Several downtown apartment leases began yesterday, only one day prior to classes, resulting in a rushed and frustrated move-in for several students.
Teresa Simonait (junior-accounting) was still moving boxes into Cedarbrook Apartments, 320 E. Beaver Ave., late yesterday afternoon. Simonait said her realtor, A.W. & Sons, 309 E. Beaver Ave., notified her of the move-in date before she signed the lease, but she had no idea it was the day before classes began.
"I just want to be settled in. I'm not even done moving in, let alone unpacking and organizing my stuff," Simonait said. "I haven't even gotten any of my books yet."
Local realtors told The Daily Collegian in July that the decisions on lease dates are based on the academic calendar and the time needed to clean and fix up apartments between renters.
Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said the academic calendar is set for the university at least one year in advance. She said the decision to have fall classes begin before Labor Day and to keep both the fall and spring semesters the same length at 15 weeks were made a year ago.
Molly Bolick (junior-anthropology) was supposed to move into her apartment yesterday, but received a letter from her landlord that said it would be ready on Friday instead.
"I'm still unpacking and decorating," Bolick said. "I can't even imagine what it would be like if I only had one day before classes started."
Mackenzie Camuso (senior-psychology) said he signed a paper to move in early to his apartment in The Graduate, 138 S. Atherton St., but when he called GN Associates last week to confirm, he was told he couldn't get into the building.
"My life doesn't revolve around moving into my college apartment," Camuso said, "but the people at GN apparently think that it does. What if my parents took off of work on Friday or I didn't bother to call and confirm?"
Camuso said they were given 15 minutes to park in front of The Graduate and unpack, and after that, the car would be towed.
"It's just a big mess," Camuso said. "I haven't unpacked anything, groceries included."
