Class of 2016, Returning Students Move in to Carolina!
Originally published on sc.edu
Published August 20, 2012
Lugging pillows and televisions, stuffed animals and printers, more than 6,800 students – including about 4,600 freshmen – made their way into on-campus residence halls over the weekend. Carolina Welcome activities are in full swing, with classes set to start Thursday.
Here’s a glance at what was happening around campus over Move-In 2012 weekend.
Mark Gruber and Brice Berg both chose to live in the new International House at Maxcy College, looking for a global experience on the USC campus.
Gruber grew up in New Jersey and Ohio, and has lived in London. Berg came to Carolina from St. Augustine, Fla., but spent part of his junior year of high school in China.
The roommates were getting to know each other Saturday, each excited about the chance to live among American and international students in Maxcy.
“I got into the International Business and Chinese Enterprise program, and that was my No. 1 choice,” Berg said. “I spent nine months in Bejing and I loved being in a different culture. When I heard about (the Carolina International House) I jumped right on it.”
The sports management program drew Gruber to Carolina, and he also liked having the chance to live with students interested in other cultures.
“I’ve traveled a lot, and I like to be with people who are interested in seeing the world,” Gruber said.
Bucket List
Along Greene Street, student government leaders staffed a tent filled with buttons, literature and applications for freshmen council. The most popular item? The USC Bucket List, a check-list poster of the 100 things all Gamecocks should do before they graduate.
Sophomore Erin Steiner came up with the idea for the poster, and she was thrilled to be handing out some of the 10,000 that were printed.
“We want this to be a university tradition. We wanted it to be a diverse list to show all the things you can do at USC. It’s such a great, comprehensive list,” she said.
Among the items: Complete the Dining Hall Marathon – 17 dining locations, one week; find the Hootie and the Blowfish brick on the Horseshoe; climb the stairs to the 17th floor of Capstone; stargaze from the Melton Observatory.
Steiner’s favorite? It’s No. 1 on the list: High five President Pastides.
Dream Come True
“Coming here is really a dream come true for me.” - Freshman Lucy Hagood of Fort Mill, S.C.
Lucy Hagood, a freshman from Fort Mill, S.C., had emptied one car and was waiting for the second vehicle to arrive Saturday morning.
“I definitely wanted to have a futon so friends can come visit and stay with me,” said Hagood, who was moving into Patterson Hall. She also had suitcases, photo posters and a pink Carolina football helmet on the pile.
“Both of my parents are USC graduates and I’ve been a diehard Carolina fan my whole life,” said Hagood, who plans to major in elementary education. “Coming here is really a dream come true for me.”
Crosscountry Traveler
On the women’s quad, Risa Strom was moving into McClintock on Saturday morning. She and her family flew in to Columbia from California on Friday.
“I came here because I want to major in international business,” Strom said. “I visited in the spring and I loved the campus. Everybody was so nice.’’
Her mother, Cara Strom, said she was not worried about her daughter going so far away from home.
“I’m fine with it. I went away to college. My husband went away to college. We know how much fun it will be for her,” she said.
Clothes Hound
Miranda Mitchell, a freshman from Summerville, S.C., and her family unloaded all of her belongings onto South Bull Street, ready to move her into Sims.
“She’s a clothes hound” said her mom, Amy Mitchell Washington, looking over the piles of clothing. “But she is going to be a fashion merchandising major.”
Miranda Mitchell is rooming with her best friend; they’ve known each other through elementary, middle and high school.
What couldn’t she leave home without?
“My mirror,” she said. “And pretty much my whole closet.”