Never fear, facilities is here
Staff Editorial
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Opinion
The Kirkwood Community College facilities department doesn't receive the recognition it deserves.
Its workers are sometimes seen as the "bad guys" when it comes to upholding campus rules. But without them the campus wouldn't be able to function.
Most students are unaware of everything for which the department is responsible. Not only do they maintain the campus but they also manage Campus Security, emergency services and construction projects.
According to Melissa Jensen, emergency services and energy director at Kirkwood, Campus Security is available 24/7. Security workers escort people to their cars and keep the campus safe from predators. They also unlock car doors and jump-start dead car batteries.
Can you imagine standing alone in the middle of a deserted parking lot at night with a dead cell phone? This may not be the typical scenario but without the presence of campus security it could be a reality.
Another service the facilities department provides is the Kirkwood Alert System, which sends information via e-mail and cell phones about what to do or where to go in an emergency. The information could mean the difference between calm or chaos.
Kirkwood's maintenance department also deserves recognition for the long hours its workers put in. They are usually up all night after a snowstorm to ensure that the campus lots are clear.
Custodians and groundskeepers keep our campus neat and clean, something many can take for granted. Changing lights, tending to power outages and cleaning up messes are all part of a day's work for facility employees.
So the next time you see a member of our facilities department, offer a smile or a nod to show how much you appreciate the hard work it takes to ensure our campus is well taken care of.
Its workers are sometimes seen as the "bad guys" when it comes to upholding campus rules. But without them the campus wouldn't be able to function.
Most students are unaware of everything for which the department is responsible. Not only do they maintain the campus but they also manage Campus Security, emergency services and construction projects.
According to Melissa Jensen, emergency services and energy director at Kirkwood, Campus Security is available 24/7. Security workers escort people to their cars and keep the campus safe from predators. They also unlock car doors and jump-start dead car batteries.
Can you imagine standing alone in the middle of a deserted parking lot at night with a dead cell phone? This may not be the typical scenario but without the presence of campus security it could be a reality.
Another service the facilities department provides is the Kirkwood Alert System, which sends information via e-mail and cell phones about what to do or where to go in an emergency. The information could mean the difference between calm or chaos.
Kirkwood's maintenance department also deserves recognition for the long hours its workers put in. They are usually up all night after a snowstorm to ensure that the campus lots are clear.
Custodians and groundskeepers keep our campus neat and clean, something many can take for granted. Changing lights, tending to power outages and cleaning up messes are all part of a day's work for facility employees.
So the next time you see a member of our facilities department, offer a smile or a nod to show how much you appreciate the hard work it takes to ensure our campus is well taken care of.
Be the first to comment on this story