Sights and Stories From Move-In Day

Nothing captures the excitement of starting college quite like Move-In Day.  

On Tuesday, more than 1,100 new students and their families descended on campus, wheeling bins full of possessions into the residence halls as they were greeted by volunteers and peer mentors dancing and ramping up the crowd.  

New student Presley Dyer was excited to prepare her room not just for herself but also for her beloved goldfish, “DD.” Dyer says the initials stand for “Double Double”—her favorite cheeseburger from In-n-Out. DD made the trip from Dyer’s hometown of Fort Collins in a jar but was quickly moved into a larger tank on Dyer’s desk, to presumably watch over her while she studies. 

“I brought my favorite blanket, too,” said Dyer. “Those are the two things I need most.”  

For Savit Verma, the prized possession was an electric guitar. Verma, who’s interested in pursuing psychology and socio-legal studies at DU, has been playing guitar for eight years.  

“There’s always going to be times when I’m bored and need my guitar on me,” he said.  

Verma moved to DU from Austin, Texas, with the help of his parents, sister, and a family friend. He described move-in as a “surreal” experience that didn’t quite feel real yet, but said he’s looking forward to the fresh start of living on campus and making new friends. 

Roommates Aubrey Thomson and Roonagh Mannion, from the Colorado towns of Brighton and Black Hawk, respectively, are already off to a great start in that regard. They’ve been getting to know each other and planning their room together since last October, when Thomson posted a call-out for potential roommates on Instagram.  

“Not even two minutes [after her post] I messaged her,” laughed Mannion. She said they instantly clicked over their similar majors: Mannion plans to pursue socio-legal studies, while Thomson is majoring in criminology.    

“I just knew right away that Roonagh was more than a friend—she was someone I could live with,” said Thomson.  

Looking at the year ahead, Thomson is most excited for her classes, starting with a first-year seminar on the history of true crime storytelling in popular media. Mannion is eager to attend the various “Discoveries After Dark” events at Discoveries Orientation this week, such as ice skating at the Ritchie Center, a live demonstration from a hypnotist, and a tour of must-see sites across Denver.  

New first-year Ben Dade is looking forward to some winter snow. The avid skier from San Francisco said he chose DU for its proximity to the mountains—but also for its support of neurodivergent students. Dade got to move in early as part of the Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP), so he and his parents were able to sit back and watch the rush of Move-In Day from Starbucks at the Community Commons, iced coffees in hand.  

“I have ADHD and dyslexia, so the LEP program really stood out for me as a gradual transition to independence while still having that extra support,” explained Dade. He said he wants to make the most of his time at DU. “I can’t wait to check out the sports teams, Greek life, intramurals—just making friends, having fun, and exploring Denver.”  

As the stream of moving bins dwindled, many friends and family members stopped by Community Commons to leave notes for their loved ones on the Wish Wall. The day concluded with the convocation ceremony at Magness Arena and the Crimson Cookout, a barbecue dinner for the whole DU community on the Campus Green.  

Were you seen on Move-In Day? Keep scrolling to see photos from the day.