Janice Taliaferro, left, and Ben Taliaferro, 12, help Kasey Taliaferro, an incoming Kansas University freshman from Berryton, move into Templin Hall.

Bye Mom, bye Dad. Love you.

Woo-hoo, freedom, baby.

Kansas University’s newest students and their families had to brave hot temperatures Sunday while lugging their stuff into student housing facilities, particularly the residence halls on Daisy Hill.

“It’s terrible,” said Hannah Ballard, 18, a recent Wellington High School graduate. “It’s nice and cool inside, but it’s terrible coming out here.”

During the afternoon, she was moving into Ellsworth Hall and was glad the elevator trips seemed to get her up to her new home – on the eighth floor – rather quickly. Ballard was looking forward to living a few hours away from home and having the opportunity to meet new people.

The day also meant her mother would have to say goodbye to her soon.

“I’m excited and sad and all that stuff at the same time,” said her mother, Sharon, of Winfield.

KU Student Housing on Sunday opened up scholarship and residence halls earlier than usual at 6:30 a.m. to offer families a longer window to beat the heat. The temperature neared 100 degrees, and the heat index made it feel even more sweltering, particularly during the afternoon.

“We just felt for the safety of the students and their families,” said Diana Robertson, director of student housing. “We wanted to get them in as early as possible.”

Classes begin Thursday, and about 4,500 students were expected to arrive into campus housing by Sunday. Other than student, faculty and staff helpers available to assist the movers, several shade tents and stations with water were open for parents to rest.

But the new students said the heat was a small price to pay for a fresh start.

“It’s definitely a good feeling to finally have a place of my own,” said Eric Ashton, 18, from Wichita’s Kapaun-Mount Carmel Catholic High School.

He was moving with his roommate and high school friend Joe McDonough, 18, into Hashinger Hall.

Josh Hernandez, 18, from W.T. White High School in Dallas, will be the first of his siblings to attend college, which has made him a little nervous. But he’s also excited to move into McCollum Hall and attend KU.

“I’m excited most about meeting new people,” Hernandez said.

For Blue Valley West High School graduate Laura Licata, 18, moving day also means freedom.

“The thing I’m most excited about college is being on my own and be lacking with rules that were in high school,” Licata said.