Freshmen descend on dorms

Excitement and a few tears hung in the air as freshmen recently moved into their dorm rooms for the first time.

Moms, dads, grandparents and siblings helped students carry leopard-print pillows, posters and framed photos, rolls of toilet paper, luggage stuffed with clothing and much more into Lakeview South and Panther Hall on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC). FIU Housing staff and more than 100 volunteers came out to welcome families and lend a hand.

A total of 2,547 students live on MMC, of which 832 are freshman. Just 238 students live on the Biscayne Bay Campus.

Seeing off their children left a few parents with mixed emotions.

“I woke up crying all morning,” said Barry Greenberger, who added he recognized the value of campus life for his daughter Shayna. “It’s a good experience for her.”

Students mostly embraced the new challenge of living away from home and looked forward to making friends and starting classes.

No word yet on whether mounting laundry has dampened spirits.