University at Buffalo welcomes thousands of new students for move-in day
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Thousands of new students packed up their belongings from home and moved into the University at Buffalo on Thursday for the fall semester.
"I'm definitely feeling a little bit nervous since obviously we're so far from home, like it's across the country, however, it's definitely more excitement than nervousness, and I'm excited to open a new chapter in life," said J.M. Lansang, a first-year student moving into UB from Federal Way, Washington. "With high school and everything you just wake up and the teachers tell you what to do. Here, it's your own life, it's the start of adult life so I'm really excited to just manage that."
Some students, like Ronnell Davis and Kodi Blackwell, have already been on campus for a few months now due to summer classes and football, but they are excited to get their dorm room ready for the semester and to be around new students.
"We've been at fall camp for a long time so it's good to see new faces, new people," said Blackwell, who is from Atlanta. "The people here are just very genuine, it's very real, they interact with you. Just good people all around, it's a great environment."
"I'm excited to make a lot of new friends and many more connections," said Cara Bevevino, from Clifton Park, New York. "I'm really excited because I've been here many times to visit my friends, but it's always still nerve-racking moving away from home."
Chris Bragdon, the associate director of Residential Life at UB, said they house around 7,000 students on campus and half of the students moved in Thursday. Throughout the week, they'll have activities celebrating the culture on campus, but also introducing them to student organizations and to each other.
"UB is a big place, and we want students to have some sense of belonging, a sense of home," Bragdon said. "We really want to welcome them to what UB is, and kind of instill what our values are and with open arms provide them with a sense of connection and identity to the University and what we stand for."
For more information on the events for new students, click here.