News Summary

Wittenberg University's incoming freshman began their 8 a.m. move in, complete with a motorcade of anxious parents and students that wrapped around the block.

Thursday, the first day for students to move into residence halls, was reserved for the university's 606 first-year students to haul boxes, futons and televisions into the university's seven residence halls with the help of an army of Wittenberg faculty and staff.

Kayleigh Alexander, an education major from Cincinnati who will participate in swimming and diving, said she was surprised by the amount of help the university was when she and her family pulled up to New Hall.

"I thought it was just going to be us, and we'd have to take about 20 trips," said Alexander.

But that many trips wasn't necessary because for the third consecutive year Wittenberg had move in staffed by residence hall staff, university administrators, faculty and staff.

"We're just trying to make this as painless as possible," said Ryan Mauer, Wittenberg's director of news services and sports information.

Doug Swartz, vice president for enrollment, said Wittenberg is happy with its current enrollment numbers but that a 5-year strategic plan looks to double the 10 percent of minority students on campus.

First- and second-year students at Wittenberg are required to live in the on-campus residence halls — room and board cost about $7,000 a year —and about 90 percent of the university's students come from outside the contiguous area, Swartz said.

"This is probably my favorite day of the year," said Swartz. "It's the day you can enjoy the fruits of your labor."

Contact this reporter at 937-328-0353