Post Modern Heroes of the Halls
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Custodial workers at Ohio University play an important role in students' lives beyond just cleaning. They often take on parental roles, providing support, advice and a familiar friendly face for students living away from home. One custodian, Trina Woods, helped a student from abroad adjust to life at OU and became like a mother figure. Custodians see caring for students' wellbeing as part of their job, ensuring residents feel safe and comfortable in their home. While the work involves cleaning, many custodians develop deep connections to students and take pride in maintaining a clean living environment for them.
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Post Modern Heroes of the Halls
- 1. THE POST WWW.THEPOSTATHENS.COM 3WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2015 Post Modern CHECK OUT POST MODERN EVERY WEDNESDAY @thepostculture HEROES OF THE HALLS Custodial workers in the residence halls go above and beyond to take on the role of pseudo-parents R akhi Panjabi Ihiga only spent one year, 1999 to 2000, at Ohio University as part of an exchange program with Hong Kong Baptist University. Fifteen years later, after getting married and living in Hong Kong, Prague and now Colorado, she still remembers Trina Woods. Woods has worked at OU since 1992 the 鍖rst half of her career in Culi- nary Services, the second in Resident Custodial Services. Ihiga worked with Woods in Nelson Dining Hall three mornings per week and said she dreaded when Woods wasnt there because they would often chat while prepping the salad bar. Trina kind of became like my mom away from home, Ihiga, 36, said. She helped me through a lot that year be- cause it was the 鍖rst time I was away from home and was so far away and experiencing so many new things, and she was always there to listen and to advise. Now 59 years old, Woods said she could be a grandma to the students. Yet, her parental feelings havent sub- sided. Theyve grown now that she interacts with students in their homes rather than in the dining hall work en- vironment. Say if mom and dad dropped you off, I feel responsible to take care of you while youre in the building and on the green and make sure youre doing what you need to do, Woods, a custodial worker in Ewing Hall, said. Its just a good feeling that you get em back home. Neitherthatresponsibilitynorthose relationships are part of the custodial worker job description, according to Pete Trentacoste, executive director of Housing and Residence Life, though it has become more of the rule as op- posed to the exception. Theres a deep connection for a lot of them in terms of, like, this is my building. These are my students, Trentacostesaid.Itgoesaboveandbe- yondjustasimpleImheretodoajob. Because of that, Trentacoste called the custodial workers the heroes of the halls. THE JOB University Custodial Services is split into two segments. Custodial Ser- vices cleans the academic buildings and works in three shifts: 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. and 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Resident Custodial Services cleans the residence halls and mainly works from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Both po- sitions come with a 30-minute unpaid lunch and scheduled breaks, accord- ing to Steve Mack, director of facilities management. A typical custodial worker is identi- 鍖ed as a CW-I. CW-IIs are lead work- ers, Mack said, a job which comes with an increase in pay and responsibilities. Woods was a CW-II in James Hall for three years before returning to a CW-I position in Ewing. Mack said the custodial staff has more than 200 workers including temporary service utility workers with 89 in the 43 dorms. CW-Is hired before the most recent contract in 2013, Mack said, earn about $14 to $19 per hour, in addition to bene鍖ts. Anyone hired after that contract, he said, earns about $13 to $16 per hour. Every day in the residence halls, the custodial workers clean the lobby, communal bathrooms, hallways, en- trances and some outdoor spaces. In newer dorms with suite-style rooms, such as Bromley and the side 鍖ve, Mack said they only clean the common spaces. A clean environment tends to re- late to safe environment, and we also are, where we clean bathrooms, main- taining public health, he said. Woods added that she often re- moves trash, sweeps, vacuums and washes walls or water fountains. Debbie Dowler, a CW-I who has worked on West Green for 鍖ve years, said she likes to maintain a daily rou- tine to accommodate the residents and their schedules. It is their home, and we like for them to feel comfortable, the 36-year- old said. Custodial workers also call in work orders, disinfect rooms of residents who are sick with infectious illnesses and alert staff to any problems such as vandalism or damages. Barry Douglas, 49, worked in Cus- todial Services for 10 years before switching to the resident segment about three years ago. Although he still cleaned bathrooms in the academic buildings, Douglas said he also cleaned chalkboards and chairs and often had to buff or scrub 鍖oors. Obtaining a position as a custodial worker in Resident Custodial Services can be challenging. When posts are available, a bidding system kicks into gear. Those already within the segment have 鍖rst choice, Dowler said, then the position becomes open to employees in outside departments. Seniority is also