The Record

Our View – Sometimes being a Bennie is easier

By: Doug Trumm & The Record

In the past there has been some controversy over St. John’s receiving most of the attention, while St. Ben’s is ignored. Portrayed in this light, CSB is the Cinderella to SJU’s spoiled stepsister.

It is often overlooked that some things at St. Ben’s are just better.

Building the Gorecki Dining Center catapulted dining at the female campus past the male version. Except for die-hard Ref. fans — people who talk perhaps of the ambience and the quirky appeal of overcooked pasta — most have recognized the Gorecki’s superiority.

Another aspect where St. Ben’s is better is its maintenance system. Johnnies, maybe you haven’t realized, but at St. Ben’s maintenance requests are simple. Students who need something in their apartment repaired fill out an online maintenance request. It takes only seconds to complete. Bennies can trust the problem will be fixed — often within a day.

For Johnnies, things aren’t quite as easy. SJU does not have an online system for maintenance requests. Instead, Johnnies must call custodial services to place maintenance requests.

It sounds easy, but it isn’t. First, Johnnies have to figure out which number to call. The school Web site isn’t exactly clear. Then, these students must call when a custodian is in the office (usually only in the morning) or leave a voicemail. Leaving a message doesn’t guarantee custodial services’ attention, though. Voicemails tend to get overlooked until later or lost in fixer-upper cyberspace.

This communication problem means that it may take a week or two to finally get a maintenance issue fixed in an apartment at St. John’s.

Bennies don’t realize they have it so easy. St. John’s should implement an online maintenance request system to take the hassle out of getting custodial help.

It doesn’t sound like much, but it could make a difference. Now that we are living in the era of enforced four-year residency, we might as well make the most of it.

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