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Photo by Drew Fleming Four freshmen return from the Southern Oregon University bookstore Sunday in preparation for classes beginning today. From left are Brett Whitman, 20, a literature major; Rob Watson, 18, English; John Steinbergs, undeclared; and Siobhan O'Halloran, physics. Classes begin today at SOU Residence halls fill up fast By DAVID PRESZLER ASHLAND -- The waiting ends today for Siobhan O'Halloran. After up to a week of orientation seminars and settling in, classes begin for the Southern Oregon University freshman and her classmates. "I'm ready to go to class because I'm so bored," the 18-year-old physics major from The Dalles said Sunday as she walked from the campus bookstore back to the dorms. "I'm kind of worried about the work but I'm ready." Sunday was likely the last calm day the university campus will see for a while. Students spent their final study-free day making trips to the bookstores, relaxing on the lawns and socializing. Fifth-year senior Travis Bichelle was one of the few actually moving in Sunday. "He's out golfing," the 22-year-old said when asked where his roommate was. "I didn't get to go because I have to move in." There's been more moving in this year than in years past. Around 1,100 students will live in the campus' 13 dormitories this year -- an increase of about 15 percent -- that has the on-campus housing at full capacity, according to Gary Dukes, the university's associate director for housing and residence life. "We haven't been at full capacity in many years," Dukes said. The university's enrollment is expected to be around 5,000 -- an increase of about 2.5 percent. Exact figures won't be available until October, after the term gets going. Dukes said the enrollment increase helped increase the number of students living on campus. But improvements to the dorms and marketing efforts have also played a role. For example, students have Internet access in their rooms for the first time this year and dorms have computer labs available for students without computers. Amenities like that are part of what the university has tried to market. It has also pushed conveniences like being able to walk to classes (thus avoiding parking issues) and having meals available in the cafeteria. Sunday, the bookstore was a popular haunt for many of those on-campus students. "They were standing in line when we opened," said bookstore employee Sandra Cather. "They have these really cool laser pens," said sophomore Brandon Keaton as he scanned the shelves, "but they're $14." So did the laser pens make the must-have list? "I don't think so," said Keaton. "I've got to buy my own stuff this year." As is typical when textbook purchases are involved, the prices caught several students off guard. And those weren't the only expenses some hadn't foreseen. "I've had to spend so much more money that I thought," said Rob Watson, an 18-year-old freshman from Portland. The extra $400 in tuition he didn't expect to have to pay, the $230 worth of books and the $50 he had to shell out after locking his keys in his car left Watson feeling strapped. "I only came down with $1,000," he said. "I better get a job." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA