They’re here! The class of 2023 starts its Brandeis journey

Members of the Class of 2023 arrived on campus and officially embarked on their collegiate careers on Aug. 25

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Photo/Mike Lovett

Members of the women's volleyball team help new students move in at Brandeis.

Full Move-In Day 2019 coverage: Video: Welcome to the Class of 2023 First-years unite at 'Light the Night' The Class of 2023 by the numbers

The Brandeis family just got a little bit bigger.

Members of the Class of 2023 arrived on campus and officially embarked on their collegiate careers on Sunday, Aug. 25 for Move-in Day and the start of New Undergraduate Student Orientation.

A throng of orientation leaders (OLs), community advisors (CAs) and staff greeted the 867 new students and their families, who pulled into campus starting at 8 a.m. and unloaded their cars in the North and Massell residence quads.

“I helped my sisters move in to their colleges, and this honestly was the best experience I’ve had – there was like 15 million people waiting outside for us to help us move in,” said Henry Chen ’23, who is from Quincy, Massachusetts and moved into Usen.

Photo/Mike Lovett

“The way we parked and the whole car situation was so organized,” he added. “Now I’m just excited to meet new people and start a new life, and have a new change of pace.”

Each member of the new first-year class will start authoring a new story during orientation, which continues until fall classes start on Aug. 28.

“It’s crazy that we’re here,” said Alex Bazarsky ’23, who arrived on campus last week from Los Angeles for a pre-orientation program on sustainability. “I’ve been waiting for this time to come and it doesn’t feel real.”

Said her roommate, Sydney Padgett ’23 from Akron, Ohio: “I’m excited – it’s a little hectic – but I’m excited. I think I’m most looking forward to meeting everyone around me, seeing other students and exploring the campus.”

Brandeis President Ron Liebowitz welcomed new students and their parents as they arrived in their cars and waited to be directed to their residence halls. Senior administration members including Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Dorothy Hodgson and Assistant Dean of Student Life Stephanie Grimes greeted first-years in the quads.

In Massell, men’s basketball head coach Jean Bain and his players also helped OLs and CAs unpack wave after wave of suitcases, pillows, blankets, appliances and other comforts of home. Athletes from other teams pitched in as well.

Photo/Mike Lovett

In mid-afternoon, students and their families were formally welcomed at a class-wide convocation on Chapels Field by Liebowitz, Hodgson, Provost Lisa M. Lynch P’17, incoming Vice Provost of Student Affairs Raymond Ou, and Rabbi Seth Winberg, executive director of Hillel, director of the Center for Spiritual Life and senior Jewish Chaplain.

“We are thrilled that you are all here and we are eager to help you settle in,” Liebowitz said.

“Although you are new, this university is very much yours," he added.

Lynch reminded new Brandeisians to be open to new experiences.

“You don’t have to have a well-defined plan today...the whole point of a liberal arts education is to explore,” she said.

With 867 students, the Class of 2023 is one of the larger classes in Brandeis history. Students come from 37 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 35 countries. It includes 665 students who were involved in community service during high school and 220 who were part of student government. The incoming class’ cumulative GPA is 3.84.