Building service workers’ job requirements differ when moving from Greek Court to the residence halls.

BSW Supervisor Charles Jenkins said BSWs are there to create a safe and clean living environment for the students no matter where they work.

BSW’s from Greek Court have different shifts compared to residences halls and even other buildings, such as the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Jenkins said the residents are there to help take care of their own living area.

BSW’s in Greek Court work from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m., while residence hall workers work from 7 a.m to 3 p.m.

BSW’s have requested transfers out of Greek Court because of the recent shift change. Now BSW’s have to start working an hour earlier.

“(The students) are less likely to make big messes when they know that someone who cares about them has to clean them up,” he said.

Nita Jenkins, a BSW for more than 6 years, said her job is much more than cleaning and maintenance.

“I love being able to interact with kids every day,” she said. “It’s good to see them growing but it is also hard to see them go.”

Nita Jenkins said that BSWs gain seniority the longer they work here. She said BSWs with seniority get to choose first when they meet twice a year to bid for the available jobs.

Nita Jenkins said the person with the highest seniority picks off the list and then the BSWs go down the list until all the jobs are filled.

“It becomes a game and some dorms are similar so it usually works out,” she said.

In her opinion, the female halls seem cleaner most of the time.

In Greek court, BSWs do not have to clean bathrooms so some workers like that about the area.

She said the hours people prefer to work are also a factor in their placement choice. Nita Jenkins said she used to work in the Doudna Fine Arts Center but likes working in Greek Court better because she gets to start at 7 a.m. instead of at 5 a.m.

Many different types of people work as BSWs, she said.

“We do have retired military or veterans,” she said. “The respect they have for their country and serving [the country] they apply here.”

Another BSW, Stan Evermon, works as a sub foreman in Taylor Hall.

He said a sub foreman oversees that BSWs keep the building clean and sanitary. BSW’s have to work for at least two years before they can apply to be a sub-foreman.

Evermon said he started out as a floater in the Triad and has been working as a BSW for almost 10 years. In order to be a sub-foreman he had pass the same test as Nita Jenkins and interview for the position. He first applied for the job because it seemed like a job he could handle.

He has worked mostly in residence halls, but has experience in Greek Court as well. In his experience most of the residence halls have minor differences but operate the same way.

He said he has worked in every housing building on campus and has gotten to work with a lot of different people.

The only difference between the residence halls and Greek Court, he said, is that they do not have to clean the showers in Greek Court and the hours are slightly different.

He said BSWs only clean the showers on Christmas and Spring Break.

Currently, he said he works in Taylor on the north side of building. Evermon said the only difference is that on his side the floors have hand dryers instead of paper towels.

He said has been working in Taylor for almost two years and is used to it. He said the only skills BSWs need to have are focus and friendliness.

Evermon said that BSWs cannot get behind on their work or it gets hard to catch up. “You have to be good with people in this environment,” he said.

Nita agreed.

“Some (people) you get along great with and there are some (people) that you get to bicker and fuss with,” Nita admitted.

She laughed and relayed that there was only one time when she came in and the building was a mess. Jenkins went to ask the fraternity president, at the time, a question not regarding the mess and he immediately apologized when he saw her and told her not to touch any of it. He told her he and his fraternity brothers would clean the mess up themselves.

“I respect them and their space and in turn they give me their respect,” she said.

Charles Jenkins said that before he was a supervisor he was a BSW himself.

He never worked in the residence halls because he worked on the facilities and classroom circuit within campus.

He said from his experiences he has realized BSWs who invest an interest in their residents build stronger relationships with them.

Dominique Deweese can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].