Move-In Ready: New Emersonians Excited to Find Community

As speakers blared Rihanna, Beyonce, and Nicki Minaj, orientation leaders welcomed first-year students to the Little Building along Tremont Street.

Tuesday’s raucous, fast-paced, clockwork day was a long time coming for many new Lions.

Photos by Sami Ahmad ’20

“[Emerson] has been my top school since sophomore year,” said Lucille Schmitt ’28 while waiting with her parents. “I’m excited to meet people with the same exact interests as me for the first time.”

Schmitt grew up across the Charles River in Cambridge, but said she’s looking forward to really being able to explore Boston for the first time. Her parents were excited, and also happy that she could come back on the weekends, although her mom, Emily Simons, joked that Lucille wants to come back to see the dogs more than them.

“She absolutely landed at the perfect school for her,” said Simons.

Schmitt was one of the many students greeted with exuberant cheers that could be heard down Boylston and Tremont streets.

Donning the official orientation coordinator yellow T-shirt, Dolly Pickelhaupt ’25 had made some alterations, cutting the bottom into fringes and adding beads. Pickelhaupt worked as an orientation leader last year, was all smiles, and happy to be back.

“It’s just so gratifying to welcome new students. I was sitting nervously in a car [when I was moving in],” said Pickelhaupt, adding orientation leaders eased her nerves and made her feel at home.

One student who seemed right at home was Zoe Wojnicki ’28, as she dance/walked past the blasting speakers on her way into the Little Building.

“I feel very excited about everything that is coming. I enjoyed [the orientation leaders’] energy. I was nervous, but now I’m excited and really looking forward to classes,” said Wojnicki, standing with her mother Mia Costic, after driving from Hoboken, New Jersey.

“I’m so proud of her. I can’t believe this is a one-way trip for her,” said Costic while toting a teddy bear, which her daughter had dressed in Costic’s camisole when she was a child, and would also be taking up residence in the LB.

On Tremont Street, orientation leader Mick Casey ’27 loudly embraced the role of megaphone-user. Casey led cheers from orientation leaders for new students stepping out of vehicles.

“I’m having a great time. I’m having a blast. I’m spreading positivity, fun, pride, and spirit,” said Casey.

Housing Operations Coordinator Britt Locklin proudly watched as orientation leaders smoothly handled the logistics of moving students in.

“This is my circus,” joked Locklin. “We’re collaborative partners and we get better every year.”

Student Engagement & Leadership Coordinator Khadijah Morgan stood with Locklin.

“We want to let the students know we’re here to help. We’re welcoming them and letting parents know, ‘We’ve got them. They’re in great hands’,” said Morgan.

As Morgan and Locklin enjoyed the proceedings, luggage, ice makers, framed photos, guitars, vacuums, air filters, stuffed animals, and so much more were loaded into rolling baskets. One of four orientation leaders wrote down the new student’s dorm room number, and an orientation leader then took the basket to the freight elevator. The goal was for the students’ stuff to be in the room before the student.  

Orientation leader Eva Windler ’24 said a pink treasure chest brought by a new student intrigued her. Pickelhaupt said a student tried to bring in not one, but two gaming chairs. But they couldn’t, because they were upholstered, which makes them a fire hazard.

“A student brought a succulent in a pot shaped like Appa from The Last Airbender. I said, ‘’That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve seen,” smiled Windler.

Nearby Director of International Student Affairs Andrea Popa was waiting for a red jeep to pull up with her daughter’s best friend, Grace Cunniff ’28.

“I’m just going to say hi. I’ve known her since middle school. She was in my Girl Scouts troop,” beamed Popa like a proud parent, who recalled her daughter Gabby Popa ’24 moving into Emerson dorms. She’s now a Fulbright Scholar teaching in Romania.

Cunniff’s father, Chris, said it was very nice and comforting to see a familiar face. “It’s a nice personal touch.”

Orientation leader Annie Brown ’26 waited for the freight elevator to bring Cashus Muse’s (’28) stuff, including a Washburn guitar, a Johnny Cash picture, and a framed Japanese still portrait. Muse, with siblings and mother in tow, located Brown.

“It’s the perfect moment of nature and gives me peace,” said Muse of the still portrait. He had asked if he could bring his drum set – but the college said no.

His mother, Nancy, grinned saying she hoped he’d eventually get the drum set out of her home. For the Muse family, it was also a special day for Cashus’ sister Tallulah, who was celebrating her 11^th birthday. Their 12-year-old brother Levon also observed the hullabaloo, as the family ascertained the next steps for move-in.

A proud parent (without a student at Emerson) was Emerson College Police Lieutenant Bob Bousquet, who managed traffic, greeting families along Boylston Street. Bousquet said he was telling “dad jokes” to people.

“The past, present, and future walk into a bar – it was tense,” laughed Bousquet. Parents and students laughed.

One of the waiting carloads included Kiran Maharaj ’28, who was eager to dig into her film major.

“I’m excited to meet new people with the same interests and explore the city,” said Maharaj.

As new students said goodbye to parents, eager to get acquainted with new friends, classes, Boston, and Emerson, the coolest thing everyone brought on move-in day was something intangible. But every orientation leader, student, staff member, and parent brought it in spades.

“The energy. It’s very bright. There’s a lot of positivity,” said Lucy Negron-Hill ‘26.