New Boilermakers rush to dorms

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - It's back to the books for more than five thousand new students at Purdue University.

Lot's of pulling and carrying went on during Boiler Gold Rush at Purdue University.

Audrey Huffmeyer was among the freshman moving on campus for the first time.

"It's gone really smooth. Everybody's really friendly," said Audrey Huffmeyer.

Audrey's mom, Susie wasn't the least bit hesitant about moving her daughter from the small town of Napoleon, Indiana to the Big Ten University. She said while the hike to the seventh floor was a relief thanks to the elevators, she already had a plan.

"He would do the heavy lifting. I brought him along for that and a little moral support," said Susie Huffmeyer.

Audrey comes from a large family, a total of 5 brothers and sisters. While the nursing major will be thinking about friends and her dad in between classes, her mom said she will miss having help around the house.

"She has two younger siblings that look up to her and she helps keep them in line. I will miss that. She does help me with discipline with the two of them," said Susie Huffmeyer.

Katie Pekkarinen is the seventh floor Resident Assistant. She has about 50 students under her wing. And she said they will see a lot of one another.

"It's an engineering learning community, so they're all in the same classes, which allows for an easy community to really get together and really know one another. They're in class together and they live together," said Pekkarinen, a Senior Electrical Engineering major.

BGR is more than just moving your personal items into your dorm room. It's an experience. Before classes begin on August 24, students will be well adjusted.

"Obstacle courses, cookouts and then there's also,like, the informational sessions where they'll learn about fire safety. The different counseling resources," said Pekkarinen.

"I'm really excited to meet all the new people and be out on my own," said Audrey Huffmeyer.