Students move into UW-Milwaukee residence halls

MILWAUKEE -- It's a rite of passage for college freshmen and their parents - move in day.  Starting Wednesday, students at most University of Wisconsin campuses began moving into their dorms, including UW-Milwaukee.

“I think we're going to make 2 trips today,” said freshman Joe Jarosz.

He and nearly 5,000 other students are hauling their carts full of clothes, computers and alarm clocks to kick off the start of college over the next three days.

“I'm nervous, but I'm excited at the same time.  It's a new beginning and I'm excited to be here and I can't wait,” said freshman Maggie Maxstadt.

For some parents, it’s been tough letting go.

“Yeah it has.  That's all I’ve done.  Eighteen years with him and his brother, so you're getting me emotional,” Ann Logemann jokes as her son, David, rearranges his room.

David, on the other hand, is excited to have his own space, even though there’s only enough room for a bed, a desk and a closet.

“Everything has its place and not a lot of room for extras.  It's a room and right now, it's mine. Freedom?  Absolutely,” he said.

With so many incoming freshmen, some campuses, however, are struggling to fit everyone in their own rooms.  Madison and Whitewater are using student lounges to accommodate the overflow.  At UWM, luckily, that's not the case.

“Because we did a pretty extensive building project over the last few years, we actually have a few more spaces than what we have space available,” said Kelly Haag, Director of University Housing.