College 101

Cell phones and iPods were common ‘non-essential’ items brought to dorms.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — “It just hit me right here,” said Diann Murphy of Painesville, wiping away a tear as she and her son, Gerald, got out of their vehicle in front of Kilcawley House at Youngstown State University.

Friday was move-in day on campus, and Gerald Murphy was one of hundreds of freshmen arriving to find their dormitory rooms. YSU officially welcomes the Class of 2013 at Freshman Convocation 2 p.m. Sunday in Beeghly Center. Classes begin Monday, and the university’s housing department reported that all 900 available campus housing spaces are filled.

“He’s the last to leave,” Diann Murphy said, noting that she has an older son working on a career in the Army and an older daughter at the University of Akron.

“She’s crying,” Gerald said as he reached out to give his mother a hug.

“I like the track program,” Gerald said, explaining why he chose YSU. He runs 100, 200 and 400-yard dashes and 100 and 200 relays.

He also has plans to try out for the Penguins football team as a sophomore next year.

“Football is my main sport,” he explained, adding, “I want to bulk up after track.”

His major is undecided.

He said he brought the necessary items for college but also made sure he had his cell phone.

“I can’t live without that,” he said, while smiling broadly.

Kelcie Herberger of New Springfield, also a freshman, said she brought her laptop computer, a key item she can’t live without. Her favorite soft drink made the trip, too.

“I’m bringing Mountain Dew,” she said, nodding at the case of soda at her feet as she waited to haul her possessions into Kilcawley. It was a gift from her brother, she said.

It’s her first time living away from home, she said.

She’s the third child in her family to go off to college, and there are three younger children at home, said her mother, Beth Herberger.

“This one’s going to be hard [to let go],” she admitted. “She is such a homebody. This is perfect for her, not too far away.”

While Kelcie, who wants to be a teacher, was unloading her gear, her roommate, Kellie Kollat of Canfield, another freshman, sat in a line of about 40 vehicles waiting their turn to get to the unloading zone.

“I wanted to stay close to home, but still move away,” Kellie said, explaining her choice of YSU to pursue a psychology degree.

She and Kelcie have known each other since first grade.

What did Kellie bring that she can’t live without?

Her iHome music system, her iPod, her cell phone and a television, she said.

She’s looking forward to “meeting new people and starting something new in life,” she said.

She’s the first child to leave home, said her mother, Mary Jo Kollat, who was doing the driving.

“I think it hit home yesterday when we were packing the car. It’s sad,” she said, adding that she will miss her daughter’s personality and humor.

Kathleen Gallagher, a freshman education major from Massillon, said she chose YSU because, “I just like it here.”

Her parents said they were particularly impressed with the campus tour they received.

“They treated us as well as any of the private schools we visited,” said David Gallagher.

“Better,” said his wife, Melanie. “They just made you feel like you wanted to be a part of this campus.”

Kathleen said her cell phone, iPod and camera were the non-essential essentials she brought.

gwin@vindy.com