Tuesday, April 30, 1968
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
13
Janitors-overworked, underpaid
By Kathy Hall Kansan Staff Reporter
The KU janitorial team is critically understaffed, said Harry M. Buchholz, superintendent of Buildings and Grounds. Buchholz blames the 17-man shortage on a lower-than-average wage scale.
KU janitor salaries start at $242 per month or $1.38 per hour. Buchholz said most people can make more money doing construction work or almost anything else.
According to a survey of several Lawrence construction firms, employees start at $2.50 per hour and can earn up to $5.50 per hour. A professional window - cleaning shop starts employees at $2 per hour. A spokesman said good window washers could earn up to $500 a month.
Many janitors leave during the spring and summer months because more construction jobs are open during those times, Buchholz said.
KU janitor salaries are increased five per cent every six months until the top amount of $309 per month is reached. Although Buchholz has not received the new budget which goes into effect July 1, he does not expect his department to receive any additional funds other than those covering the janitors eligible for the five per cent increase.
Buchholz said there won't be additional increases until at least the next session of the Kansas legislature, January 1969. There may be more money to hire additional janitors at the current rate although Buchholz said this is not certain.
There are approximately 90 janitors at KU. The National Association of Physical Plant Administrators has set as a standard work load for janitors 14,000 square feet per night. KU janitors have a load of approximately 45,-000 square feet, Buchholz said. They work in several buildings
CWC plan studied by Michigan grads
Two University of Michigan graduate students are expected to be at KU Thursday to gather firsthand information on student life as part of a national study of the Colleges-Within-the-College program.
Researchers at KU, supervised by E. Jackson Baur, professor of sociology, have recently mailed questionnaires to about 1,500 KU underclassmen to assess effects of the sub-college system. The questionnaires will also be used in a national study including four other universities with similar programs — Michigan, Florida State, and two Universities of California at Santa Cruz and San Diego.
James S. and Wendy House, graduate students in social psychology at the University of Michigan, will also visit the other participating schools in an attempt to gather information not obtainable through written questionnaires.
In a letter to Baur, the Houses said their personal research will fall into three main categories:
- They will try to obtain a factual view of the University and of students themselves as related to the University and their fellow students.
- They will gather observational data on the University including its physical appearance
Candidates who wish to apply for an award must be a United States citizen, have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent before the beginning date of the grant and, in most cases, be proficient in the language of the host country.
Students have opportunity to study overseas
Applications and further information concerning the grants may be obtained from Herbert J. Ellison, KU Fulbright adviser.
More than 950 American graduate students will have an opportunity to study in any one of 50 countries under a program conducted by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
Competition for the 1969-70 federal government and foreign graduate grants for academic study or research abroad, will officially open May 1. Opportunities for professional training in the creative and performing arts are available also.
tired this year and there are several with 20 years.
The building schedule varies depending on the size and condition of the area.
and facilities, visible symbols of its atmosphere and the levels and patterns of students and faculty.
each night to compensate for the man shortage.
- Through informal student contacts, they will seek impressions of students themselves, their styles of life, values, motivations and frustrations.
Besides participating in informal student discussions during a week-long stay in University residence halls, the Houses will attend regular sessions of various classes, interview faculty and administration members and talk to student leaders.
Findings of the study will aid in planning the future development of KU undergraduate education. All information collected in both written and personal surveys will be confidential.
"It is hard to find anyone who wants to work as a janitor. Most people do not like the hours involved. The work is most intense between midnight and 8 a.m." Buchholz said.
"Some areas may get a lick and promise and others don't even get a promise on nights when 10 men may be off sick," Buchholz said.
Buchholz said janitors work for less than what the federal government has set as poverty level
—$3,000. To make a living many janitors "moonlight" —find other jobs.
Students are hired as part-time janitors but they usually do not stay long. They work at $1.25 an hour. This salary can be raised to $1.50 after six months.
Janitors do not stay long. There are not many with more than 10 years service employed now. One janitor with 25 years service represents
There are few applying for janitor positions at all, although chances of applicants being hired are good, Buchholz said.
Before The Revolution (Italy,1964)
A gorgeous film by the most exciting new talent in contemporary Italian cinema- Bernardo Bertolucci
"Bertolucci's defects would make the reputation of a dozen lesser directors"
Pauline Kael
7:00 & 9:00 p.m. — Wednesday — Dyche Auditorium Single Admission 60c