Unloading a Car in 15 Seconds and Other Highlights from Move-in Day

Most parents dropping a child off for college experience a wave of nostalgia and sadness.

Lori and Rob Kost had a double dose.

Over the weekend, the couple brought one daughter, Zoe, to Vanderbilt University, where she’s now a freshman.

And Tuesday they arrived in Durham to deliver Zoe’s twin sister, Samantha, to Duke. Samantha is a member of Duke’s class of 2020; and with that, the Kosts are empty nesters.

“It is, of course, bittersweet,” said Lori Kost, a class of ’89 Duke alumna. “But it’s amazing to see your child do this. It’s a new chapter for her. And for us.”

With that, she wiped away a tear.

The Kosts were among hundreds of new Duke families to hit campus Tuesday in SUVs, wagons and vans bringing clothes, pillows, smart phones and a few family photos in tow. They were greeted, as always, by exuberant groups of older Duke student volunteers who helped the freshmen unpack.

It’s a happy whirlwind perpetually punctuated by the applause from student volunteers who clap each time a new car rolls up to a residence hall to unload. After a summer of humid days, Duke parents, students and staff all caught a break as the morning began comparatively cool and dry.

“It’s stressful to drop your child off for college,” said Perri Lawrence of Dallas, Texas, whose son, Benjamin, is a new freshman. “So the warm, friendly staff makes you feel great.”

Benjamin is one member of a class comprising about 1,700 students from 70 countries and 49 states. Among U.S. states, most come from North Carolina, followed by California, New York, Florida and Texas.

Now that they’re arriving, Duke’s newest students will be busy for the next few days with orientation activities. They’ll hear from President Richard Brodhead – in his last orientation week address as Duke president -- and others at convocation Wednesday, after which they’ll gather on East Campus to spell out ‘2020’ in what has become a traditional class photo.

On Thursday evening they’ll hear a reading by Bryan Stevenson, whose memoir, “Just Mercy,” was this year’s Duke Common Experience summer reading choice. And they’ll explore themes from the book in discussion sections led by Duke professors – one of several ways faculty members are taking a more prominent role this year in orientation activities.

Faculty will also lead Saturday outings to area locations such as the Durham Farmer’s Market and the Eno River.

First-year student Vivian Chen came all the way to Duke from Germany, where she has lived with her parents for the past several years. She lived in Raleigh before that and considers Duke a homecoming of sorts.

She had a sentimental moment saying goodbye to her mother, who was heading back to Germany.

“It’s a good type of sad,” she said. “I’m on to new things. But now she’s far away.”

Some parents look to their empty-nest phase with excitement. Mike Leone, who lives in Wilmington, NC, was on campus Tuesday with his youngest child, Venezia, who will study engineering at Duke. He’s been through the college move-in enough to know he’ll be sad to return to an empty house.

But not totally sad.

“I’m kind of looking forward to it, to be honest,” he said. “I’ll miss her, of course. But kids never really leave. They come back for breaks, they come home for holidays. And I know she’ll be happy here.”

All photos by Duke Photography. Bottom: President Brodhead poses with Duke students during a break in the move-in activities