Students fight commotion to move out of dorms

The stress of finals week didn’t conclude with tests for some.

Though the scholastic buildings weren’t in the spirit they were just a few days ago, Bloomington was at work. Students and parents crowded residence halls and packed vehicles with two semesters full of early college experience. With boxes overflowing, movers hauled through narrow hallways, down stairs and even sometimes across busy streets to get to loading sites.

Preparation was essential to operate during the chaos of luggage and deadlines.

Students had until 10 a.m. Saturday to vacate their premises, and some started early.

“I left at 6 a.m. on Thursday to beat the rush,” freshman Aly Wiggs said.

Wiggs’ parents were making preliminary trips before that, too.

“They came earlier in the week so we could take the biggest things first,” she said.

The move-out protocol was administered by IU Residential Programs and Services.
RPS employee Mark Smith said everyone was able to function efficiently amid all the hectic activity.

“We are here to help with the moving and assist anyone who needs it,” he said. “There aren’t many horror stories — the worst is usually just a leaky bag.”

By now, though, the crowd has dissipated as well as the stress that came with it. The once-full dorms are empty, their residents set for home and elsewhere.

—Ryan Martin