USA move-in day marks semicentennial

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The University of South Alabama’s 50th anniversary year is got off to a busy start as students moved into their dormitories Saturday afternoon.

Move-in day on a college campus officially begins a new chapter into adult life. It's a day of goodbyes, as many will now live alone for the very first time.

Kyle Parker trades his hometown of Gulfport for Stokes Hall on the USA campus. Parker and family made the trip Saturday morning.

"We literally drove up, threw all of the stuff out of the truck and people just starting grabbing it and taking it up here," Parker said. "It made me feel really welcome, that people were willing to help out. The dean of students was even out there. That was really great to see, people rolling up their sleeves to help everybody out."

Parker plans to study meteorology but the new Jaguar doesn’t plan to be a future Matt Barrentine. He wants to stay behind the camera focusing on researching atmospheric sciences.

Parker left behind his family, but not his girlfriend. Kaitlyn Gray, a broadcast journalism student, made the move with him.

The couple recently celebrated an important anniversary.

"[We've been together] just over a year, we started dating right before our senior year," Gray said. "We're pretty lucky."

Nearly 300 students will be moved into Stokes Hall Saturday, but that's only a fraction of the 3,000 incoming freshman that will now call South Alabama home.

A biomedical science major, Jazmine Garner is attracted to the things that might make you squeamish.

"[I like] autopsies and just helping people, and learning about the body parts, and it's just thrilling to me. I love it," Garner said. "I'd like to be on CSI or House or anything like that."

But for now, students are just focused on getting one year under their belts.

"[I plan to] survive, survive, that's about it, make some good grades and survive," Parker said.