Week 1 for Class of ’28: Move in and start serving

The energy was palpable as the Class of 2028 checked into McNichols Campus on Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Parking Lot D quickly filled up as vehicles rolled in transporting the new Titans and their belongings to Shiple Hall. Student-athletes and other leaders climbed the staircases single file to help deliver belongings to the dorm rooms of some of the 669 freshman enrolled this fall at University of Detroit Mercy (UDM).

The day was met with mixed emotions as the freshmen created their homes away from home.

"I'm excited, but I'm a little nervous, too," said Samuel Erwin, a Master of Community Development (MCD) major from Lake Orion, Mich. "But I'm ready for this - I think."

His roommate, Owen Burkett, also an MCD major, said "I've always wanted to be an architect, so I choose UDM because of this unique combined program where I will get both my bachelor's and master's degree in five years."

As for Burkett's mom, Jessica, she is pleased her son chose UDM.

"From the first Visit Day we attended, the University worked hard to welcome us and let us know they wanted Owen on campus," she said. "Detroit Mercy really stood out when compared to other colleges we were considering for our son."

Donald B. Taylor, president of Detroit Mercy, was at Shiple Hall to welcome the University's largest freshman class since the 1990 consolidation between University of Detroit and Mercy College of Detroit. Later in the day, at the First-Year Convocation, which is the University's official recognition to the students, Taylor urged the students to explore all UDM has to offer. "The world needs Titans," he said. "The world needs you."

Keynote speaker Casey Cornelius echoed Taylor's sentiments in his address to students. Cornelius is founder and president of ForCollegeForLife. Since 2014, this organization has delivered programs of relevance to colleges, universities, organizations and events for students and professionals.

"And when we talk about the world needing titans, we don't just mean titans of industry," he said. "What we need are titans of leadership, titans of service, titans of humility and humanity, of goodness, of empathy, of care," he said.

Freshmen started learning what it means to be a Titan by participating in Prologues, Transitions and Viewpoints (PTV) later in the weeklong orientation on campus.

Students engaged with each other in a number of activities designed to create awareness of personal value and a sense of connectedness while introducing them to the many facets of college life. This included ice-breakers like karaoke, ice cream socials and comedian/magic shows interspersed with sessions entitled Weightlifting for the Brain and Brave and Bold Dialogues where they discussed career development, leadership and residence life expectations with the University's faculty.

Perhaps the most important part of PTV week was Wednesday and Thursday, when freshmen got their first taste of UDM's mission by serving in the community.

Students spent a morning in the neighborhoods and parks near the McNichols Campus, connecting and working with their new neighbors, city and classmates and began to understand the needs of the city and its residents. They performed projects in the community, which included gardening, yard work and clean-up, clearing brush, picking apples and other duties the community told Detroit Mercy needed to be done.

Michelle Benda, a member of Grow Again Farms, a Detroit-based nonprofit whose mission is to foster hope and food sovereignty in Detroit through regenerative urban agriculture, met the students with gratitude and appreciation as they worked to clear empty lots in the Fitzgerald community for the planned vegetable gardens.

"When people come home from work tonight and drive by the cleared lot and see this one little thing that's helping to beautify the community and then find out it's tied to Detroit Mercy, it's just a wonderful way of planting a seed," she said.

Kenyon Lofton, a freshman from Forney, Texas, drove 18 hours this week to join his classmates at PTV.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to do work with my new community and neighbors," he said, taking a short break while laboring to clear the overgrown brush and shrubbery at Marygrove Gardens.

Evan Bee, a resident advisor and legacy student whose cousin is also attending UDM this year, agreed: "We do great things at this school. I'm happy to be a part of it."

Orientation leader and senior Julia Kroha, said this is her second year coming out into the community to partner with neighbors and do good work.

"Often, students who come to Detroit Mercy feel the stigma about Detroit of it being a dangerous place," she said. "I think this is a really good opportunity for students to get out into the community and understand that Detroit Mercy expands beyond the fence. "It feels good to know that we're truly helping and making a difference in the community."

The week culminated in a festive boat cruise on the Detroit River and scavenger hunt in downtown Detroit on Friday evening where students witnessed first-hand the evolving, vibrant landscape of the city.

For full coverage of move-in day (video below), First-year Convocation, PTV and more, visit UDM's social media channels!

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