New Ducks prepare for landing during Unpack the Quack

The UO campus is clearing a flyway as it prepares to greet droves of new Ducks and welcome the Class of 2021.

The big push comes Thursday, Sept. 22, when Unpack the Quack lends a hand to the thousands of new Ducks moving into residence halls. That’s followed by a whole bevy of Week of Welcome events, culminating in convocation on Sunday, Sept. 25.

It’s a festive time on campus, but as usual it means some temporary changes to the normal routine. Most notably, traffic on streets around the residence halls will be packed Thursday and those who aren’t involved in the effort should avoid the area.

Unloading zones, traffic patterns and more information is laid out in a move-in day map available from the housing office.

Several events will take place Thursday evening, including the Week of Welcome kickoff and a gathering at the Student Recreation Center.

Friday also will be a busy day. Move-in will continue, followed by a 4 p.m. pep rally at Matthew Knight Arena and then a parade of more than 4,000 students from the arena to the Erb Memorial Union beginning around 5 p.m.

Areas at East 13th Avenue and Franklin Boulevard, East 15th Avenue and Agate Street and East 13th Avenue and Columbia Street will be closed about 20 minutes during the parade.

New and returning students will be able to take part in several events Saturday, including a football watch party. Convocation, the university’s official kickoff of the academic year, begins at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Knight Arena.

For the full schedule of events and more, see the Week of Welcome website.