BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Athletic Teams took time off the fields and courts Friday and Saturday participating in RWU Freshman Move-In Day. Players from all RWU fall sport teams welcomed incoming freshmen, assisting them and their families in unloading their belongings, directing them to check-in areas and answering questions to help ensure their new classmates have a great start to their RWU experience.
Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Volleyball and Women’s Tennis all participated in the service, as they have every year for more than a decade.
“Freshman Move-in Day has developed into a strong tradition for our fall sport teams,” Dave Kemmy, Acting Athletic Director said. “Our student-athletes work very hard for these two days and contribute a great deal to helping the new students and families feel welcomed on the RWU campus.”
Beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, the student-athletes work hard to help the nearly 1,000 freshmen students into their dorm rooms by 12:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Everything from pillows to refrigerators is carried straight from the cars and into the freshmen rooms.
“It can be a stressful day for incoming freshmen with everything going on, so much excitement and so many questions,” said senior Jillian Hurd from the women’s volleyball team. “It’s nice to help ease that stress. It’s hard work carrying so much stuff up and down so many stairs, but most people are so appreciative and it’s fun getting to meet all the new freshmen on their first day.”
Freshman Move-in Day is a tradition that immediately lets the freshmen know the type of community there is on the RWU campus. A tradition of service to others and creating a bond among all RWU students is a tradition the RWU student-athletes will continue for years to come.