MCLA Students Return to Campus
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| MCLA 'Helping Hands' volunteers aided new students as they moved on campus Sunday. |
The move to campus went smoothly for the most part despite construction on the front entrance of the Berkshire Towers dormitory. Although inconvenienced by a delay, students and their families remained positive as they waited for their turn.
"It's really well organized," said freshman Nicole Gelinas. The new student was having "a lot of mixed emotions" but was excited to start classes on Wednesday.
The incoming class of 2012 is made up of 335 freshmen and 150 transfer students from 10 states, including Georgia, Indiana and California; the majority of students are from Massachusetts and the most out-of-state students from New York.
Along with closing portions of Church, Bradley and Blackinton streets, the college had systems in place to help with the influx of students.
The towers had a structured system for the freshmen's arrival on Sunday. A vehicle would pull up in front of the building to receive a number and then was sent to the towers' parking lot and eventually to the back entrance to unload the student's belongings. "Helping Hands" student volunteers also assisted by loading items into shopping carts to bring into the dorm.
At Hoosac Hall, the other freshmen dorm, residents were also enthusiastic.
"I'm pumped," said Katie Harevich, who was eager to rearrange her room.
Events on Monday included the 14th annual Mount Greylock hike for first-year students, during which approximately 90 climbed an intermediate level trail. The hike was longer than usual because the intrepid hikers had to make their way back down the mountain, too, because the roads to the state's highest peak have been closed for more than a year for reconstruction.
 Photos by Paul Guillotte
MCLA students worked on community projects at a Habitat house, above, at the Lousion House, below, and Northern Berkshire Creative Arts, bottom |
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Senior Kevin Pink spoke about the value of the tradition during the state secretary of education's visit to MCLA in August.
Students who didn't partake in the hike cited various reasons for missing it. One student said she stayed up late doing "ice-breakers" and getting to know her fellow undergraduates. Alex Marshall, of Somerset, said he was tired from moving in the day before and wished the hike could have been scheduled on a different day.
Volunteer Work
While students trekked to the top of the mountain, another group of about 50 participated in the community service projects. Volunteers worked at five locations — the North Adams Public Library, a Habitat for Humanity home, Northern Berkshire Creative Arts, North Adams Museum of History and Science and the Louison House women's shelter — with Spencer Moser, coordinator of MCLA's Center for Service, supervising.
Last year's volunteers started painting an cast-iron fence at the library and this year saw the completion of the project. Work also started last year on a home for the Habitat for Humanity, and MCLA students returned to help again.
Moser described the beginning and ending phases of the projects as an evolution and said he was happy to see the projects in the finishing stages. He also described the impact of the community service, which allowed the students "to roll up their sleeves and be introduced to North Adams."
There were also benefits for the directors of the programs. According to Moser, every year a few students decide to continue to volunteer at the locations.
"[The venues] love the enthusiasm and the energy that the students bring to the site," said Moser.
The Center for Service also works to bring community service into the classroom, working with professors to incorporate the programs into their curriculum.
Returning students started moving in on Monday as well. Jennifer Hassen, a second-year student, needed only 20 minutes to move into Berkshire Towers. The Townhouses, dormitories for upperclassmen, were also busy with arriving students, who reconnected with friends. Although bothered by the heat, roommates Lauren Palana and Raechel Doughty were thrilled to see their friends after the summer break.
Most of the offices were closed for the holiday, but the campus convenience store, or "C-Store," which offers snacks, coffee, housekeeping items and movie rentals, opened for business in the afternoon.
Topmost photos by Lyndsay DeBord.
