Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 94 • Issue 15 • January 22, 2016
THE MAROON FOR A GREATER LOYOLA
WORKING THROUGH THE WINTER
Cleaning and maintenance staff got only Christmas and New Year's day off, despite the university being closed for two weeks By Jamal Melancon jmmelanc@loyno.edu @Jam_M_Mel
While students enjoyed a month off for winter break, Loyola employees and cleaning staff were still required to work through most of the time that students were off campus. The university was closed over the winter holiday from Dec. 21 to Jan. 4., according to the university’s human resources department. During this time, cleaning staffers employed by WFF Facility Services, a full-service facilities management provider that partners with educational institutions, were given half days off on Christmas eve and New Year's eve and all day off on Christmas day and New Year's day. According to Bart Gomez, Loyola WFF maintenance director, employees had to use their vacation days if they wanted more time off. "If they requested vacation, they were granted vacation, and it was approved without question," Gomez said. "A lot of people did take advantage of their vacation, 15 to 20 people probably." Yvette Thomas is a maintenance staffer at Loyola who takes care of bathrooms, the Starbucks area in the Danna Center and offices as well. She has been working at the university for over eight years and feels unsatisfied with the time she gets off while students are away over the winter break. Thomas said WFF workers used to get nine days off, but she believes the policy changed in about the last
two years. She said reasons given for the policy change involved buildings not being cleaned to expectation before the spring semester started. Workers now use most of those original nine days off they got to tidy up the inside of the university’s buildings instead. “I feel like when the building’s so old, you can only do so much cleaning,” Thomas said. “It’s still going to look old.” Gomez said the policy change applied to WFF facilities across the country. “WFF has facilities all across the country, and we were in line with all the WFF facilities nation-wide, not just here,” Gomez said. Ann Moss, WFF director of facilities operations, said reasons some physical plant workers do not get time off is to work on specific projects. "Some have always had to work through breaks like electricians and people who test the fire alarms," Moss said. Kyra Woods, physics junior, was not aware of cleaning and maintenance staff working all through break. “They could just come back the week before classes start and do all the cleaning then, instead of just working over the entire break,” Woods said. Joyce Pittman is also a cleaning and maintenance worker who has been at Loyola for just about a year. She said nothing changed about her work schedule over winter break, except for Christmas Eve and New
JAMAL MELANCON / The Maroon
Yvette Thomas sweeps the floor near Starbucks in the Danna Center (top). Joyce Pittman rollls her cart to Monroe Library to finish her work day (above). These women, as well as other members of the university staff, got only a few days off for winter break. The university was closed from Dec. 21 to Jan. 4.
Year’s Eve being holidays. “I don’t have a problem with it myself,” Pittman said. “That’s what I’m used to.” Pittman helps maintain the Monroe Library, whose employees are given two weeks off, from Dec. 21 to Jan. 4. Hilary Gunnels, learning commons manager in Monroe Library, said she uses this time of year with students off campus to assess how well things worked in the library over the semester and to prepare for the upcoming semester.
“These quiet parts of the year really allow me to focus on the big picture of what we’re doing here at the library and plan and prepare for the semester ahead,” Gunnels said. The library is quieter with students on break, but Gunnels is still busy. She said she feels satisfied with the time she gets because it allows her to rest, visit family and recharge. WFF maintenance and cleaning workers have two full days during winter break to do what Gunnels does in her break.
Loyola community honors Chance Briant By Colleen Dulle mcdulle@loyno.edu @ColleenDulle
Chance Briant, music industry studies senior, died Monday morning, Jan. 18, according to an email from the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president. Briant was 21. Briant, whose twin brother Destin is a visual arts senior here at Loyola, was interested in music, film and history. He was the guitarist of student band Squirrel Queen and a videographer for local production company Iggy Vision, according to the groups' websites. A statement from the Briant family said that following the Paris attacks, Chance organized a concert fundraiser for the expenses of Nick Alexander, the Eagles of Death Metal merchandise manager who was killed in the attack on the Bataclan in November. "Chance was extraordinarily generous and humble. He went out of his way to help other people, including his classmates and teachers," according to the family's statement. Victoria Ramos, philosophy/prelaw senior, has been Briant's classmate since kindergarten. "The tenacity with which he took on everything he put his mind to was an inspiration for those of us who had the honor of growing up with him," she said of Briant. "Chance's fierce love of music, his talent in acting and his fascination with war history were unparalleled." The funeral and visitation was held at La Chapelle de Martin & Castille at 330 St. Landry Street in Lafayette, Louisiana. The visitation took place from 3 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21 at Martin & Castille and continued Friday, Jan. 22 from 8 a.m. until the funeral at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery. Students have organized a ride sharing system for the Lafayette services, Patricia Murret, associate director of public affairs, said. The link to the system is available on The Maroon's social media accounts. The university will also hold a candlelight vigil at 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24 in the horseshoe. A second line around campus will follow, and students are welcome to attend mass at 9 p.m. in Ignatius Chapel, according to an email announcement from Murret. On Monday, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m., the music industry studies program will hold a memorial service in the St. Charles Room during its usual forum time. Murret said that details are forthcoming, but all students are welcome to attend. The Chance Briant Memorial Fund, a Loyola scholarship program, has also been established to honor him. Gifts can be given through the Faith in the Future website or mailed to 7214 St. Charles Avenue, Box 909. The university has urged students to seek support from the Counseling Center if needed. Counselors are available during normal office hours on the second floor of the Danna Center or at 504-865-3835, or on nights and weekends at 504-8653434.
See CHANCE BRIANT, page 11