By Ashley Peterson
Are the shiny floors, sparkling toilets, glimmering sinks and spotless carpets at BYU cleaned by ghosts?
It might appear so, since much of this work is done in the early morning or late evening when many students are sound asleep.
These “ghosts,” students who work on custodial staffs, assist in providing an atmosphere where learning can take place, as well as making campus an enjoyable, clean place to be. The students also find enjoyment in cleaning.
“I feel appreciated because we make a huge difference,” said Christina Habel, a junior from Lincoln, Neb., majoring in business management, who is on the night restroom crew in the Wilkinson Student Center. “We make the bathrooms clean. It is like day and night when we are done.”
Many students may not take the time to look around and appreciate the cleanliness on campus. However, the BYU students who wake up early or stay late to clean campus do.
“I”m more conscience of picking up trash and not throwing it where it shouldn”t go,” said Mike Hawkins, a junior from Fort Worth, Texas, majoring in computer science, who works both the morning and evening cleaning shift in the Bookstore. “I also find myself cleaning up scuff marks off the floor.”
Every morning at 3:40 a.m., Hawkins rolls out of bed in order to get to campus by 4 a.m.
“In the mornings, we usually get a specific assignment, things such as restrooms or garbage,” he said.
An hour later, Chantel Call, a sophomore from Atoka, Tenn., majoring in political science, rides her bike up the hill south of campus and begins her work day at the Harold B. Lee Library.
Call begins her day by punching her time card, getting her keys and turning on the lights. She then dusts and vacuums the first, third and fourth floors of the library.
At 8 p.m., Habel and her crew begin cleaning the 23 bathrooms which they finish around midnight.
“This job has taught me a lot about working as a team,” Habel said. “We all have to be there to get the job done. Everyone has to pull their own weight.”
There are lots of advantages to working on campus.
“We offer students flexible work schedules, convenient work locations, wonderful work opportunities, competitive salaries and the chance to develop excellent work habits,” said BYU”s Student Employment Web site.
A large reason for working on campus is the exemption from paying the FICA tax, which is approximately 8 percent of gross earnings, according to the Web site.
“The pay is good,” Hawkins said. “The hours are good. They are flexible, and it is close to home.”
Call, Habel and Hawkins all said how much they enjoy their co-workers.
“Some days we play trivia games,” Habel said. “There is a crewmember that likes to do interaction games. I think enjoying your job is important no matter what it is.”
