UHDS News

[Corvallis Gazette-Times, Sept. 19, 2012] — Corvallis residents likely noticed a spike in the city’s population Tuesday, when somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 Oregon State University students and their families took part in the first day of the annual campus move-in.

Hundreds of University Housing and Dining Services staff members and OSU volunteers helped students move into seven residence halls.

“It went really well,” said Brian Stroup, the assistant director of operations and facilities for University Housing and Dining Services. “Spreading it over two days really helped disperse traffic.”

The rest of the 4,290 residents who will live on campus move into the 11 remaining buildings today, including cooperative houses and the International Living-Learning Center. University Housing and Dining Services will accommodate about 85 percent of OSU’s freshmen.

The number of on-campus residents — 231 more than last fall — has steadily increased during the past few years. OSU started the 2011 academic year with 4,059 residents. In the fall of 2010, residence halls were home to 3,957 students.

Wilson Hall was among the residence buildings that recently was upgraded. It has room for 80 residents on each of its six floors. Incoming residents will find new windows, flooring and bathroom renovations.

Sackett Hall has a new fire safety system and new sewer lines have been installed at several locations.

David Covey, one of two fourth-floor resident assistants, spent most of Tuesday morning greeting new students and helping them to get settled.

“My wing is filling up fast,” he said. “We’re at capacity.”

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Read the full article by reporter Joce DeWitt. Photos by Amanda Cowan.