With dozens of golf carts making their way through the streets, anyone traveling through DeKalb on Thursday may have mistaken NIU for Pebble Beach.

The golf carts, along with the volunteers driving them, were there to assist new and returning students move into the residence halls.

“We definitely need them,” said Phyllis Jones, staff secretary to Michael Coakley. “[Volunteers] think it’s fun and the parents are in awe.”

Mike Stang of Student Housing and Dining Services (SHDS) said about 3,700 students checked in on Thursday. In order to make the move-in and check-in process go smoothly, more than 300 current NIU students and faculty volunteered their services in the 90-degree heat, starting at 7 a.m.

“We drove around golf carts and handed out water to parents and students welcoming them to NIU,” said LaShonda Tennin of Lincoln Hall dining.

Every year around April and May, SHDS gears up for move-in day by sending out notices to faculty and staff about volunteer opportunities. In order to attract more volunteers, SHDS offers incentives to students who apply to be NI Guides, such as early move-in and free tickets to the Huskie Bash.

Other volunteers helped students and parents move their belongings while others gave directions to places from the bookstores to Wal-Mart.

Reasons for working move-in day varied among the volunteers. Because they had to decline tips, money was not one of them.

“I volunteer every year because I feel it is instrumental for incoming freshmen to form relationships with current NIU students,” said Karega Harris, SA director of Academic Affairs.

Some students helped to repay a favor.

“I feel it is my obligation as a student to help, because someone helped me,” said DuJuan Smith, SA director of Organization and Development.

Others were on hand to help recruitment of their own organizations.

“I volunteered in order to get girls interested in formal recruiting and for community service hours,” said Ashley Kent, a junior biology major and Alpha Delta Pi member.

While many of the volunteers were tired from the heat and the work, they enjoyed the experience.

“It seems awful in the beginning, but in the end, it’s not so bad,” Kent said.