Move-In Day marks new year at Northwest

Northwest Missouri State University will welcome about 1,300 freshmen and 300 transfer students to campus on Thursday during the school's traditional fall Move-In Day.

Some students will actually begin arriving around 6 this evening with most freshman and transfers expected to reach Maryville beginning at 7 a.m. the following day. If current estimates hold, about 200 fewer freshman will start college at Northwest than in fall 2011, however overall enrollment is expected remain around 7,000.

Throughout the next few days, Maryville motorists should expect heavier-than-usual traffic volume, especially on Main Street and Icon Road between the campus and Highway 71. Most sophomores and upperclass students will return to town on Friday.

Local residents who need to drive onto campus during the move-in period should enter via 16th Street or Ninth Street.

Classes begin on Monday following four days of orientation activities, mostly aimed at freshmen, referred to on campus as Advantage weekend.

The Advantage schedule includes opportunities for students to pick up university-provided laptop computers and textbooks. New Bearcats will also attend a cluster of introductory sessions and tours collectively known as Freshman Seminar.

The First-Year Student Tree Planting, a relatively new tradition at Northwest, will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday on the east side of the Memorial Bell Tower. Convocation, a large assembly marking the official start of the academic year, is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday in Bearcat Arena.

Three Advantage events this year are open to the public. These include:

∙The Solo Circus at 10 p.m. Friday in the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts. This is a fast-paced, interactive variety show featuring comedy, juggling, magic and circus stunts. The show is geared toward an adult audience and may not be appropriate for children.

∙The Merchant Fair from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Memorial Bell Tower, when local businesses and organizations will set up tables filled with giveaways and brochures about local goods and services available to members of the university community.

∙A back-to-school fireworks presentation at 9 p.m. Sunday at the practice fields to the west of College Park.

A complete Advantage schedule is available at www.nwmissouri.edu/admissions/orientation by clicking the Advantage button on the left-hand side of the screen.

As in the past, unauthorized vehicles will be towed from temporarily restricted campus parking lots beginning at 9 p.m. Wednesday. These lots include:

This evening — Lot 10 (Hudson/Perrin Hall), Lot 39 (The Station), Lot 57 (Student Union), Lot 55 (South Complex), Lot 44 (Dieterich Hall) and the east half of Lot 42 (Tower Suites).

Thursday — Lot 55 (South Complex), Lot 57 (Student Union) and the east half of Lot 42 (Tower Suites). The following parking lots will also be restricted: 9, 11, 12, 20, 21, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 52, 59 and 60.

Friday — In addition to the areas mentioned above, the following parking lots will be restricted: 40, 52, 59, and 60.