On Wednesday, I attended the Rose Cafe where Anthony McCabe led a discussion about the Building Care staff’s work here at Cornell.  I gained many insights from this talk.  For example, I was struck by his statement that Building Care focuses on not only keeping residence halls in good condition but also making sure students feel safe and at home while at Cornell.  Building Care staff has undergone training on how to handle situations where they identify students who may need some help.  

McCabe took the time to solicit student feedback about Building Care, carefully writing down our concerns and explaining that he will discuss them with his staff the following morning.  I really appreciated how much he cared about our comfort and satisfaction.  One student said that the shower curtain was too short, and he said he would have it fixed.  Multiple times throughout the talk, he stressed that students should never hesitate to submit a maintenance request, even for small requests.  He said that we are “the customers” and that they want us to have a safe and clean experience on campus.  All of the maintenance requests are analyzed each year to identify areas where Building Care can improve/focus more attention.  

McCabe also emphasized how much Building Care values student privacy.  They only enter student rooms after knocking and announcing their presence multiple times.  In addition, only certain staff have access to student rooms.  They also strive to complete maintenance requests as quickly as possible, usually within one day.  

Overall, I enjoyed this talk since it enlightened me on what really is happening behind the scenes every day as students see Building Care staff work each day in the residence halls.  I am very grateful for the amazing facilities staff keeping our buildings clean.  I look forward to future Rose Cafes which further explore the ins and outs of Cornell.