The Collegian Weekly: Campus cleanliness a group effort
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Opinion
Hillsdale College custodians are working harder than ever to keep the college in mint condition despite the addition of the Grewcock Student Union.
They now must clean 70,000 more square feet, and their staff has been increased only a little - one more full-time employee, one more part-time, and a veteran custodian switching from part-time to full-time.
Furthermore, winter brings mud and salt tracked throughout the buildings. And with colds and coughs plaguing campus, cleanliness becomes not just a matter of aesthetics.
It's no wonder some custodians feel frazzled as they vacuum, clean bathrooms, dust, empty trash, mop, scrub and clean the vast new space.
Nevertheless, they've risen to the extra tasks brilliantly. They take pride in their work - and it shows. The best evidence is that no one notices. We take for granted our immaculate campus, but we'd surely raise hell if the cleanliness dipped at all.
Although custodians do contribute to their cleaning schedules, their workload has increased. Some have even forfeited their breaks to make time to clean well.
Likewise, the bosses at Custodial Services have tweaked the cleaning routine, introducing a high efficiency cleaning system.
Custodians and their bosses must work together to meet the demands of an expanding campus. But some custodians seem to feel strained under the bulky workload. Worse, some were afraid of compromising their jobs by talking with their superiors about their concerns.
The custodians are encouraged to voice their complaints at monthly meetings.
And last year, a suggestion box placed outside the Custodial Service office did not harvest a single suggestion, even an anonymous one. Custodians should not fear speaking up. Their bosses desire their feedback, and their hands-on knowledge could be a valuable resource for solutions.
But just like the campus cleanliness is a matter of pride for the custodians, it should be for students. We must all take care of our living and study spaces. There's no excuse for stray litter in A.J.'s, forgotten papers in the cubbies, floor-tossed paper towels in the bathrooms.
Custodial Services perhaps should think about hiring students to clean if the custodial staff continues to feel overwhelmed.
Lots of kids on campus are looking for jobs.
Hiring them would keep students responsible for their study space and fortify bonds between the town and the college.
The condition of the campus should be everyone's concern.
They now must clean 70,000 more square feet, and their staff has been increased only a little - one more full-time employee, one more part-time, and a veteran custodian switching from part-time to full-time.
Furthermore, winter brings mud and salt tracked throughout the buildings. And with colds and coughs plaguing campus, cleanliness becomes not just a matter of aesthetics.
It's no wonder some custodians feel frazzled as they vacuum, clean bathrooms, dust, empty trash, mop, scrub and clean the vast new space.
Nevertheless, they've risen to the extra tasks brilliantly. They take pride in their work - and it shows. The best evidence is that no one notices. We take for granted our immaculate campus, but we'd surely raise hell if the cleanliness dipped at all.
Although custodians do contribute to their cleaning schedules, their workload has increased. Some have even forfeited their breaks to make time to clean well.
Likewise, the bosses at Custodial Services have tweaked the cleaning routine, introducing a high efficiency cleaning system.
Custodians and their bosses must work together to meet the demands of an expanding campus. But some custodians seem to feel strained under the bulky workload. Worse, some were afraid of compromising their jobs by talking with their superiors about their concerns.
The custodians are encouraged to voice their complaints at monthly meetings.
And last year, a suggestion box placed outside the Custodial Service office did not harvest a single suggestion, even an anonymous one. Custodians should not fear speaking up. Their bosses desire their feedback, and their hands-on knowledge could be a valuable resource for solutions.
But just like the campus cleanliness is a matter of pride for the custodians, it should be for students. We must all take care of our living and study spaces. There's no excuse for stray litter in A.J.'s, forgotten papers in the cubbies, floor-tossed paper towels in the bathrooms.
Custodial Services perhaps should think about hiring students to clean if the custodial staff continues to feel overwhelmed.
Lots of kids on campus are looking for jobs.
Hiring them would keep students responsible for their study space and fortify bonds between the town and the college.
The condition of the campus should be everyone's concern.
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