They are the people who mop the hallways, empty the trash and clean the toilets. They work hard keeping campus buildings clean and operating while students are in class or at home. Yet these janitors’ labor often goes unrecognized.
Mary Smart, a custodian at the University for 13 years, said her duties include cleaning bathrooms, dusting, mopping, sweeping and picking up trash. Smart said her work is simply a needed job, but it does have its benefits.
“I like the hours,” Smart said. “I’m off for the weekend and holidays.”
Isabella Johnson has been working at the University as a custodian for only eight months but said she enjoys her job despite the hard work involved.
“I love to meet different people. With this job, you get to find out interesting things about a lot of people,” she said.
Johnson also said the hours are perfect for her schedule.
“I like it mostly because I’m off holidays and weekends, so I can be with my kids,” she said.
Ernest Guidroz has spent 23 years working as a janitor at the University. He currently works in Acadian Hall, keeping the residence hall clean and functioning for the residents.
Guidroz said his duties include buffing floors, vacuuming carpets, cleaning windows, emptying trash cans, sweeping steps and patio areas, doing minor repairs and answering complaints from residents.
“I don’t want to blow my own horn, but I think I’m pretty good at it, and I enjoy it,” Guidroz said. “With any type of work, you’re going to run into problems, but you just have to work through them.”
Janitors, particularly those working in the residence halls, also feel a sense of community with those they serve.
“I feel kind of like a father figure,” Guidroz said, while greeting students walking into the Acadian Hall lobby. “Every one of them knows me, and I know every one of them.”
Varonica Franklin, who also works in Acadian Hall, feels a sense of family with the students on the floors she works on.
“Students pass, and some will speak, but I’m really close to certain students on the floors I work on,” she said.
Victoria Grace has worked for 18 years at the University dusting, cleaning bathrooms, mopping halls and emptying the trash for students.
Grace said she enjoys her current position as a custodian in Acadian Hall.
“I love it, especially working in here with the girls,'” she said. “I like the students. I feel like they’re my kids.”
Despite the occasional problem, Guidroz said he likes his job and would not have it any other way.
“This is a real family environment. I’ve never had a problem,” he said. “If you gave me six months, I couldn’t say anything negative about any one of [the students].”