Police, volunteers and action: WVU Students ready to move-in – WV MetroNews

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU’s campus will have more of a buzz starting this week.

On the morning of Thursday, August 10, about 4,500 freshman students are moving into their Morgantown homes for the fall semester. Upperclassman move-in begins Friday, and all students are expected to be in their fall homes by Sunday, August 13.

The 12 residence halls on campus will be open for students between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Morgantown Chief of Police Eric Powell said residents should expect heavy traffic in the downtown, Sunnyside, and the Evansdale areas.

“There’s going to be a lot of activity, and there’s going to be delays to get into some of those places,” Powell said.

Residents that do travel into the campus area are asked to exercise patience, be courteous, and be as helpful as possible. Powell also said to plan ahead and avoid the areas expected with heavy traffic if possible.

“My recommendation is always to have an idea where you’re going and alternate routes to get there if you’re used to going near or around those areas,” Powell said.

The University Police and the Morgantown Police Department will direct traffic around campus and provide directional assistance if needed. Also, there will be volunteers that will help students and families keep the process as congestion-free as possible at the building level.

“And dealing with people maybe driving up the wrong way down a one-way street when they aren’t familiar with the area, bad signage, or whatever the case might be,” Powell said.

Chief Powell said residents will share the roadways with people who are not familiar with the area, and it will be a good policy to plan for all travel to take a little bit longer.

“I would just ask motorists in and around the area that are used to getting places a little more quickly to expect it to take a little bit longer and have some understanding,” Powell said.

Welcome Week Cookouts for students will begin Saturday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., followed by the first Up All Night of the semester, which includes free snacks and entertainment from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

On Sunday, about 100 student organizations will be set up at the Evansdale Recreation Center for the Student Organization Fair at 4:30 p.m., followed by evening activities hosted by organizations around downtown and Evansdale at 7:30 p.m.

Welcome Week festivities start Monday with the Freshman-only tradition of Monday Night Lights, which will take place on the field of Mylan Puskar Stadium. FallFest is Tuesday at the Evansdale Recreational Fields.