Boxes, luggage, eager students and teary parents flooded the sidewalks and lawns of North Campus Aug. 22 as Cornell welcomed the Class of 2012. The freshmen began moving in at 8 a.m. and continued into the afternoon, with the hustling and bustling into rooms kicking off a week of orientation events.

Despite the stream of cars, piles of belongings and families keen on settling in, the process was organized and efficient. Each incoming student had a designated time slot to arrive and sign in for keys, which kept crowds and waiting to a minimum. Traffic was directed, allowing stuffed cars to navigate to each building, empty and then continue on to make room for the next in line. Staff and student volunteers, meanwhile, were on hand and ready to heave and haul belongings, giving parents a chance to relax.

Alex Fotsch, a freshman from San Francisco, was anxious to settle into Mary Donlon Hall, his home for the upcoming year. "I'm pretty excited, but it's a little hectic. I kind of just want to get in," he admitted.

His mother, Linda, compared Alex with his twin sister, who will move to Boston College next weekend: "My girl was packed two weeks ago, and he was packed yesterday as we're running to the airport," she laughed. "He said he could come here with one suitcase and a sleeping bag."

Alex (who actually packed a bit more than a single suitcase) said he was attracted to the campus because he liked the idea of "being at a big school with a central campus and a lot of school spirit." His two younger siblings -- another set of twins who are high school sophomores -- hope to attend Cornell as well.

Emily Dean, a freshman in the College of Human Ecology from Baltimore, said her move into Clara Dickson Hall was smooth. "I'm a little nervous about classes being hard," she said, adding that her schedule still needs some tweaking. Meetings with advisers are on the schedule of orientation events for the next week.

For Emily's mother, Therese, the day brought nostalgia for her own first day of college. "I hope she finds her inner self," she said, "and the beginnings of what she really wants to do."

Back at Mary Donlon Hall, Linda Fotsch mused on Alex's next four years. "I think that [Cornell] will be a lifelong connection through his friendships, his sports and his teachers," she said. "I hope that he finds a home here for him, for life."

Laura Janka '09 is a writer intern at the Cornell Chronicle.