The sights and sounds around the Washington State University campus Saturday quickly gave away the secret - it was the first move-in day for the dormitories. A massive increase in cars and students marked the unofficial start to the fall.

"There's a lot of emotions - nervous, happy - everyone's excited to be here," said Kate Gannon, WSU assistant director for residence life. "Our staff have their residents here, they've been preparing for them close to a month or so now for them to get here. It's really a university event to be able to have halls opening."

The official move-in is on Wednesday, but WSU got the moving started early because sorority recruitment began Saturday night and fraternity recruitment was Sunday. WSU estimated just under 1,000 women were arriving for sororities, and about 400 men were coming for the fraternities. In total, Gannon expected 52 percent of students living in the dorms, or more than 2,000 students, to arrive Saturday.

One of those incoming freshman was Jocyline Lacey-Wood, who was moving into Streit-Perham dormitory.

"I'd say exciting," Lacey-Wood said of the experience. "It still like hasn't really hit me, which is weird, I just feel like I'm just visiting again."

Her mother, Jo Lacey-Wood, described the day as hectic and exciting.

"It kind of crept up on us," Jo Lacey-Wood said. "As a mom you put it in the back of your mind. Later, it's always later, until it's here."

Jocyline only applied to WSU, having loved the campus as soon as she visited. Her attitude was shared by thousands of the students, as there was no shortage of smiles throughout the campus.

"The parents are nervous and sad on their way here," Gannon said, "but once they get here and they see 'Oh, look at this great community that you're going to be a part of.' They can have a little bit of relief that they're sending their kids and Cougs to a great place for them to thrive at."

To help make the transition as smooth as possible, WSU had maintenance personnel, as well as 200 hall staff and about 100 volunteers available to help with move-in.

Tom Hager can be reached at (208) 883-4633 or by email to thager@dnews.com.