“The University Janitor’s Lament” as heard from a maintenance man on UAlbany’s original now downtown campus, at Draper Hall. First his lament, and then the Passover tie-in (as we heard this while delivering Matzah & in the days just before Pesach) at the end of this piece:
No, this isn’t a complaint about rowdy or messy college students. This Janitor’s Lament is aimed at the faculty. Hear this one out:
The old downtown campus is comprised on a series of interconnected old brick buildings, east to west: Hawley, Draper, Husted, Richardson, Page and Milne. We traversed them all aside for Hawley. Quite empty, quiet, midday on a Tuesday.
Here and there lights are on, there’s movement & sound from some offices, but few. In some buildings, & on some floors, even less. Draper felt deserted. On 3rd floor we met this maintenance man. Uplifted at the sight of us – living beings – he became animated, went on a rant.
He opened for us doors of empty bare offices. He told us how few any faculty ventured in. There’s little to no signs of life. Since Covid, people have gone remote. There are exceptions! He names by name, counting on his fingers, the regulars who come. >
He says some faculty offices moved to ETEC, some left for good, but many still have offices here, but they come so rarely and for so short. He says that he himself must come in person, he can’t do maintenance work remote. But how desolate & forlorn it feels for all these halls to be so empty!
I myself noticed from door-signs that some professors spend precious little time on campus, some posting 1 hour a week office hours (or by appt). The Janitor’s Lament! Not enough people around, not enough hustle/bustle, social interaction & human exchange!
Of course, much academic exchange can happen digitally and online, with experts far afield & around the world! But remote (& other factors) destroyed something of the in-person human life & natural exchange of the university.
The Janitor has a point, a perspective, ought to be heard!
This “Janitor’s Lament” thread is also a tribute to the late (short time) Ualbany President Kermit Hall. He told me that when first learning the campus he spoke to bus drivers, janitors, food-service workers etc. They can offer unique perspective PhDs might not see (or care about).
As Avot (Ethics of our Fathers) 4:1 teaches: “Who is Wise? One who learns from everyone!” Indeed, we have something to learn from everyone, and the more present, the more who are invested, who engage & interact, the richer and more enriched we all will be!
Being that we heard this just before Passover, while delivering Matzah, what’s the connection, the message? SHOW-UP! One ought to be present at the Seder. Even the Wicked Son is there at the table. As someone witty once said: Showing up is 80% of life!
Early in his leadership the Rebbe spoke urgently of a 5th Son, not mentioned in the Haggadah, who doesn’t show up. Our job is to see him out, reach out, draw him in. Just being there is already something. Sitting it out isn’t good for the 5th Son, and it’s not good for us.