The four-wheel drive van pulled up in front of Miranda Hunter's home Monday morning, like it did for Monte Tatum, Curtis Payne and a host of others. While the streets around their neighborhoods remained eerily quiet as the asphalt lay covered with a slippery mix of snow and ice, the uniformed workers climbed into the vehicle and began their morning commute. These essential staffers had a job to do, and one that could not wait, according to their bosses--the University's students needed dining services.
When inclement weather hits the University, a conference room labeled "022" in the basement of the West Duke building becomes alive. There are walkie-talkies to be doled out, managers to confer with and hotlines to be set up. The "snow desk," as it is referred to, is responsible for organizing Auxiliary Services' efforts at ensuring that when the weather goes haywire, the University's fundamental services remain constant and calm.
Classes were canceled for both Monday and Tuesday, but a legion of the University's dining and auxiliary employees were and will continue to be at their regular posts, fixing breakfasts at Alpine Bagels or replacing a lost DukeCard.
Perilous road conditions are on the tip of every supervisor's tongue--a concern for each and every employee.
"We always provide the best we can for our employees," said Tammy Hope, manager of the Cambridge Inn and a 20-year University employee. "In the winter storms that means transportation."
Business Manager for the DukeCard Office Roger Poff agreed. "Transportation of our employees in bad weather is our biggest problem," he said. "We have to be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."
Preparedness is the key to ensure that things work smoothly. Director of Planning for Auxiliary Services David Majestic and Human Resources Manager for Auxiliary Services Richard Lee lead the pack in 022. Everyone already knows the drill--the department meets twice a year to plan for days like these where hazardous road conditions and frigid weather make normal operations treacherous.
Dining services are ready in full force, says Director of Dining Services Jim Wulforst, sitting in his office, walkie-talkie on his desk. The staff is being transported by special vans and there are enough supplies for the time being.
"We typically have enough food on campus to last four or five days," he said. "We have provisional systems and a contract so that in a tough situation we can work things out."
Most employees rely on the Auxiliary Services' van to transport them to and from work. Wulforst said that roughly 25 employees were unable to make it to work Monday, but the rest of the staff was operational. Many cited the vehicle as instrumental.
"I felt it was safe in the van but I would definitely not drive myself in this weather," said Hunter, a Great Hall employee.
Alpine Bagel employee Tatum thought the transportation was essential.
"All I had to do was call in and they picked me up--it went smoothly," he said.
"Still, anything can happen out there on the roads and it's bad."
While many essential services employees rely on the van for transportation, others were housed near the University's campus Sunday night because of transit issues. The Lobby Shop's manager Alvin Puett stayed at the Washington Duke Inn off of West Campus because he was unable to commute 45 minutes in the weather to his home in Roxboro.
"It's pretty standard," Puett said of his overnight accommodations. "They've been very good at letting us stay at a hotel. I might be there tonight, too."
Although the "snow desk" works to ensure employees can be transported to and from campus for their shifts, students take it upon their own initiative to prepare for the weather.
"We saw students stocking up--one girl carried out six boxes of cereal," Payne, a Great Hall employee, said.
"People were buying $30 worth of non perishables, [or] even yogurt and sodas," Hunter added.
At the Lobby Shop, students lined up Sunday night shortly after it was announced that classes were canceled Monday to purchase breakfast foods, milk and microwaveable meals.
"We're fresh out of hot chocolate," Puett said.
Vendors such as Nabisco that typically deliver items daily to the Lobby Shop were unable to reach the campus because of limitations on commercial transport due to the weather.
While threats of a heavy ice storm loomed over campus Monday afternoon and word spread of class cancellations for Tuesday, many employees wondered whether they were truly integral to the University at a time when hazardous road conditions made such a trek from their home dangerous, even if provided with University transportation.
Junior Janiel Belle sat in the Great Hall, eating and doing homework, a short distance from the register. "Because we are stuck on campus I think the dining staff is pretty essential," she said. "But I think they should be paid double-time or something."
Still, many employees planned to choose whether to brave the inclement weather on a daily basis.
"If the weather gets much worse, then I won't even take the van," Hunter said. "You never know... you can't trust any one out there driving."
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