Last week I asked the Tufts community to submit their choices for an "Unsung Hero" award. The recipient (or, recipients) of this award had to be a member of the support staff at Tufts and had to meet the simple criteria of having brightened up the day of another member of the Tufts community. The results are in, and they fall into the easily classifiable categories of dining services employees, administrative assistants and people dressed up like chickens.
I preface this award by telling all the non-winners (with the exception of the morning Joey driver) that they are probably just as appreciated as the recipients mentioned below. In fact, I heard a lot of general appreciation for departmental support staff. As today is Administrative Professionals' Day (formerly Secretaries' Day), I think it would be appropriate to publicly acknowledge all those people who have managed appointments, arranged meetings, helped out on studies and held back the floodgates at add/drop time.
With no further ado, I present to you the Unsung Hero award recipients for 2006! Let's start off in the Dining Services category:
The first e-mail nomination was in support of a father and son team working in Dewick. Fred and Nick were nominated for the "small gestures of kindness" that blossomed into a friendship with one senior. Thanks to their kindness and genuine concern for the students, what started as two guys recognizing the same freshman girl coming in for the same omelette every morning ended up with a senior considering Fred and Nick her true friends. These award recipients were a refreshing source of comfort for the nominator, who considered them "instrumental" in encouraging her through graduation. Congratulations, guys.
My next e-mail came from a student who saw a Carmichael worker dressed up as a chicken. "At first, I didn't realize there was a person in that suit," the nominator wrote. (This statement in itself could make some interesting social commentary if the costume weren't that of a chicken). Then, in the tradition of great mascots everywhere, the Human Chicken abandoned all pride for the joy of all mankind, and began to dance. "It took a lot of something special to actually be able to stay in a chicken suit dancing around for an entire afternoon," the nominator wrote, not specifying whether the "something special" was a lot of stamina or, more ominously, the fear of being rubbed by Aztecs. Human Chicken: we salute you, and wish you good health next flu season.
A final nomination in the dining hall category came for the Commons sandwich maker who always adds extra cheese to sandwiches ordered vegetarian style: proof that the little victories in life can mean so much, especially on bad days. The nominator didn't know your name, but she promised to thank you the next time you helped keep her from developing a protein deficiency.
A special nomination came from a University College scholar, who reminded me that "unsung heroes" know the true meaning of active citizenship - which happens to be one of my favorite Tufts catchphrases. It's only fitting that our nominee for administrative assistants is Janis Garland, who is officially an "Office Assistant" but, according to the nominator, does much more.
With her astonishing multitasking ability, Janis can simultaneously make an appointment, brew up a pot of tea, and still make a visitor to the office feel at home. Additionally, she treats everyone with friendliness and respect. Thank you, Janis, for proving that we all should be active citizens, even if we aren't Omidyar Scholars.
Finally, a nomination came in for the Daily delivery guy on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, who - in addition to being an all-around great guy - is apparently a big hit with the ladies.
Since it's my column, I can add in a few others: The entire staff of Mail Services is full of great people, and so is the staff at nearby Nick's House of Pizza. The receptionist in Bendetson somehow manages to deal with even the most annoying parents and prospective students and keep a smile all day. Similarly, the Staples deliverywoman is unflappably friendly, although I don't understand how Tufts can possibly use that much paper.
To all of the award winners, I offer my congratulations. I am sure I am not alone when I thank you on behalf of us students who often rush past without offering much-deserved gratitude, and I hope I'm not alone when I apologize for not having thanked you sooner.
Keith Barry is a senior majoring in psychology. He can be reached at keith.barry@tufts.edu.
