Students, families brave storms for Mizzou move-in day

New University of Missouri Students on Wednesday were spared the usual unrelenting heat of August move-in day, instead trying to avoid the occasional drenching rain and thunderstorm.

Students and MU volunteers said they were grateful for the relief.

Fall classes at MU start Monday.

Discovery Residence Hall roommates Brendan Wiltfang, of Carol Stream, Illinois, and Jackson Angelo, Chicago, got acquainted as they negotiated the limited space in their room.

Wiltfang was assisted by his mom and Angelo had mom and dad on the mission.

Both talked about their reasons for choosing MU.

"I really like the campus," Wiltfang said. "I have friends who are going."

He will study business but hasn't decided what area of business he will study, he said.

"The campus is great," Angelo said. "I liked the campus. It's cost effective."

Angelo will study accounting.

They said they will enjoy the independence of university life.

Jacson's dad, Jim Angelo, said Jackson "worked his butt off in high school" to attend university and made a good choice.

"I'm happy for him," Jim Angelo said. "I'm proud of him. I think he's going to do very well."

MU is just far enough away from Chicago but close enough the parents can "haul our cookies back here" if their son needs them, Jim Angelo said."It seemed to be the best fit," Jim Angelo said. "The economic end of it was good, too."

Jacson's mom, Dawn Angelo, said her best friend lives in Columbia and her kids did great at MU.

Jim Angelo also praised the student volunteers helping students move in, giving them an A-plus.

"These volunteers are doing an outstanding job. It's amazing. They make it look easy."

Helping her son, Caroline Wiltfang asked if the focus of the story is on how much stuff one kid needs.

Between thunderstorms and rain showers, parents Tina and Scott Nichols and sister Maddie Nichols were unloading their vehicle as Drew Nichols prepared his move into Responsibility Residence Hall.

MU was cheaper and closer to home than other universities he considered, said Drew, 19, from Wildwood, outside of St. Louis.

"I also knew a few people," he said.

He's looking forward to meeting new people, he said.

There was another draw, said mom Tina Nichols.

"He really was impressed by the engineering department," she said. "He wants to be a mechanical engineer."

Student move in was to continue on Thursday.

It's Welcome Week at MU. In a tradition that started in 1927, students will paint the M on rocks the hill at Faurot Field from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday.

Midnight barbecue will be served from 10 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday on Rollins Street. Mizzou Rec will be the rain location.

From 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday is Tiger Walk, when incoming students walk through the columns toward Jesse Hall in a symbol of their entrance to MU. The public is invited. Marching Mizzou will give a concert and Mun Choi, MU chancellor and system president will welcome new students.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Students, families brave storms for Mizzou move-in day