By: Mary Logan Hill | Guest Contributor
Shelia Murphy, custodian since 2006, Photo taken by Mary Logan Hill
Long before the first student arrives for class, custodians are already moving through the halls of the University of Lynchburg, emptying trash, wiping down surfaces, and preparing the spaces where campus life unfolds each day.
Several custodians shared what their daily routines look like, the buildings they take pride in maintaining, and what they wish students understood about keeping campus clean.
Shelia Murphy has worked at the university for 20 years. Her mornings start early and span multiple buildings. “I come in at 6 a.m. to the Alumni building, and then after quarter to 8, I’m in Hall Campus the rest of the day,” she said.
For other custodians, the character of the spaces they maintain shapes their experience of their work. Carroll Lambert, who cares for Schewel Hall, said the building’s role on campus is part of what makes the job meaningful. “I like working in Schewel; there are a lot of community things that happen in Schewel, so this is sort of a gateway access point for community as well as students,” Lambert said.
Working in close quarters with students day after day means custodians also notice habits that make their jobs harder. Murphy’s ask is simple. “I wish they would pour their drinks out before they put it in the trash,” she said.
Despite the small frustrations, custodians say the work itself is something they genuinely value. Lambert put it plainly: “I wonder if they understand how much I like it, because I do. I’ve done this sort of work all my life.”
What many students may not fully appreciate, though, is just how early that work begins. “I don’t think the students realize what time we get here,” Murphy said.
To learn more about the custodial services, visit https://www.lynchburg.edu/about/university-of-lynchburg-faculty-staff/
