On the Job
Custodians call Cornell a model workplace
After nearly a quarter-century at Cornell, custodian Gary Napieracz has his share of stories. One of his favorites: the time a Vet student he'd become friendly with showed him her brand-new engagement ring—and shortly thereafter, the diamond fell out of its setting. After searching the floor on his hands and knees with a penlight, he found the gem; two weeks later, he met her grateful family while working at graduation. "She came running up with her parents," he recalls, "and said, 'This is the man who saved my marriage.'" He also has fond memories of the time when, in the mid-Nineties, the dean of the Vet school asked him to organize the college's holiday party—something that, he muses, a janitor at many workplaces may not have been entrusted with. "I have never found, being a custodian at Cornell, that I have been looked down on—never," he says, adding that being in The Philosopher Kings has "opened up doors to visit other universities and see what it's like to work there."
Having spent a year filming janitors at colleges and universities across the country, Philosopher Kings director Patrick Shen observes that Cornell has a unique relationship with its building care staff. "The custodians at Cornell seem to be treated as equals, which is inspiring," he says. "We definitely didn't see that anywhere else we went. And because of that, all the custodians we encountered seemed content with their jobs, loved where they were, loved their bosses, loved everything about the Cornell culture—whereas a lot of the others saw their role at the university just as the person who cleans the toilet and sweeps the floor. While they may have liked what they do and appreciated their jobs, they certainly didn't have the same relationship with the management—not even close."
Evener and Napieracz both stress that their jobs often go beyond cleaning. As the first workers on campus each day—their shifts generally start at five a.m., four if they have a special project like waxing a floor—they play a role in campus security. "In a sense we're the eyes and ears of Cornell," Napieracz says. "We're here before anybody else. We know who should be on that floor and who shouldn't. If there's something wrong, we usually catch it." Evener also points out that janitors often serve as impromptu tour guides. "If it weren't for the custodians, a lot of people would be lost on this campus," he says with a smile. "I've actually stopped whatever job I was doing—I don't know how many times—and taken people to buildings because they didn't know how to get there. If it's a lady, they'll give you a hug and say, 'Thank you so much.' That's a reward in itself."
Both Evener and Napieracz came to janitorial work as second careers, prompted by the decline of industry in Upstate New York: Napieracz was laid off in three consecutive factory closings while Evener saw the writing on the wall when the lumber company where he'd worked for nearly three decades underwent a restructuring. After reading an ad in the Groton Shopper, Evener filled out an application; by the time he got home he'd been called for an interview. "I've been here ever since," he says, "and I've loved every minute of it." He recalls how, when he was assigned to the Engineering college, staff at the nanotechnology facility took the time to answer his questions about their research. "I've learned more in the eight years I've worked here than all the school and college I've had," says Evener. "It's so diverse. You've got people from different cultures, all around the world. You've got so many opportunities to learn from them, from your coworkers, the professors, the students. To me, it's a very special place to work."
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The Philosopher Kings Trailer (3:37)