As Students Pack for Move-In Weekend, Here Are 7 Things to Leave at Home

Students and parents carrying their belongings into a dorm

Students can save themselves some work this weekend by keeping a few items at home. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)

College move-in weekends are hectic by nature. But when University of Virginia students arrive on Grounds Friday and Saturday, the scene may be tamer than usual, thanks to a new system.

This year, students have been assigned specific times to meet with members of UVA’s Greeter Program. Greeters – volunteer students, faculty and staff members who will be wearing orange-and-blue T-shirts with either “Greeter” or “Lead Greeter” on the front – will help parents move their kids in.

Gay Perez, UVA’s associate dean of students and executive director of Housing and Residence Life, is hoping the new system (the finer points of which are detailed here) helps eliminate some of the congestion along Tree House Drive in the heart of the Alderman Road dorm area that has occurred in past years.

“We’ve streamlined the process to try and help parents have a seamless experience moving into the buildings,” Perez said. “We’ll see how it works.”

Of course, the experience tends to go a whole lot smoother when students pack wisely.

In that vein, here are seven things students should not bring with them to on-Grounds housing. 

1. Parkas

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Unless you’re unable to make it home over fall or Thanksgiving break, “you don’t need to bring everything for the entire year,” Perez says. “For the majority of the first semester, summer and fall clothes are OK – especially for those who are coming in from across the country. You don’t need to bring your parka just yet."

2. No Hoverboards

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Marty McFly’s ride from “Back to the Future” was more advanced. This rule – aimed at student safety – prohibits all self-balancing electric-wheeled boards.

3. No Ovens, George Foreman or Hibachi grills

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While microwaves are OK, all other cooking and heating appliances aren’t.

Perez said candles are also a big no-no. “Our fire marshal is quite strict,” she said. “There are a lot of restrictions. If you bring those types of items, you can potentially get cited and then you have to remove them. So just don’t bring them.”

One of Perez’s biggest tips is to bring the right kind of power strip – one with a built-in circuit breaker and an on/off switch.

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4. No Martial Arts Tools, Paintball Guns

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From butterfly knives to nunchucks to a range of other items, these are martial arts weapons and not for fooling around. As for paintball guns, they look like the real thing and that’s not funny.

5. No Halogen Torchiere Lamps, “Octopus” Lamps or Lamps with Plastic Shades

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These kinds of lamps get too hot and create fire hazards.

6. No Air Conditioners

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Fans are recommended instead.

7. No Pets

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The one exception: small, non-lethal fish, in an aquarium no larger than 20 gallons.

Here’s the complete list of non-permitted items.

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