The sidewalks are clear and the steps shoveled. Snow banks rise several feet high. Who is responsible? Macalester Grounds Crew, a team of 10 student employees and five full-time staff members, keeps the campus safe and walkable all winter long.

Nicholas Bascunan-Wiley ’17 and Maya Benedict’s (’17) stories follow a similar progression. Before coming to Macalester for their first semesters they filled out work-study applications. Both mentioned they had some gardening experience. Bascunan-Wiley and Benedict were later notified of their assignments to grounds crew.

Little did they know in a few months they would be spending several hours a week shoveling snow. Bascunan-Wiley and Benedict spent the fall season watering, planting, raking leaves, and mulching. As the weather turned cold and snow started to fall, however, their work transitioned exclusively to shoveling.

“I live in North Carolina,” said Bascunan-Wiley. “It’s a very warm climate so I’d never shoveled snow before. I was excited.”

Grounds staff is charged with clearing the sidewalks and steps around campus. The staff includes 5 full-time employees and 10 student employees. The full-time workers move the bulk of snow using machines, leaving only small, selective spaces for the student staff who often shovel doorsteps, benches, and bike racks.

“It’s not the easiest job,” said grounds manager Jerry Nelson. “I have to give them credit. It’s a good physical job.”

For both Bascunan-Wiley and Benedict, balancing the demands of grounds crew, academics, and extracurricular activities can be challenging. Other work-study jobs allow for opportunity to study. But on the grounds crew, there is no sitting around.

“There were some times when I wished I worked in the library,” Benedict said. “First semester freshman year I was really overwhelmed.” Bascunan-Wiley plays soccer on the Macalester men’s team and devotes a significant amount of time to the sport. Many of his teammates work in the Leonard Center and are able to complete some homework on the job. But Bascunan-Wiley says he doesn’t mind the more labor-intensive grounds work.

“It’s tough,” he said. “You get sore and tired but it’s nice to do something physically engaging. You get a release from studying and you are part of beautifying campus.”

Student grounds crew can work any day of the week from 7a.m. – 3p.m. Much of their shoveling occurs during the earlier morning hours, leaving students unaware of grounds crew’s effort. “It can sometimes go unnoticed when you wake up and the campus is clear or there is a lack of snow,” Bascunan-Wiley said.

However, Nelson maintained that the grounds staff does get a number of thank-you’s from passing students. Both Bascunan-Wiley and Benedict also receive shout-outs from friends who see them shoveling.

“We’ve never had any trouble filling positions,” said Nelson. They’ve even had some four-year returnees. Neither Bascunan-Wiley nor Benedict plan to resign grounds crew at any point soon.

As the campus thaws are plants begin to bloom, the student on grounds crew will shift back to more gardening-oriented tasks. Benedict remains skeptical: “We’ll probably be shoveling snow right up until finals,” she said. “But if spring comes I am definitely excited for it.”

*******Note: This article does not mention the 42 members of the janitorial staff who also work to move and shovel snow at Macalester.*