By Emily GlazerThe Daily Northwestern

In a change from previous years, returning students will have to wait an extra day before moving into their dorm rooms in order to reduce congestion for incoming freshmen.

Mary Goldenberg, director of Residential Life, sent an e-mail last week announcing that returning students will be unable to move in before Sept. 19. First-year students will be allowed to move in on Sept. 18. The e-mail noted that keys will be issued only to new students and parking will be restricted.

Virginia Koch, senior assistant director of Residential Life, said identifying a solution to the annual congestion and commotion that occurs during the first move-in day has been a priority for many groups for a number of years.

“We’ve been saying that something needs to be done for the parking and move-in situation because it makes it really stressful for parents and new students,” she said.

After looking at a number of other alternatives, Koch said, this suggestion “seemed like the best one.”

She said some students, including peer advisers, athletes and band members, will still be granted permission to move in prior to the first day of New Student Week.

Erin Huffman, assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said students living in chapter houses will be able to move in either before Sept. 17 or after Sept. 19, depending on each chapter’s house guidelines.

“A lot of chapters’ policies are based on the university to be consistent and fair,” she said.

Huffman said she thought the new policy was a great change because new students should have priority during New Student Week.

“It’s their week, and we all can attest to how crowded it can be around here,” she said. “I think it’ll be a good move.”

She said student reaction was minimal, having received “a handful of concerned responses out of the 4,000 people” who received an e-mail with information about the policy changes.

Hetal Sheth, a Communication freshman, said her move-in day was “really crazy.” Sheth will be moving to Allison Hall next year, and she said she doesn’t mind that the freshmen in her dorm will be settled in before her move-in day.

“I think it’s a lot easier,” she said, citing that the first move-in day can be overwhelming for freshmen.

Weinberg sophomore Mina Farahzad, who will be moving into the International Studies Residential College next year, said it will be nice for the freshmen “to build a community since (they) … will form the best connections in dorms.”

Koch said she thought all students would recognize the change as worthwhile.

“It is going to make that first move-in day a lot easier on everyone,” she said.

Reach Emily Glazer at [email protected].