Custodians work to make dorms feel like home

Trying to make life at school feel like home is custodian Norm Shedd’s mission. With a positive attitude and a genuine interest in the students, Shedd said he hopes to make the first year away from home in North Complex an easy transition for students.

After 42 years as a farmer from Alpoint, located 12 miles outside of Vermillion, Shedd never thought that after retirement he would get another job.

“It was my daughter’s idea, actually,” Shedd said. “She said I couldn’t go golfing all day.”

With this idea in motion, Shedd applied for a custodian position at the University of South Dakota in July 2001 and was hired right away.

Starting each day around 4:45 a.m., Shedd begins his responsibilities as soon as he gets to campus. Taking care of two floors — first and second floor Olson — Shedd makes sure to get most of the cleaning done early.

“I always start with the bathrooms,” he said. “I know the students need them when they wake up, so I get those done first.”

Once he’s done cleaning the restrooms, Shedd cleans up the kitchen and takes out the garbage. After dusting and disinfection surfaces, Shedd usually ends his day vacuuming both the hallways and entryways.

Shedd is one of the nine North Complex custodians USD employs to keep up with student housing demands.

Another custodian who works hard to keep up with students is Jess Priem.

Working for just eight months as a custodian on campus, Priem said working for the students has been fun and easy.

“I like talking to the students directly,” Priem said. “I try to help them out as much as I can.”

Working on the third and fourth floor of Richardson, Priem is available to help students with many things. From cleaning something up to helping people navigate around campus, Priem said she is always there to help.

With the students’ comfort and interest in mind, Shedd said he will do anything he can to make sure everyone has what they need.

Only a few years ago, Shedd encountered a shy girl who would never talk to anyone. Shedd soon befriended her and helped her break free from the silence. Shedd received praise from the girl’s mom, who sent him a letter thanking him for improving student’s lives on campus.

Thirteen years later, Shedd is still hanging around and loving every day, he said, while still able to get in a game of golf when his work day is done at 1:30 p.m.

“This is so neat,” Shedd said. “I am not talking to my combine, I am talking to the students, helping them any way I can.”

First-year Carter Lidner said living on second Olson would not be the same without Shedd.

“Norm has always been so sweet and genuinely interested in my well-being,” Lidner said. “He is the best and makes every day better.”

Refusing to take all the credit, Shedd said he wouldn’t be here without the students.

“Everybody is really good to me,” he said. “I am wide awake by the time the students are staggering out, and they still greet me. I appreciate that.”

(Photo: University of South Dakota custodian Norm Shedd has been working at USD since 2001. Shedd’s duties include cleaning the bathrooms and kitchens on both first and second floor Olson and vacuuming both the hallways and entryways. Maggie Malathip / The Volante)