You may have seen them before—clad in evergreen polos and khaki shorts–folding up tables or scanning tickets at sports games. Perhaps you’ve seen them standing in the corner during a lecture or a symposium, chatting into a radio. These people are the men and women of Event Services.
For those unfamiliar, Events Services is responsible for planning and executing the many events held on campus on a daily basis. It is a combined effort of full-time employees and part-time student employees. Last September, I submitted my resume to become a student employee for Events, but I was unaware of what I was getting myself into.
The first Events job I applied for was as an office assistant. As an office assistant, my job was relatively straightforward: answer phone calls, file forms, run errands for my superiors and do other menial office tasks. Foolishly, I decided that this wasn’t enough for me, and I made the decision to train as a box office assistant.
Not only did I work office hours on weekdays,but on weekends, I handed out tickets, dealt with unruly fans and listened to parents vent their frustrations about how their sons or daughters forgot to add them to the will call list. To add to my woes were mandatory calls and the obligation to stay on campus until commencement in mid-May.
I learned quickly that this job was no desk assistant gig;it required an honest effort and a willingness to sacrifice your own time in order to allow others to have the times of their lives. Whether it be cleaning up alcohol-soaked tarps in McGuire Hall after the Bull and Oyster Roast or packing up folding chairs and tables after an open house luncheon, you quickly learn not to put yourself over others but be willing and ready to serve and help in the cleanup effort.
I learned to put aside my urges to peek at my fantasy football roster or to moan and complain about how I was always tired, hungry or thirsty. Although I am no longer working for Events this year, I left with a new outlook on campus life.
As a result of my brief stint with Events, I gained important insight into the lives of those who work behind the scenes here at Loyola. People take various events here for granted, whether it be a symposium in the 4th Floor Programming Room or a home game against Johns Hopkins. Not many people will step back and wonder “How did that event get setup?” or “How do they clean up after that event is over?”
Even less will consider to appreciate those who help with these events and the dedication both full-time and part-time staff takes to ensure that the events run smoothly. After working for Events, I always think about these questions whenever I go to any event—Loyola-affiliated or not. The amount of time, effort and attention to detail that goes into setting up, maintaining and taking down any event, big or small, is remarkable. And I thank Events for opening my eyes and allowing me to appreciate those who work in the service industry.
