By Rebecca Silva
BYU''s nighttime campus custodians knew they were in for a peculiar sleeping schedule when they took the shift between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., but higher wages and odd hours proved to be worth the trouble.
While many campus jobs start at about $6.65 per hour, late-night custodial jobs will pay up to a dollar more. These jobs provide five tiers that offer higher pay depending on experience and seniority.
'It pays a lot,' said Marcelle Matzopoulos, 22, a German major from Namibia, Africa. 'And right now its accumulated to so much that if I did anything else I wouldn''t get paid as much.'
The tiered wage scale is a big benefit for employees. Some workers eventually earn up to $15.25 per hour.
Matzopoulos balances classes, homework and friends with her late-night work hours and somehow manages to stay awake on the job.
'You just kind of do it,' she said. 'Sometimes there''s a need to stay up in the middle of the night to talk to roommates or something. On other days, I''ll sleep all day or miss classes.'
Some late-night workers develop a rough schedule where sleeping is divided into two parts of the day.
'This semester I''ve got 16 credits,' said Adam Valencic, 21, a double major in comparative literature and Chinese. 'I work 10 to two, sleep. Between classes I do homework, sleep and feed my fish.'
High wages outweigh the tumultuous sleeping schedule, and students appreciate having a work schedule that will never interfere directly with classes.
The popularity for nighttime custodial jobs increased this year as students became more aware of the benefits.
This year something unusual occurred that has never happened before, said Mary O''Neill, assistant manager of Student Employment. There are no spots available for late and early custodial workers.
'We have fun here,' Matzopoulos said. 'At the late-hour shift you get to know people really well cause you''re so slap happy. You see them in their good moods and in their bad moods.'
Custodial employers allow employees to socialize while performing jobs such as mopping floors, cleaning tables and picking up classrooms. Even bathroom duty isn''t as grueling with friends around.
The atmosphere is positive, and the employers are nice, said Sanna Koistinen, 24, a pre-modern dance major from Finland. 'I will clean anything, even bathrooms.'
Many late night custodians are international students. Student workers often come in contact with a variety of cultures and opinions during their custodial shifts.
'I think so far it has been a pretty good experience,' Matzopoulos said. 'Probably the best. There are so many international students; I get to see a window into other cultures.'
'It''s very social, relaxed, good money, good schedule,' Koistinen said. 'I can''t really find any faults.'