MTSU students continue to return to campus this week for the start of the fall semester, with some pandemic precautions still in place but also loosened restrictions to provide them the more traditional in-person experience that drew them to the Blue Raider campus.

“It’s just exciting. I’ve waited all summer for it,” said 18-year-old Justin Tatum of Cane Ridge, Tennessee, a May 2021 Brentwood Academy graduate and former Lighthouse Christian School student. “I’m ready for a change — a new chapter in my life.”

Will Voyles, 18, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., brings in a load of personal items and clothes Wednesday, Aug. 18, as he moves in to his Corlew Hall dorm. Voyles, a Rockvale High School May 2021 graduate, will be studying exercise science. His father, Shane Voyles, waits to enter the room. Students have scheduled move-in times through Saturday, Aug. 21. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

In a scheduled pattern that began midweek, Tatum was among nearly 3,000 new and returning students moving in to campus housing. While some students taking part in special conferences or other reasons moved in early, the majority are moving in now through Saturday, Aug. 21 — in time for the annual Convocation event to kick off the year.

Campus housing is back to full occupancy this year, said Amy Korstange, associate director of Residential Life. Last fall, because of COVID-19 precautions, campus housing was reduced to single-occupancy rooms to mitigate virus spread and to facilitate social distancing. MTSU is requiring everyone wear masks in all buildings.

Tatum, Elijah Robinson of Nashville, Tennessee, and Isabella Campbell of Franklin, Tennessee, made the move earlier this week with help from family members.

Jarrold Tatum, left, of Cane Ridge, Tenn., places a mirror into a large box and son Justin Tatum adds another item during the new MTSU student’s move in to Corlew Hall Wednesday, Aug. 18. Students continue moving in to campus housing during designated times through Saturday afternoon. Nearly 3,000 students will be in university housing this fall. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Tatum’s parents and MTSU alumni Jarrold and Tracy Tatum and sister Jasmin Tatum provided physical (lifting and otherwise) support for the incoming freshman, who plans to major in film and video production in the College of Media and Entertainment’s media arts department.

“(Film and video production) is a great program here. It’s one of the main reasons I came here,” Justin Tatum said. “I’m looking forward to getting started and making the most out of the opportunities I will have here.”

Friend and roommate Robinson, a Lighthouse graduate, said moving in and starting college will be “an adjustment. It’s something I have to get used to.” He also plans to study film and video production.

Assisted by parents Russ (alumnus with geology degree) and Andrea Campbell in her move into high-rise Corlew Hall, Isabella Campbell will double major in English and international relations and minor in Portuguese and Spanish.

Isabella Campbell, right, an MTSU freshman from Franklin, Tenn., and her father Russ Campbell take items out of a large container used to haul her personal belongings in her Corlew Hall room earlier this week, as her mother, Andrea, waits. Isabella Campbell will major in English and international relations and minor in Portuguese and Spanish. Nearly 3,000 students will be moving into campus housing. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

“Honestly, I’m a little nervous,” she said, taking a break from bringing her personal belongings to her dorm room. “I just received a syllabus for all my classes — and it hit me then.”

The 18-year-old Franklin High graduate with a 31 ACT score and 4.2 weighted GPA, said the “majority of my classes are things I enjoy. … It is a bit of a workload, but I’m not too worried.” A Presidential Scholarship ($4,500 per year) and Hope Lottery Scholarship will help defray her college expenses.

Convocation will be held starting at 6 p.m. Saturday in Murphy Center and features youth advocate and U.S. Army veteran Wes Moore, author of MTSU’s Summer Reading Selection, “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates,” as guest speaker. Because of COVID-19 precautions, masks will be required.

Convocation will air live at https://www.mtsu.edu/live, https://facebook.com/mtsublueraidersand https://mtsu.edu/TrueBlueTV.

MTSU’s fall semester begins with classes Monday, Aug. 23.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

Friends and now college roommates Justin Tatum, left, of Cane Ridge, Tenn., and Elijah Robinson of Nashville, Tenn., lift a mini refrigerator out of a large box for their Corlew Hall dorm room. The freshmen are awaiting the start of fall semester classes Monday, Aug. 23. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Old and new friends enjoy playing volleyball and other games at the Move-in Mixer Friday, Aug. 20, in Walnut Grove on the MTSU campus. New and returning students have been moving in to campus housing this week ahead of the Saturday, Aug. 21, Convocation and Monday, Aug. 23, first day of classes. Volunteers from Belle Aire Baptist Church provided free food for students, staff and faculty for two days. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

New MTSU freshmen Sloan Moore, left, and Sandra Kamel — both from Smyrna, Tenn., and Stewarts Creek High School graduates, take a break from a pick-up volleyball game to enjoy a hamburger and hot dog provided by volunteers from Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. Free food and water were provided once again by the church. MTSU classes will begin Monday, Aug. 23. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)