And that doesn't account for the other items she undoubtedly accumulated DURING the school year.
There is no doubt that moving is a pain in the butt.
Americans traditionally try to lighten the load by having a yard or garage sale before they move.
The trouble on college campuses, however, is that everybody is moving out at the same time, and nobody is moving in (at least not until those who are leaving are already gone.) All sellers and no buyers doesn't leave many options other than dumping the excess. Seems to make sense to collect the stuff at least until new arrivals appear, looking to snatch up some bargains. If the profits aren't donated to a charity, perhaps they can go to the student general activity fund.
It is a lot different now. Only the really rich kids had a TV or small fridge back then. I was happy to have a clock radio as opposed to a plain alarm clock. PC's weren't invented yet.
I'm not sure what to make of this phenomenom of giant end of semester "yard sales". I know I a lot of the stuff was probably used to begin with or were gifts the kids never really wanted. Plus, these kids are graduating and hoping to start anew. Maybe they have pie in the sky expectations but they probably figure they're going to have jobs and buy the best of everything.
My nephew graduated last august from PSU (journalism) and is working at Best Buy in Scranton(wants to work in Philly and turned down a local newspaper job offer). My niece has no job lined up (poly sci major)and wants to go to Temple law school but has no money to pay for it. Another niece (twin sister of new graduate) is still at Penn State and as a senior realized film majors (her 2nd or 3rd major) don't get real jobs. Now she's trying to get enough credits to get a degree with a possibility of a real job when she eventually graduates.
I can't criticize. My degree (University of Scranton) has largely gone wasted.
The smart one in the family is yet another niece who dropped out of college after 2 weeks and went to work part time for a Marriot hotel. They liked her and sent her to California and pay for her part time classes at UCLA and pay her more than I make for her on the job training.