By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Justin Fata stepped out of his father’s sport utility vehicle, which had pulled up in front of Conover Dorm on the Rider University campus Sunday morning.
”I am very excited. (Rider) is far enough away from home, but close enough to my home (in Manalapan),” Justin said, as he watched several “Bronc Buddies” Rider upperclassmen unload the SUV on an overcast day.
With practiced efficiency, the Bronc Buddies pulled out boxes and containers that held much of what Justin thought he would need to start his new life on campus. They carried the contents from the SUV up the steps to Justin’s dorm room.
That scene was repeated again and again, as 873 new students freshmen and transfer students alike moved into their dorm rooms on campus. About 440 upperclassmen unloaded cars, pickup trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles belonging to the new students and their families, said Rider University spokesman Sean Ramsden.
The Bronc Buddies are volunteers who are drawn from the ranks of upperclassmen who belong to fraternities and sororities, as well as student-athletes and student leaders, Mr. Ramsden said. It is part of the school’s orientation program, which aims to ease the transition from high school student to college student and to help transfer students find their way.
The Bronc Buddies carried all kinds of things pint-sized refrigerators, window fans, a guitar, an office chair, plastic storage bins, a rack of clothing, a couple of carpets, and boxes and boxes and boxes of stuff into the dorm rooms.
Bronc Buddy Alana Batts, who is a senior, said she has helped out every year. It makes it easier for the new students to move into their rooms, she said, adding that “they did it for me when I was a freshman.” The Scotch Plains resident said she was returning the favor.
”You get tired, very much so,” Alana said, as she took a break.
”You go up to the 3rd floor. You carry heavy things, from refrigerators to pillows. (But) it helps people out. It’s a good feeling. Everything is done for you. The last thing people want to think about is moving things upstairs,” Alana said.
As the Bronc Buddies stood around waiting for the next car to pull up for them to unload, the coordinator read off the room location “C-106. We got one for the first floor.” Cheers and handclaps met the announcement.
Asked whether her daughter, freshman Chloe Rakos, had left anything at home, Jennie Rakos laughingly replied, “No.”
”I am very excited for Chloe. She checked out Rider and she felt at home and wanted to come here. She connected with Rider and she felt she could make it her home,” Ms. Rakos said as she sat in the family’s minivan.
”I feel a little sad for me, but I’m okay. We are going to Long Beach Island after this to unwind and look at the ocean one more time,” said Ms. Rakos, who lives in Morris County.

