PEORIA, Ill. – A new school year is about to begin at Bradley University, which means the newest group of students are making their way to Peoria.
University officials say more than 1500 new and returning students will be moving-in this weekend. Honor students will move in Friday, new students on Saturday, and returning students on Sunday.
One of those returning students is junior Andrew Favela of Albany Park near Chicago. He’s a Construction Manager major at Bradley.
Favela says the best things one can do when moving in is to have a friend and to pace yourself.
“Just grab a partner or someone to help you lift the heavy stuff so you don’t strain yourself. And to keep things light, because I know it’s easy to get stressed because you (sic), new environment and lots of moving stuff,” Favela said.
Favela says one of his favorite memories of move-in weekend is meeting new roommates.
Freshman Kelsey Elman of Gurnee, IL is in her first move-in weekend. The Graphic Design major says one she settles in after moving into her dorm room, she plans to explore and learn about her new community.
“Relaxing, getting to know the area, getting to know people, getting ready for classes, stuff like that,” Elman said.
Elman says she is also looking forward to trying some of the food options on and around Bradley’s campus.
No matter if you’re moving in for the first time or multiple times, there’s always questions to be had. 5th year student Gabby McMillan answers those questions as a Resident Assistant, who is an Industrial Engineer Major.
“I think the biggest questions I’ve gotten so far is what wattage is acceptable for microwaves, or how will I know my student can feel accepted if they’re a freshman coming in,” McMillan said.
McMillan says some of the students who come to campus during move-in weekend feel more comfortable because they’re taken tours before enrolling.
The campus does have restrictions on parking and road closures throughout the weekend to help make the move-in easier. The parking restrictions include:
- W. Bradley from University to N. Institute
- The 800 and 900 blocks of N. Elmwood
- The Visitor’s Lot, Duryea Lot, and Geisert Lot
- Founders Circle near W. St. James St.
- The 800 and 900 blocks of University and 1300 block of W. Main
Road closures include:
- Southbound Elmwood St. at W. Main and W. St. James
- Northbound Elmwood at W. Bradley
- Eastbound Bradley Ave. at N. Institute
- Southbound St. James St. at University
- The W. Fredonia Ave. and N. Institute entrances to the Heuser Hall Lot
