compliments.”
Colby Rupkey, a sophomore, said that the most memorable part of his freshman move-in experience was meeting all of his friends.
In addition, Junior Emma Kelly’s advice to future freshman classes was to “meet a lot of people” during their first week.
Many students said that they have been keeping in touch with their families, but haven’t been “overly homesick.”
“I did a lot of the off-campus [events]… and I made a lot of good friends this way,”
one student said. “I visited the Zoo, went bowling, and went to Providence.”
Years prior, people had a different experience with freshman move-in.
“I mean, everything’s just different now,” said junior CJ Pacifico. “It’s so much more open and public, especially with the dining halls. We don’t have strict mask protocols, like we did my freshman year. It’s just a lot better now, and there’s a lot more freedom. You get [to form] real bonds in college.”
When asked what the most memorable part of their freshman move-in was, several students commented on the environment– both its literal meaning and social aspect.
“I’m from a really small town and it was weird meeting so many new people at once, but I really like URI,” said freshman Maddie Bair.
Virginia Smith, a senior, said that she noticed the differences between URI and her home state as soon as she moved in freshman year.
“I’m from California, so the people here [my freshman year] were a lot different,” Smith said. “I noticed quickly how people here have way different styles.”
Smith continued by talking about behavioral differences between people in California and Rhode Island.
“People here have a different way of interacting [with each other],” Smith said. “They were a lot more bold and a lot more real with you, which I found really refreshing. And honestly, this is the enviornment I want to live in. I love it here.”