As Erie is hit with its usual amount of February snow, Gannon University students are more reluctant to walk their way to campus. Some students don’t have a choice, however.
Perhaps you have noticed students pushing carts half their size down A.J. Palumbo’s way in the accumulated snow. These students hold work-study positions in the mailroom, arguably one of the most undesirable jobs on campus.
Taylor Koby, a sophomore pre-veterinary major and a mailroom work-study employee since last year, said she only enjoys her co-workers in the strict environment.
“It’s horrible,” Koby said. “We’re considered late if we show up on time, but we do get exercise and learn where things are on campus pretty quickly.”
Ben Knopf, a senior philosophy major and mailroom work-study employee, said he considers his job a break.
“It’s more physical work,” Knopf said. “It’s actually a lot easier than studying.”
Qualified students can apply to a large number of other jobs, including positions in administrative offices across campus, Nash Library, the Knight Club, the Student Success Center and off-campus jobs. Applications for work study are available at the start of each semester.
Holly Dill, a sophomore biology and freshwater marine biology double major, works for Univeristy Advancement in the Waldron Campus Center. She works with connecting alumni to the university by aiding in mailing material.
Dill said she is an expert at scanning things now and has been working in the department since last year.
“The people I work with are really friendly and nice,” Dill said. “We’re also trying to switch from a paper to computer database, so that’s interesting.”
Alexa Shaffer, a sophomore occupational therapy major, has a work-study job in the Writing Center as part of the Student Success Center. The Writing Center helps students with the writing process, especially editing. Shaffer said the center helps with everything from thesis to resumé papers.
“It’s kind of cool because I get to learn a lot things I wouldn’t learn otherwise,” Shaffer said. “One time, I had a group of students in the same computer class and I had no idea what they were writing about at first, but by the final draft, I felt like I could put a mouse together.”
Katie Kapp, a sophomore chemistry major, also works in the Writing Center and as a tutor in the Math Center. She said she splits her hours between both assignments, but it hasn’t split her mindset.
“There’s a different approach to both,” Kapp stated. “Writing is more personal, while chemistry and math have very set ways of thinking. It’s the best because we relieve students’ anxieties about school.”
Kapp said she benefits from working as a tutor because it keeps core concepts fresh.
“Helping them study helps me study,” she said.
Work-study opportunities off campus include student jobs at civil locations like the Erie Courthouse and the Martin Luther King Center.
Coji Maddona III, a sophomore education major, is a student aid at the MLK Center. He works with third graders as part of an after school program.
Maddona said his class just finished “James and the Giant Peach.” He said he used the book to teach the kids vocabulary words after they spent time reading it silently.
“They want us to have them work on worksheets,” Maddona said. “But the kids just worked for seven hours at school, most people don’t want to do worksheets all day.” He said he switches up “lesson plans” by playing hangman with the kids sometimes as well.
KELSEY GHERING
