‘Arrival Survivor’ teams help smooth move-ins

3:30 p.m., Sept. 9, 2003--Eileen Dunne-Hoy of Collegeville, Pa., said it took so little time to move her daughter into Lane Hall on Sunday, Aug. 31, that her freshman, Meghan, thought her stuff had been stolen.

“It was fantastic,’’ Dunne-Hoy said. “We were not expecting that at all. While my husband was parking, they [UD’s Arrival Survivor team members] came and started carrying things, and in five minutes everything was in her room. My daughter came in another car, and she thought her stuff had been stolen.’’

The Arrival Survivor volunteers, about 600 strong, included students, faculty, staff and a smattering of alumni who turned out to help freshmen move into their new campus digs. Arrival Survivor team members were identifiable by their bright yellow T-shirts and welcoming smiles.

Some do it because they got help on their freshman move-in day, and others do it for the perk of moving into their own rooms four days early, Frank Newtown, assistant director of residence life, said.

Wanda Miller said it took only about 10 minutes to get her son Brandon’s possessions from the curb outside Pencader F to his second-floor room—thanks to a Arrival Survivor team.

“We had three that helped us. I had heard that you had help on moving day, but I was impressed,’’ she said. “After we got Brandon’s stuff up there, I was watching … from the balcony, and they were just out there working all day.’’

Marcia Green of Ardsley, N.Y., moved her son, David, into Dickinson Complex with the help of her daughter, Tracy, a junior and a member of the Arrival Survivor team.

“There’s no way it can be an easy day, but I think the people who are working make it as easy as possible,” Green said. “They are so warm and friendly and welcoming. I think it just makes the freshman feel that there are a lot of friendly smiling faces there.’’

Article by Kathy Canavan

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