The campus at Plymouth State University exploded with activity on Sunday when convoys of minivans and pickups rolled into town bursting at the seams with the essential and not-so-necessary items for another year of school.

Elaine Milo of Billerica, Mass., let out a huge laugh as she unpacked a loaded Chevy Blazer and found her stepdaughter, Michelle's, life-size cardboard cut-out of Johnny Depp just before the family began readying themselves to take all the gear seven flights up the stairs of her freshman dormitory in Grafton Hall.

"I need my J.D.," said Michelle with a smile as she enlisted members of the PSU football team to help her move into her room.

Sunday marked the official move-in day for PSU's underclassmen and Residential Life Director Frank Cocchiarella estimated that upward of 1,700 students returned to school over the busy Labor Day Weekend.

Plymouth State officials enlist the support of everyone from local police officers and campus staff to the university's strongest athletes in helping move-in day to run smooth and families were greeted by very specific directions that helped the big push run efficiently.

GEOFF CUNNINGHAM Jr./CITIZEN PHOTO PSU ASSISTANT FOOTBALL Coach John Mihalko was among the many athletes helping Plymouth State University's move-in day go smoothly on Sunday when they lent their strength to help families get students into the dorms. * Order a print of this photo

The downtown area was loaded with parents and students who funneled into lines to unpack students who brought everything from refrigerators and televisions to huge plastic containers chock-full of clothes.

Students were greeted by student advisers and resident directors to get their rooms squared away and also got a huge amount of help from members of the PSU athletic teams who spent the day hauling items up stairs and unloading vehicles.

PSU President Sara Jayne Steen said the colossal effort is part of the university's commitment to welcoming in students and parents and showing them they are supported every step of the way.

"It's about understanding what type of a community this is," explained Steen.

The university president was on hand for the big move-in and said the support is key to helping new students and their parents feel safe and comfortable in what is a new environment for hundreds of students from all over the country.

"It's an emotional day for a lot of the students and we want them to feel welcome. It's an exciting day," said Steen.

PSU officials say classes are set to begin on Tuesday night with most beginning on Wednesday, thus giving the students a few days to get settled.

However, the majority of the activity on Sunday involved major move-in efforts at dormitories like Smith Hall, Grafton Hall and Mary Lyon Hall — a historic building that just underwent a $15.5 million renovation. Approximately 80 percent of PSU's student moved back in on Sunday.

GEOFF CUNNINGHAM Jr./CITIZEN PHOTO THE PIRATES OF PSU? Elaine Milo of Billerica, Mass. gets a laugh as she pulls out a large cut-out of Johnny Depp from her stepdaughter Michelle's items being brought to Plymouth State University during Sunday's big move-in day. Approximately 1,700 students returned to the campus this weekend. * Order a print of this photo

Lynn Rodriguez of Barrington, R.I., spent the weekend helping her son Cameron get moved into his freshman dormitory on the fifth floor of Grafton Hall.

She said PSU showed huge support in making the process run smoothly with the line for the elevator being the only unavoidable hang-up.

When asked if her son had brought enough things to last him through the school year she laughed and assured they might be brining things back down to the car if they don't fit in his small room.

"I think it's in their heads that they are never coming back," said Rodriguez.

PSU sophomore Amanda Pierson of Barrington, N.H., was more than a little excited to move back to the school after a summer spent working a two jobs.

"I was counting the days," said Pierson.

Janice Pierson, her mother, said her daughter has cut back the amount of things she brings to school and this year's trek only involved two loaded vehicles.

Among the things she left behind this year was a large amount of clothes.

"I didn't think I needed them," said Amanda Pierson.

"She does her laundry a lot more than we thought," said her mother with a smile.

PSU Head Football Coach Paul Castonia said he had 80-plus athletes out helping people to move in with all of that coming after a 5:30 a.m. practice.

He assured that the players have other things they'd rather be doing, but he said they understand the need to give back to a university they represent both on and off the field.

"It's good for the guys to chip in ... I'm sure it's welcoming for the parents and the students," said Castonia.

Cocchiarella said the sunny and cool weather helped make for a great move-in, but he said the real success lies in months of planning that involves dozens of staff members from all university departments.

"A lot of different people go into this. The athletic department is huge in making this work," said Cocchiarella, adding that when the football team ended their work at noon, the wrestling team was slated to help with the move in.

GEOFF CUNNINGHAM Jr./CITIZEN PHOTO LOADED UP... Harry Mehos of Tilton, left, has his hand full on Sunday as he helps his daughter, Kate, a freshman, move her things into Grafton Hall dormitory at Plymouth State University. Upward of 1,700 students returned to campus over the weekend. * Order a print of this photo