Incoming Class of 2021 began their college careers with first-year orientation on Aug. 26.

The three-day orientation schedule started with the new students moving into their dorm rooms.

Casey McIntosh, ’21, said she was looking forward to the newfound independence that comes with living on her own.

“I’m actually very happy about how things are going,” McIntosh said. “I’m really excited to get to move-in today.”

Azira Fernandez, ’21, said she was looking forward to working with her adviser, Environmental Science Professor and Department Chair Eric Pallant. She said she liked what she had seen from Allegheny so far.

“It’s really nice. It’s really cute. Everybody’s really friendly so far, and yeah, it’s been a really smooth orientation so far.”

Arthur Mueller, a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, was helping his sister move into her room. He noted that Allegheny’s move-in day was much less busy, compared to the roughly four thousand people moving into Pitt during his orientation.

“It was pretty crazy. There were a lot of people,” Mueller said.

After move-in, students attended meetings intended to assist them in obtaining on-campus employment and exploring a few of Allegheny’s majors. Additionally, the college held a resource fair in the campus center to help students learn about Allegheny’s variety of student services.

Darnell Epps, associate director of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Social Justice Center, worked at one table assisting students.

“The name pretty much spells it out, but we are tasked with the inclusion and diversity efforts here at Allegheny College.” Epps said. “And at the core of what we do is supporting systematically underrepresented populations, helping them academically, helping them from a co-curricular standpoint and, you know, to help them have a fruitful experience here at the college.”

Epps asked the incoming class to be receptive to new ideas and experiences during their time in college.

“Incoming students, I would say be open, or keep an open mind and to challenge themselves to push past what they may be comfortable with, to push past their comfort zone, because I think that you can grow, you can learn and you can encounter some really great things that way,” Epps said.

At another table, Maytum Learning Commons Director Erin O’Day-Frye answered questions about her office’s main purpose and responsibilities.

“Our office is a one-stop shop for academic support for all students,” O’Day-Frye said.

O’Day-Frye also gave advice for incoming students.

“Go to class, everyday,” O’Day-Frye said.

At the conclusion of the resource fair, the class of 2021 headed to the David V. Wise Center where they met with their orientation groups for some small-group introduction. Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities James Niblock taught the incoming class the alma mater and they subsequently headed off to convocation.

After dinner, students attended residence hall meetings and community sessions intended to draw the class closer together.

Correction: In a previous version of this article Louis J. Fehér-Peiker’s name was spelled incorrectly in a photo caption. Updated Sept. 5, 2017 at 11:08 p.m.