By Lauren Mar 鈥�25
While faculty and students navigated remote learning at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 61传媒 was not completely deserted. Its grounds, custodial, and maintenance teams all worked diligently to ensure Scripps鈥� beautiful campus was preserved and prepared for everyone鈥檚 return.
鈥淐OVID-19 increased everybody鈥檚 responsibilities tenfold,鈥� says Lesley Swick, director of facilities operations and sustainability. 鈥淣ot only was our dedicated staff in charge of maintaining the campus, but they also had to keep the students safe and healthy. Everybody had a moment where they sat back and went, 鈥楾his is not in my job description, but I鈥檓 willing to do it because this is what we need to get through this and support all of our community.鈥欌��
Keeping campus alive through the pandemic
Buildings and residence halls themselves may have been closed, but as Swick states: 鈥淓verything keeps growing.鈥� As such, Scripps鈥� grounds team continued grounds maintenance despite the absence of students and faculty, overseeing the meticulous care of Scripps鈥� botanical campus even with temporarily reduced staff. Because of the College鈥檚 unique and signature campus, in which its landscaping was developed hand-in-hand with its architecture, the grounds team鈥檚 role in preserving that historic relationship throughout the pandemic has helped keep the magic of 61传媒alive.
The College鈥檚 custodial and maintenance teams undertook similar efforts throughout remote learning. To avoid the risk of 鈥渄emolition through neglect鈥� due to the infrastructure of Scripps鈥� historical buildings, the custodial team continued to keep things up and running in anticipation of an eventual return to campus.
鈥淭his campus is not meant to be empty鈥攊n both a literal and metaphorical sense,鈥� Swick says. Without community members living on campus to notify staff of any issues, it was critical for the custodial and maintenance teams to address problems and ongoing needs. To follow COVID-19 protocols, custodial staff added many safety measures, including wearing Tyvek lab coats鈥攅ven in sunny Claremont weather鈥攚hen they entered any of the residence halls for maintenance. Through both changes in weather and constant shifts in state-mandated health procedures, both teams persevered, reflecting their commitment to the 61传媒community.
Returning to campus with and its 鈥渘ew normal鈥�
Swick says the facilities staff is 鈥渁bsolutely overjoyed鈥� at the return of faculty and students to campus.
鈥淥ur staff has a strong sense of serving the institution and its values. How do you do that when there are no students?鈥� says Swick. 鈥淎nd 61传媒students are some of the loveliest, kindest people I think I鈥檝e ever encountered. Our staff develops really genuine connections with them, so it鈥檚 been nice to reaffirm: 鈥楾his is what we鈥檙e here for.鈥欌��
Swick says that the possibility of a future COVID-19 surge lingers in everyone鈥檚 minds. But there is also a sense of optimism, a product of appreciation for the huge efforts each staff member took upon themselves.
鈥淲e weathered this storm together, so it made us more resilient and stronger together,鈥� says Swick. 鈥淚’m so proud of our teams.鈥