A ‘Welcome’ Return
During Move-in Weekend, Students Roll Into Life on a Revitalized Campus
Evan Defonce ’25 of Fairfield Conn., moves into new Pyon Chen Hall on Thursday, just before Welcome Weekend events kicked off. The Department of Resident Life scheduled a full slate of social activities, tours, entertainment and information sessions to help students new to campus make connections and learn about all the resources available to them.
Photo by Lisa Helfert
Hanging clothes in a residence hall closet, eating salad in a dining hall and discovering a lively crowd on McKeldin Mall might not seem special in another year. Yet these were among the little celebrations that students moving to the University of Maryland campus got to savor during Fall Welcome after more than a year of life upended by the COVID pandemic.
About 11,000 undergraduates, including many sophomores who spent Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 at home learning virtually—enjoyed a near-normal move-in, with balloons, pumping dance music and revved-up staffs in the residence hall lobbies. (The biggest difference from the Before Times? Everyone was asked to mask up indoors.)
“Move-in weekend is one of the best times of year for us in Resident Life,” said Dennis Passarella-George, senior associate director in the Department of Resident Life. “We are excited to start the fall semester, and living in the residence halls offers students a once-in-a-lifetime experience to meet friends, make connections and engage fully in life as a Terp.”
Once they’d hugged their families goodbye and settled into their rooms, they chose from Resident Life’s robust schedule of activities to get them out of those rooms and introduce them to the campus experience before classes begin today.
Among dozens of options, they scooped up swag, did community service and cheered on the Terps at several sporting events. In other words, they relished their first taste at Maryland.
Corbin Voorhees ’25, a Kent Island High School graduate, prepares to decorate his single room in Caroline Hall.
By John T. Consoli
Shortly after arriving on campus Thursday, Donya Saghafi ‘25 of Clarksville, Md., checks in at Cumberland Hall in preparation to move her belongings into her room.
By Lisa Helfert
Riley Blaugrund '25, left, and Lawrence Rhoads '25 hand out school supplies on Friday to children who came to the U.S. as refugees as part of College Park Scholars' Service Day. Members of the International Studies program volunteered at Riverdale's Parkview Garden Apartments, working alongside several Afghan refugees to clean up a local creek, and distribute food, books, backpacks and other items.
By John T. Consoli
Thunderstorms Friday evening forced the President’s Welcome to be cancelled and moved the New Student Picnic indoors, where students lined up for a feast prepared by Dining Services.
By John T. Consoli
The sun came out again Friday evening to reveal a welcome sight: a bustling LaPlata Beach and some serious-looking volleyball competition.
By John T. Consoli
President Darryll J. Pines, center, and Vice President for Student Affairs Patty Perillo greet new Terps at FreshCon on Saturday afternoon, an event for incoming African American students.
By Justin Derato
There was plenty of free swag and fun activities Saturday afternoon for the throngs of new students who turned out for FreeFest on McKeldin Mall.
By Justin Derato
Freshman Divya Vydhianathan gets a henna tattoo at FreeFest on Saturday.
By Justin Derato
Sophomores Taha Jazzaa (left) and Sam Dziobkowski shoot pool at TerpZone, which was open all weekend for video gaming, bowling and a reprieve from the heat and humidity outdoors.
By Justin Derato
Students in search of last-minute room-decorating options headed to the poster sale in the Stamp Student Union.
By Justin Derato
A screening of a “A Quiet Place II” in the Hoff Theater on Saturday offered late-night chills to horror buffs on Saturday.
By Justin Derato
The Residence Hall Association got Terps on their feet at a dance party late Saturday night at the Stamp Student Union.
By Justin Derato
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