Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette Students were loading up carts of their belongings and hauling them into dorm buildings across campus. This year Michigan Tech's incoming freshmen number over 1,600 students.

HOUGHTON — Move-In at Michigan Technological University began Monday. Nearly 1,000 new students moved into their residence halls and living spaces Monday with hundreds more expected to arrive today. Michigan Tech Move – In day welcomed the college’s largest freshman class since 1985 with more than 1,000 new students, according to Madeline Alford, an MTU student on the Orientation Executive Staff. Despite the frenetic pace of the day, Alford said the move in has been great so far. “This is actually not the first time they’re on campus,” Alford said. “This year, they were up here for our brand new summer (orientation) sessions we had.”

Assistant Director of the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success Dawn Corwin said sessions held over the summer mimicked the orientation and move in days and the students already had familiarity with the library and other sites on campus. “Move in is on Monday and Tuesday this year, instead of over the weekend, like it has been in the past,” Corwin said. “And then our O Week activities are actually starting Tuesday night, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.”

Corwin said the incoming freshmen are always excited and ready to arrive at Michigan Tech, but this year is a little different with the freshmen being more familiar with campus and knowing what they need to do ahead of time upon arrival.

One of the new Huskies was Maddie Roux from Kalamazoo, who was attracted to Michigan Tech’s STEM reputation and is majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. “I think what I’m looking to gain is a way forward in my career, and I know they offer really great career programs here,” Roux said. “And so that’s what really drew me here.”

Outside of academics, Roux is looking forward to seeing broomball games after hearing so much about the sport. Some returning students got to experience something brand new as well, with many moving into the newly complete East Hall at the end of campus next to the Rozsa Center. The building consists of 150 living units and has a 516 residential capacity. Mechanical engineering major Owen Tabaczynski from Hudsonville is one of the building’s first residents, and said he is impressed with the open spaces the building offers along with the convenience store inside the building.

“It’s definitely nice to have just easy access to whatever you need, any snacks, anything like that,” Tabaczynski said. He also complimented the air conditioning being a good addition.

After the new arrivals are familiar with their campus they’ll get a chance to embrace their new community.Saturday, Student Leadership and Involvement will sponsor “An Afternoon on the Town, an opportunity for local businesses/services to welcome students and show them what they have to offer. All area businesses/services are invited to participate and all students are welcome to attend.

Classes for the Fall Semester begin Monday.