USC Upstate students move in early

Check-in for USC Upstate students at Campus Suites, a multimillion-dollar 483-bedroom luxury apartment complex recently built off Valley Falls Road, wasn't supposed to commence for another week.

In fact, the complex wasn't scheduled to officially open until Aug. 16.

But as the Greek philosopher Plato put it, "necessity is the mother of invention."

And a group of USC Upstate students who were displaced July 30 after a fire in Building G at Campus Edge Apartments consumed their homes and possessions was allowed to move in a little earlier than their classmates.

"Our hearts really went out to the residents," said Deborah Fitzgibbon, vice president of university housing property management for Campus Suites. "We received a call from the university asking for our help. Our policy then changed, and we pulled together to get them in."

Fitzgibbon said 17 of the 25 students affected by the fire have moved into Campus Suites. The remaining eight students are living in another building at Campus Edge or at other apartment complexes close to campus.

Campus Suites spokeswoman Melissa Soto said her company has waived all initial deposits and application fees as well as half the first month's rent for those students.

"Our biggest concern was to make it easy and enjoyable for them," Soto said.

Shana Conyers, 19, of Columbia said dealing with a fire and the loss of her possessions - as well as the trauma of nearly losing her life - were the last things she expected leading into her junior year of college.

"We lost everything, including our clothes, furniture, my laptop and other personal items," Conyers said. "We're just happy to be alive. But we have a lot to think about now."

Conyers said she and her roommate, Wandrell Whaley, 19, of Charleston, escaped their second-floor apartment just seconds before 15- to 20-foot flames engulfed the building.

When the fire broke out, Conyers was asleep, and Whaley, who had just moved in that Wednesday afternoon, was warned of the fire by a neighbor.

"I got her up, and we just ran," Whaley said. "We just barely got out. I'm thankful I was there; otherwise, she (Conyers) may not have been able to get out."

Conyers and Whaley are sticking together through their ordeal and have moved into a four-bedroom apartment with two other students at Campus Suites.

"We just couldn't stay there (Campus Edge Apartments) after what happened," Conyers said. "I'm thankful we were able to find housing quickly."

Laura Puckett-Boler, dean of students and interim vice chancellor for student and diversity affairs, said representatives from several nearby apartment complexes, including The Haven at Boiling Springs, The Haven at North Town, College Pointe and Campus Suites, offered to help within hours of the fire.

"There was an outpouring of support from many of the surrounding apartment complexes," Puckett-Boler said. "Campus Suites has taken a majority of the students, but they have all showed a genuine desire to help."

Puckett-Boler said the university has received a number of donations from individuals and businesses in the community, including a $20,000 donation from one USC Upstate alumnus and $4,000 in cash from local businesses.

While the students did manage to escape safely, she said, their possessions are a total loss, and many of the students didn't have renter's insurance.

To help the students replace their clothing, home furnishings and school supplies, USC Upstate has established an "Adopt A Student" program, and for the next two weeks, the university will be collecting donations to help the students affected by the fire get back on their feet.

For information, visit: www.uscupstate.edu.