Students arrive by the carload to PSU

The bulk of the Pittsburg State University student body that lives on campus returned to PSU Saturday, and there was plenty of optimism, as well as a little capitalism, to go around.

Shelby Rowles, a senior in elementary education from Edgerton, moved into the Crimson Commons for the second year Saturday. She said she likes the location on the north end of campus, and the fact that she doesn’t have to pay for utilities.

“I’m also looking forward to meeting new people and having fun and studying,” Rowles said.

Over at Trout Hall, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore Alysis Maxwell and her mom, Tammy, and dad, Andre, were moving her belongings into her new single-person room. Maxwell said she liked the dorm experience last year and wanted to repeat it, but that she also have a little more space.

“If you want to talk to someone, all you have to do is walk into the hallway and there’s probably going to be someone there,” said Maxwell, who is pursuing a mechanical engineering degree. “And if you want to be alone, all you have to do is go back into your room.”

Maxwell said she chose to attend PSU because of the location.

“It’s the perfect time between my parents’ house and here, and I have family in Wichita, so it’s a good location for me,” Maxwell said.

Keeping up with the friends she made last year will be a challenge, Maxwell said. So will her engineering classes, but at least those are fun.

“They’re the only ones I’m really looking forward to,” she said.

Her father, Andre, said he’s proud of his daughter and is glad she’s making her way in life. But parents still worry.

“I’m nervous,” he said. “But you’ve got to let them go sooner or later.”

Jasper, Mo., freshman Monica Keutzer’s brother, Jimmy, mom, Tracy, and dad, Chad, were also helping her move into Trout Hall. Keutzer, who plans on majoring in business with a minor in photography.

Keutzer said she’s looking forward to meeting some international students and getting good grades. Pitt State is close to home, she said, and the campus is lovely.

“I want to own my own business, and PSU has a business school and a photography program, so I thought this was a good choice,” she said.
Keutzer said she was always the friend in her group who tried to keep her friends from making dumb decisions, but that now the roles have been reversed.

“I was always the person guiding people away,” she said. “Now I won’t be that person.”

Keutzer’s mom, Tracy, said she’s excited for her daughter.

“It’s a chance for her to go through this phase in her life,” she said. “That’s what we have kids for — to raise them and send them out on their own.”

Move in day is also advantageous for local entrepreneurs. Pitt State recently sold about 500 mini fridges from its dorm rooms to Vilela Demo and Hauling. On Saturday, representatives from the company were on hand selling them back to students who were moving in. An associate who identified himself as Bobby K said the company has them available for $35 and $45, depending on size.

“We’ve had pretty good success so far,” K said.