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UW calling for help shoveling

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by Ken Harris

Thursday, February 21, 2008

The University of Wisconsin is hiring students to lend some muscle and help clear the campus of ice and snow until spring provides some relief for the worn-out grounds crew.

The university needs extra workers to help deal with the record-setting amount of snow that has fallen this winter, and UW is looking for students who need some extra money and want to help clear the campus community of all the ice, UW spokesperson John Lucas said.

“We’re trying to augment the staff we have to scrape ice,” Lucas said. “They’re overwhelmed and worn out. And with the winter we’ve had so far, there’s (probably) at least a couple of storms left.”

Earlier this month, UW physical plant director John Harrod said the university has hired part-time student workers to be on on-call lists in the past, but he added there have been difficulties because some students fail to respond when they are called during snowstorms.

However, according to a UW statement, students who live within walking distance are very important because regular staff members have a difficult time commuting to campus during poor driving conditions.

UW keeps the entire grounds crew deployed on snow removal full-time during the winter, Harrod said. He added this winter they have had to use some of the custodial staff as well, but have still had trouble keeping up with the snow.

Student shovelers will be paid $11 per hour and have to make a time commitment of at least two hours. Lucas said there are no requirements beyond being able to do physical labor.

“No one will be asked to drive a Bobcat or anything, they’ll just be asked to use ice picks, shovels, or possibly even snowblowers during snowstorms,” Lucas said.

For UW sophomore Phong Luu, this job offer is a great deal for students.

“I do that at home for free,” Luu said. “I think all college students are looking for money, so why not spend some time shoveling snow? It’s a good workout, and it’s easier than going to the SERF.”

UW senior Keith Harding said while he would not take the job, he thinks UW will get a lot of participants because the pay is really good for a campus job.

To sign up, students need to go to 1225 University Ave. to register with the Physical Plant Custodial Division. Students need their social security card and a qualifying ID to fill out a W-2 Form.

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Anonymous (February 21, 2008 @ 7:11am):

Let me drive the bobcat and I will do it for 8 bux/hour

Anonymous (February 21, 2008 @ 8:08pm):

Isn't it kind of late for this? I can't even seen the sidewalks anymore because of the weeks and weeks worth of snow that has not been picked up. It's a damn shame, Madison.

Anonymous (February 22, 2008 @ 2:35pm):

the entire article is typed out twice

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