Nervous freshmen are lost in Ellicott. People are fighting over elevators. Fathers are diligently hauling their daughters' hundred-pound refrigerators up three flights of stairs.
Once that last box is carried in and the parents have been sent on their way, the celebration of newly found freedom begins.
But while some kick off their shoes and crank up the stereo, others languish in the stairwell, sobbing onto their sweethearts' shoulders and saying painful goodbyes to the ones they love.
Those who have had to leave a significant other at home to begin their college career say it can be like parting with their second half.
Emily Buck is a transfer student and sophomore occupational therapy major. She recently transferred to UB after leaving SUNY Brockport. For Emily, leaving Brockport has meant leaving her boyfriend, Josh, behind.
"Being away and not seeing each other is a big thing," Emily said.
Although she and Josh have roots in Syracuse, they met for the first time last fall as freshmen at Brockport.
Emily said that not being able to see Josh as frequently as she would like is one of the hardest things about being away from him. After a summer apart, due to an internship Josh had in Washington, it was more difficult to leave him for a second time to go to school.
Although they are now living only about an hour apart, Josh does not own a car. That makes it difficult for the two of them to visit frequently.
"We call each other whenever we have free time and take turns going to see each other," she said. She said they try to arrange to spend weekends together, and recently went camping.
Still, once they resume their routines at school, thoughts can start to linger in their minds. A big concern, Emily said, is trust.
"It's the issue of not starting to like someone else," Emily said. "Who doesn't worry about that? It's hard not to think about."
Of course with Buffalo's party scene, it's easy to see how being faithful in a long-distance romance can be demanding.
"People always tell me if I was single I would have a lot more fun. I understand where they're coming from, but I am having fun with Josh," said Emily.
Hannah Olson, a sophomore Biology major, understands the pros and cons of a long-distance relationship. Hannah's boyfriend Derek is studying medicine at the University of Michigan. The couple met two summers ago and began officially dating New Year's Day of this year.
Both were currently at schools in different states, and decided to face the challenge of a long-distance relationship.
"Our entire relationship has been long-distance," said Hannah. "There was something special about him and it was a risk that I was willing to take."
Hannah was quick to point out that any unfaithfulness is out of the question.
"It seems that people in Buffalo are more risqu?(c) here than anywhere else," she said. "I've already experienced that. I know what I want."
Apparently what Hannah wants is a boyfriend who loves her.
She says it's the little romantic things her boyfriend does for her that make such a big difference. Frequent cards, gifts, and the occasional seven-page love letter can apparently make the distance seem a lot shorter.
Hannah sees Derek about once every three weeks. This summer, they made the most of their time together by taking a trip to Toronto.
Hannah and Derek plan to stay together long into the future. They admit, though, that long-distance relationships may not be for everyone.
"You definitely want to make sure you have something there. A relationship is a big investment, and there's no point in working for if it's not going to pay off," Hannah said.
Brian Carpenter, a senior political science major, has serious doubts about being involved in long-distance relationships.
"In college there is so much going on, you never want to stop moving, you're not ready to settle down, and you're making the most of your life while you can," he said. "There is a lot of temptation involved with drinking, partying and the constant supply of the opposite sex."
That's not to say that he hasn't given these relationships a shot. Carpenter says he has earned the right to be skeptical; he has attempted two long-distance relationships in two years.
He said having to drive for hours to see his girlfriend, adding that having little physical contact over long spans of time made the relationships hard to maintain.
"I want to be able to hold my girlfriends, I like having the feel of them in my arms," he said. "I want my next girlfriend to be close, so if I'm feeling down she can come over and cheer me up, or I can stop over and surprise her at work."
Carpenter questions whether long-distance relationships are worth the added stress and high emotions that go along with them. But for Emily, the choice was easy to make.
"If you have the right person it's most definitely worth it. When you see each other you don't take that person for granted," she said.
