Most campers arrive with their luggage in hand and a bewildered look on their face as they wave goodbye to their parents. Most campers also arrive at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. But, like everything, there are always a few exceptions.

Sitting shyly on a brown leather sofa right inside the lobby of Couch Center, sits Erica Martin, a freshman from Maud, Texas.

She’s been waiting quite a while for things to get started.

“I actually came to enroll yesterday,” Martin said.

Along with a few others, Martin was allowed to spend the night before camp starts in Couch Tower, Camp Crimson counselor Kaleigh Kaczmarek said.

As the sliding glass doors open, a new batch of campers walk into the lobby. The hoops and hollers coming from the lawn outside catch Martin’s attention.

“I haven’t gone through that yet. And I’m not sure I’m ready,” she said, talking about the infamous tunnel formed by counselors, which all new campers must walk through.

“Boomer! Sooner! Tunnel! Jessie’s got himself a girl and I want to make her mine!” shouts the pack of camp counselors from outside, singing along to music blasting from a stereo system.

The overbearing yells and the ‘80s music penetrating the walls of Couch Center and resonating down to Lindsey St. feel like an episode of Glee.

Dominique Granello, a freshman from Dallas, made his way through the screaming with a smile on his face, “Well, that was a nice welcome.”

Granello said he hopes to make a few new friends this weekend and become acquainted with campus.

Clapping and screaming, it’s the duty of each counselor to make sure every camper is welcomed with enthusiasm.

Krishna Suthar, botany and microbiology sophomore and camper from last year, said being on the other side of the welcoming process is fun.

“I remember last year when I came and I was like, ‘What did I get myself into?’ Now I know what they’re going through,” Suthar said.