Oswego State decided to refund the $30 fee students paid to move in early due to the reasons such as Hurricane Irene, which prevented some students from traveling.

The media and local officials bombarded the East Coast with warnings of the potential destruction from Hurricane Irene in the days leading into move-in day at Oswego State.

The majority of on-campus returning students were set to move in on Sunday, Aug. 28, the day Hurricane Irene struck New York City, of which several portions were evacuated. Some students who anticipated the state of emergency wanted to avoid travel during the hurricane and requested to move in early.

The campus released an email on Friday, Aug. 26, saying that students arriving late could contact the Compass, which would notify professors. Those that wanted to move in early were required to pay a fee of $30.

Each year Oswego State receives calls from students and their families to see if they can move in early for unexpected or personal reasons. Some reasons are so compelling that they are allowed to move in early for $30.

“$12 would be charged for food and $18 for lodging,” said Joseph Grant, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment.

This fee was extended to those students who were moving in early to avoid travel during Hurricane Irene. Grant said that it was a matter of fairness.

“I was angry because it was not my fault that the storm affected my ability to move in on the required date,” sophomore Megan Bassler said. “The school should be more accommodating to the kids that were affected by the storm.”

Similarly sized SUNY schools like Brockport, Potsdam and Plattsburgh did not assess an early move-in fee.

SUNY Cobleskill, located in an area that experienced high water levels, road and property damage, had to postpone classes until Aug. 31, although they were supposed to start on Aug. 29.

SUNY Cobleskill did not require payment to move in early.

“SUNY Cobleskill students were permitted to check in to the residence halls early, no additional fees were charged,” said Scott H. Silverstein, SUNY Cobleskill’s director of public relations.

Oswego State released an email on Sept. 1 that stated that students that moved in early would be refunded via the same medium that they paid such as credit, debit or cash. The email stated that “We now feel it is fair to treat all students who paid the fee this year the same and refunded everyone.”