By Ally Uhlendorf
Editorialist
Just last week, New Jersey experienced its most extreme blizzard in 30 years. The College shut down for two days, and students as well as faculty did not have to come to campus. However, not every member of the College’s staff was excused during this storm — essential workers, such as building assistants and facilities staff, were still required to come to campus and continue working, and that deserves to be highlighted.
Essential workers do a lot more for our campus community than they are recognized for. In order for this campus to be successfully run, there must be people who ensure that the walkways and streets are cleared, the residence halls remain safe and that facilities continue to work even through dangerous conditions. While the rest of the campus is told to stay home for safety reasons, these workers are working through the rough conditions to return the College to normal as soon as possible.
It is not often recognized by members of the campus community just how much these employees do for us. Without these individuals, we would not have the privilege of returning to campus safely and quickly, and would be at risk of losing power, heat and resources.
Oftentimes, essential workers are the invisible backbone of the College. Their work tends to happen behind the scenes, and it seems to be forgotten that there are actual, dedicated people behind these jobs. Most of the time, these workers are not only ensuring that these problems are solved, but also ensuring they are doing so without interrupting the campus’s routine.
Beyond giving these workers the gratitude they deserve, there is a bigger conversation to be had about how institutions value manual labor. Essential workers are often among the lowest-paid employees on college campuses, despite the demanding work they do. The services these employees provide for the campus, such as snow removal, sanitation and food service, are foundational to the function of the College, and they should be fairly compensated for their work.
There are also intense personal sacrifices that come with these jobs. While most of the College’s community spent the snow day as a “day off,” safely indoors with family or friends, these workers were out navigating icy roads and dangerous travel conditions just to get to campus. They, too, have families, responsibilities and concerns about their own safety. Yet, their commitment to getting the job done ensures that the rest of us can safely return to campus. That level of dedication should not be normalized to the point of invisibility and lack of appreciation.
As students, it can be easy to only view the College through our own lens: classes, clubs and socialization. But, the campus itself relies on hard work and labor that often goes unnoticed until something goes wrong, and even when something does go wrong, the individuals who fix those issues are often overlooked. Our education depends on people who maintain buildings, prepare food, remove waste and respond to emergencies, work that is just as essential to the student experience as classes and organizations.
Moving forward, appreciation for these essential workers should not be only in times of crisis, but in everyday passings. Learning their names, saying “thank you” and advocating for their appreciation are simple acts that can go a long way. Administrators, too, should take instances like this past blizzard as opportunities to reassess how these roles are supported and compensated.
When we return to a cleared and safe campus, we should remember that those comforts did not happen automatically. A college community is strongest when each and every role is acknowledged and valued. Essential workers deserve as much respect as any other employee at the College, and their work should be appreciated, not expected.
