Angel Bass
Staff Writer
apperson@valdosta.edu

Barbara Graham is a 41 year-old divorced mother of one. She is currently a custodian at VSU. She has worked for VSU for about two years now.

It’s 6:32a.m. as Barbara approaches Martin Hall pushing her cart. Most students are not even awake yet, but Barbara Graham is. She cleans Martin Hall and the 2nd floor of Odum Library. She enters the first room and proceeds to washing the chalk boards until they look brand new. The trash is emptied and all of the trash lying next to the trash can and is thrown away.

“I think students throw the trash on the floor just because they know we will clean it up after them,” Barbara says.

Right after the classroom, she cleans the restrooms. It is usually filled with trash from the previous day. The particular restroom that she cleans on the first floor isn’t too dirty this time.

“Usually it’s a lot more trash then this, but I’m not complaining,” Barbara says.

Barbara goes to clean the windows near the entrance way, they are filled with finger prints. She’s finally finished speed cleaning. She puts her cleaning supplies in her janitor closet and goes outside
to the Plant Van. The Plant Van will take her to Odum library for her second building.

Barbara heads to Odum library after Martin Hall is finished.

“I clock in at 6:30 a.m and I have to be at the library by 9 a.m. I am not supposed to be in Martin Hall after students start arriving for their classes,” Barbara says.

It’s 8:58 a.m. and the library is packed. Students occupy every computer and there is not an empty seat in the place.

Barbara goes to the custodial closet with is located across from the restroom that is by the elevator on the 2nd floor. Her shelves are filled from top to bottom with cleaning supplies. She loads up her cart with everything from trash bags to toilet cleaner.

It’s 9:12 a.m. She goes to clean around the computer area that is near the front entrance of the library. Students don’t even notice.

No movement.

Not even a glance. Their eyes are glued to the computer screen.

“We are not allowed to ask students to move their things while we are cleaning. Some of them will move and some of them will not even acknowledge me,” says Barbara.

Barbara also cleans the offices that are on the 2nd floor.

It’s 9:42a.m. She cleans Beatriz Potter’s office daily. Beatriz is an instructional technology support specialist.

“She is wonderful and always happy. She has a nice personality, good attitude and cares about what we need. We truly miss her when she doesn’t come,” Beatriz says.

Barbara blushes as if she never knew that Beatriz felt that way about her.

“You don’t always get praised for what you do,” says Barbara.

After cleaning Beatriz’s office, Barbara proceeds to her next stop-the bathroom. She takes out her sign and places it on the door. “Closed for cleaning” it reads.

It’s 9:58a.m. Barbara empties the trash, stock the paper towel dispenser, reload the tissue holders and clean the toilets. After cleaning, she wipes the sinks, sweep and mop the floors.

Her cart is full of trash from the various locations she has just cleaned. She has to go downstairs to empty all of the trash.

It’s 10:24 a.m. Now, she is off to the service elevator.

While approaching the elevator, Barbara sees a fellow co-worker. Her co-worker is Kim McClain, 31 and has been employed at VSU for three years.

They began to converse.

Kim expresses that she enjoys with Barbara.

“I love to work with Ms. Graham. She is the only reason that I come to work,” Kim says.

Kim has mixed feelings when it comes to her job. Both Barbara and Kim are Custodians II, which mean that they require little or no supervision at all. Custodians II generally are paid more than other custodians.

“I started out with about $6.00 per hour. Now I am paid 12 cents less than $8.00. We are definitely
not paid enough for all that we have to do,” Barbara says.

Barbara explains that some students are more respectful than others. She loves to see young college
students pursuing their educational dreams. She really loves to see respectful students.

“A few days ago I saw a girl and a boy walking in the library. The girl almost walked over me, but
she never excused herself. The young man turned around and said, ‘excuse me ma’am and excuse
her too.’ It made my day to hear the young man being so respectful towards me,” says Barbara.

It’s 10:51 a.m. Barbara and Kim are unloading their carts in the trash dumpsters behind the library.
After unloading her cart, Barbara goes back upstairs to re-check the restrooms and prepare for
her lunch break.

It’s 11:24 a.m.

“I usually check the restrooms and other areas that I have already cleaned before I go to lunch,”
Barbara says. “We don’t even get a full hour for lunch. I go on my lunch break at noon, but I have
to be back over here [the library] at 1 p.m.”

All of the restrooms seem to be the way that she left them.

It’s 11:45 a.m. Barbara goes outside to ride the Plant Van to her lunch area.

It’s 11:52 a.m. Back to the library.

It’s 12:56 p.m. Barbara goes directly to the janitor’s closet to get her cleaning cart. Barbara starts to clean her areas again, repeating what she did earlier. It’s

1:29 pm. The trash is moderate, but it is still a lot considering that she had cleaned it up a few hours before. Barbara seems to never complain about her job too much.

“My momma told me that as long as you got a roof over your head, just thank the Lord. I have
bills to pay just like everyone else and I need my job like everyone else,” Barbara says.

Students constantly pass Barbara as if she is no one important. A few students excuse themselves
while others look at Barbara like she is a burden to them.

“The respect level hasn’t changed much. Students still act like they don’t have home training,” Barbara says.

Barbara is cleaning the study tables by the electronic classrooms. There are no students over here so now she can work a little faster. She empties the full pencil sharpener attached to the book shelve.

Over spring break, Barbara had to still come to work and clean even though there wasn’t much
trash to clean up.

“They had us doing ‘spring cleaning’ over the spring break. The supervisors came behind us to make sure we were cleaning properly. Many of the supervisors don’t know how to talk to you. I have to ask the Lord to guide my tongue so that I will not be disrespectful back to them. I wish that they will understand that they were once where I am today,” Barbara says.

It’s 2:18 p.m. Barbara will take a 15 minute break at 2:30 p.m. Barbara just sits down at one of the tables, she is exhausted now.

She only will have about 15 minutes left after her break is up.

It’s 2:46 p.m. Barbara rechecks all of her areas again. She has to put another roll of tissue in one
restroom and some paper towels in another.

The van will be here shortly and she doesn’t want to miss the bus. She goes to the custodian closet and pushes her entire cart in the closet. The van is waiting.

“I’ll be here same time same place tomorrow!” Barbara says as she boards the already occupied
van.