a factor, Woods said. Luxuries, such as elevators, also in鍖uence which halls are bid on. Woods added that the number of custodial workers needed per dorm de- pends on the square footage of the hall. For instance, she is the only house- keeper in Ewing Hall. It took Dowler two years to get into Resident Custodial Services and out of Culinary Services, where she worked for about 10 years. Many others, such as Douglas, work in Custodial Services before moving to the resident segment because it comes with better, more stable hours. My daughter was young, and I wanted to be there for her. I knew she would be into sports. Its kinda hard to do that when you work night shift, Tina Brown, a CW-I who works with Douglas in James Hall and previously worked in Custodial Services, said. Its always family-driven to want to be in a more stable position. Due to gender stereotypes, men arent the typical image of a housekeep- er, but Barry Arbaugh, a CW-I for nearly 18 years, said it doesnt mean one is a better custodian. Im more of a mechanic. I never would have seen myself as a person that cleaned, Arbaugh, who worked in Jefferson Hall for 10 years but now works in Read Hall, said. But from my standpoint, any of my bathrooms would compare with any of the fe- males bathrooms. Headmitted,however,thatheisnta fan of the showers. I hate wet feet, the 47-year-old said. Though the grease at the end of his 鍖ngers proves his af鍖nity for cars he had worked on an 88 Corvette for 16 years Arbaugh prefers Resident Custodial Services because it allows him to better juggle his work and play time, especially after he served as a 鍖ight line jet engine mechanic in the Air Force for four years. (In the Air Force) it just didnt seem likeIevergotoffwork,andIdidntwant that for the rest of my life, he said. Before joining the resident seg- ment, Arbaugh worked in Custodial Services for seven years. He admits that he doesnt have the most glori- ous job title, but Arbaugh pushes back against the stereotype that the position is for the uneducated. Somebody has to do it, he said. This professor asked me, Barry, do you ever think about going to go back to college and becoming more than just a custodian? And I said, Well, when I was a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force, it was a very stressful job. If my broom crashes and burns, nobody dies. He likened it to the way people treat those who work at McDonalds. You go through McDonalds, and if you dont get it right, youre like, Oh, whered that bonehead graduate from? Arbaugh said. But you dont ever think about the times you got it right. CARING WHILE CLEANING A week before Halloween, Sue Lane, 65, was getting ready to buy can- dy for her kids, the residents of Dou- gan House. Were the mom away from home, Lane, a CW-I for about a year who worked in Culinary Services for 18 years prior, said. They see a familiar face every day. They know that this lady is gonna walk in, and shes gonna smile at me, and shes gonna say good morning to me. And whether Im hav- ing a good day, bad day shes still gonna smile just like mama does. Mack said he often sees the custo- dial workers take a parental approach. Sometimesitsnicetotalktosome- body thats not directly responsible for anything in your life, he said. Some- times its hard to go to (a residential assistant or director) with an issue be- cause it might be questionable, but you can go to a custodian and talk to them about anything except maybe, Hey, Im the guy that made the mess. During her freshman year, Megan Witmer lived next to Arbaughs of鍖ce and said she would talk to him multiple times a day. He was like the dad of Jeff Hall, the now junior studying journalism said. He would always look out for you. I dont think I would have been happy here without him. Now that Witmer is an RA in Bush Hall, she said she tries to emulate Ar- baughs kindness. Witmer and Arbaugh dont talk as frequently as before, but she said when they randomly see each other, they talk for hours. He can start having a conversation with someone like no time has passed. Having someone like that who just knew you for a year, remember your name, your face that speaks a lot of words, Witmer said. Thats something I want to be like. Arbaugh said he just tries to talk to students about life. Were all here with the same mis- sion in mind, which is that we want students to succeed, graduate and live great, productive lives, Trentacoste said. And I think that our housekeep- ers are no different in what they do. Were the mom away from home. They see a familiar face every day. They know that this lady is gonna walk in, and shes gonna smile at me, and shes gonna say good morning to me. And whether Im having a good day, bad day shes still gonna smile just like mama does. SUE LANE CUSTODIAL WORKER AT DOUGAN HOUSE EMMA HOWELLS | PHOTO EDITOR Top: Read Hall custodial worker Barry Arbaugh reflects on the 25 years he has spent working in the job for Ohio University. The sign in the background was signed and given to him by the 2005-06 Jefferson Hall residents as a gift for his services. Left: Custodial worker Debbie Dowler vacuums the second floor of James Hall. Dowler has worked on West Green for five years. Middle: Arbaugh mops the floor of the Read Hall first floor womens bathroom as a part of his duties as a custodial worker. Right: Arbaugh wipes down the walls of a mens bathroom in Read Hall on East Green. MERYL GOTTLIEB | CULTURE EDITOR @BUZZLIGHTMERYL MG986611@OHIO.EDU