Photo courtesy of Hamilton College
The Facilities Management workers on campus are, in one word, incredible. Not only are they kind and accommodating, but also exceptionally reliable and thorough. As a resident of Dunham Hall, I can confidently say that these workers do more than anyone should ever have to. Between cleaning the bathrooms multiple times a week, maintaining COVID regulations, and ensuring that our surroundings are safe, these workers have their hands full. On top of everything, they eliminated my wasp infestation within the first few weeks of my arrival on campus, a fact that I am incredibly grateful for (shoutout to Bobby Evans). The facilities staff not only operated to the best of their ability, but also worked with me to ensure that the problem was resolved. Throughout all of the time they spent working with me, they were incredibly polite, considerate, and kind. Other students and employees feel equally as grateful as I am for their hard work.
Many students at Hamilton praise the work that the facilities and management workers do as well as their warm personalities. A resident of Major Hall, Grace Policelli ’24, expressed excitement about seeing the facilities worker, Del, on the daily. She is fond of their morning interactions, like when she “leave[s] in the morning and he’s cleaning the common room or something, I say ‘Hi’ and he says, ‘Have a good day!’”
This attitude is not exclusive to Policelli, or even to Major Hall; the kindness of these workers is recognized campus-wide. Josue Herrera Rivera ’24, a fellow Dunham resident, shared that his conversations with one of the Dunham custodial workers always brightens his day. He explained that “every time I come back from class, I run into this worker and we have pleasant, casual conversation. He has a very uplifting presence.”
A former resident of South Hall, Jennifer Klix ’24 shares that Mei, a member of the South custodial staff, “always wrote us positive messages on her whiteboard” which Klix described as “so kind and welcoming.” This kind of personal connection is very well-received by the students. We adore the facilities and management staff’s hospitality and willingness to engage, although the students also value the work they do.
Kyle Sullivan ’24, explained the process of having his blinds replaced. “I asked my RA to reach out to facilities to fix my shade and they came in a timely manner and fixed everything,” said Sullivan. He remains very appreciative of their efficiency and assistance.
Klix described a similar matter where Mei, the aforementioned South Hall custodial worker, “came and helped me fix my bed on one of the first days of school, and was very respectful and polite.” Klix’s experience was extremely positive and she is very glad that Mei was able to provide so much assistance, especially regarding the cleanliness of the bathrooms.
Policelli explained how Del, the member of the custodial staff in Major Hall, is “super nice and a very good cleaner. Our bathroom gets disgusting over the weekends, so he’s a real chiller.” Policelli is absolutely correct; the custodial staff deserves much praise and gratitude for their cleaning of the bathrooms around campus, especially during and immediately after weekends.
The Facilities Management staff here on the Hill are stellar. They do incredible work to keep us all safe and healthy and to keep our surroundings clean and comfortable. On behalf of myself and the students of Hamilton College, I thank you, extraordinary members of the Facilities Management staff. We are truly grateful for all that you do!