Move-in sees road closures

Some roads leading to the University of Guelph will be closed this Saturday as more than 4,000 new students move into residence on campus.

Gordon Street will be closed between Stone Road and College Avenue from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 1 to help reduce traffic congestion and make it easier for students to move in, a news release said.

As well, access to South and East Ring roads will be limited to use by new students, along with parking lots P31, P13, P17, P18 and P19. Access to the section of South Ring Road that runs behind the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs building will also be restricted to move-in traffic.

The road closures and detours will be clearly marked to help people driving in the area, the release said.

No hotel for U of G students

A hotel adjacent to the University of Guelph will not be doubling as a student residence this year.

“This year, we hit our enrolment targets perfectly,” said associate vice-president of student affairs Brenda Whiteside. “No over-enrolments, no hotels.”

Last year, 64 students who were promised space in residence were instead given rooms in the Best Western Royal Brock Hotel and Conference Centre, on the corner of Stone Road and Gordon Street across from the university. But that won’t be necessary this year, said Whiteside.

Students will officially begin moving into on-campus housing Sept. 1, but most student leaders have already arrived in order to start preparing for the influx.

Students who are coming from a shorter distance away have also been encouraged to come early and move some stuff in before their actual move-in date in an effort to make move-ins a little easier.

The university wants to “make sure we can facilitate people who can come early to come early,” said Whiteside.

Around 4,000 new students are expected to move into residents this weekend, in addition to the large numbers of returning students who will be moving into houses and apartments off campus.

Classes start Sept. 6. In the meantime, student leaders will be helping new students adjust and will also be helping to spread the message about getting along with the city’s non-student population, said Whiteside.

Football Gryphons on road

The U of G Gryphons football team kicks off its season on Monday Sept. 3 when they travel to Hamilton to take on McMaster, the defending Vanier Cup champions, at 1 p.m. They’ll play their first game on their new turf at Alumni Stadium on Sept. 15 when they host Waterloo at 1 p.m. While the turf will be ready, the university has announced that the grassy hill located on the east side of the stadium will not be available for spectator seating, meaning fewer people will be able to attend the Gryphons’ home opener and their Homecoming game Sept. 22 against Toronto.