Watch for Spills

Here's a scene we'er all familiar with: It's late afternoon, maybe evening, you and your friends are eating in Chase around a table and suddenly a wild broom is sweeping under your table. Maybe you wanted a quiet meal in the back of Chase square and out of nowhere a man is loudly moving chairs around in order to clean more effectively. We all know this guy: he's "Jimmy The Sweeper". Or that's what the students refer to him. I interviewed this man last week and I got to know the man behind the broom. His name is James Fernandez, he was born in Fairhaven and moved to New Bedford when he was eighteen. Mr. Fernandez has been working at Wheaton for ten years. He is the only person to clean Chase. Everyday he comes into work at 4 and he is cleaning until he leaves near midnight. When I asked Mr. Fernandez if he liked Wheaton students he joked that dirty students are his job security. I asked Mr. Fernandez if he ever heard juicy gossip from the students, but to no one's surprise he said it was mostly vulgar. When I first approached Mr. Fernandez about interviewing him, he balked at the idea. He didn't want anything he had to say about working at Wheaton on the internet. I had to promise to "clean it up". I really enjoyed talking to him and I'm glad I was able to get to know Mr. Fernandez. I feel disappointed in myself that it took me until senior year to talk to the man who cleans up after me.

Ever since freshman year I have been more than a little scared of "Jimmy The Sweeper". I remember several times when he nearly ran me over as he swept up mess left by students. Since then I have worked in a hotel cleaning up other people's mess. This sucks. It really really sucks. There is nothing redeeming about this kind of work. There's no denying that as soon as he shows up to work, Chase is much cleaner than the rest of the day. The floors of Chase are never as clean as they are during late night hours when Mr. Fernandez is there. It's hard to imagine a job that is relentless; there's no relief from dirt. As soon as one mess is clean, there's another to be cleaned up. I would encourage everyone to stop Mr. Fernandez and talk to him, have a conversation. He's really a pleasant guy once you approach him. Mr. Fernandez declined a picture so instead I have a picture of his broom.