Pelton joins Move-In Day excitement

President Lee Pelton unloads an item belonging to a new student during Move-In Day 2015 on Monday, August 24, outside Piano Row as Jillian Frank '17, an orientation leader, gets prepared to help. (Photo by Dan O'Brien)

President Lee Pelton joined cheering, singing, dancing, and selfie-taking students for Emerson College’s annual Move-In Day for new students on Monday, August 24—one of the most festive and efficient moving-in processes for new students on a local college campus.

An orientation leader wearing butterfly wings is serenaded by her peers at Piano Row. (Photo by Dan O'Brien)

“I’m excited for her. She’s going to take it by storm,” said Diane Sperduti ’84 of Greenwich, Connecticut, as her daughter Maggie Sperduti ’19 moved into the Colonial Building.

Move-In Day 2015 Orientation Leaders Gabby Kula '17 and Jordan Kirby '18 outside the Little Building. (Photo by Dan O'Brien)

Maggie Sperduti, who met President Pelton as she unloaded her items, plans to major in Visual and Media Arts, studying television and film—following in the footsteps of her mother, who studied those subjects as an Emerson student.

President Lee Pelton with Diane Sperduti '84 and her daughter, new student Maggie Sperduti '19, on Move-In Day 2015. (Photo by Dan O'Brien)

Stan Wong of Pembroke Pines, Florida, said “it was very touching” that President Pelton helped him move his son, Christian Wong ’19, into his new residence in the Little Building.

“It means the world to the kids to do that,” Wong said. “It’s unbelievable. He seems so down to earth.”

Christian Wong '19 and his father, Stan Wong, with President Pelton on Move-In Day 2015. (Photo by Dan O'Brien)

Emerson’s longtime Move-In Day tradition involves highly animated singing, dancing, and outrageously dressed students cheering on new students as they pull up to the curb with their parents. The older students—Orientation Leaders—then quickly load the new students’ items into carts and whisk them inside as parents move their cars off busy downtown Boston streets—all in less than 10 minutes.

Ali Reid '18 takes a selfie with President Pelton outside the Little Building on Move-In Day 2015. (Photo by Dan O'Brien)

Students at the Colonial on the morning of August 24 danced “The Macarena” while other students at Piano Row busted moves to Rihanna and mash-up songs from the hit show Glee.

Student Orientation Leader dance “The Macarena” at the entrance of the Colonial Building on Move-In Day 2015. (Photo by Dan O'Brien)

Lexie St. Jacques ’18 wore a rainbow-colored get-up complete with a hat that looked like a parrot.

Lexie St. Jacques '18 dressed as a “squid ballerina” and poses for a photo with Emma Dunn '17 and Michelle Cicarelli '16. (Photo by Dan O'Brien)

“I’ll call it a squid ballerina,” St. Jacques said. “I really have no explanation for it. I had the hat, and I went to Party City and built everything around the hat. I decided to add two tutus that are purple and gold,” which are Emerson’s college colors.

“It’s awesome,” said new student Lauren Dobles ’19, of Tampa, Florida. “I can tell I love this place. I’m super-excited.”

A full orientation schedule is available online for undergraduate students, parents, international students, and transfer students. 

President Pelton speaks with Lauren Dobles '19 and her parents, Mario Dobles and Yamileth Castro, outside the Paramount Center. (Photo by Dan O'Brien)

Ernest Lesmana '15 outside the Paramount Center. (Photo by Dan O'Brien)

Sharon Duffy, the interim dean of students, and Lina Benich '16, the orientation chair. (Photo by Dan O'Brien)