Liberty Custodian Describes How the Cleaning Staff Strives to Serve the Students on Campus

As thousands of LU residential students return for the fall semester, the pressure remains high for the campus custodial staff as they face unprecedented regulations due to COVID-19.

Amy Stone, a member of the custodial staff working on the Hill, is excited for the ministry opportunities this semester will bring, despite the pandemic-related safety measures in place. 

Stone has worked for the custodial department for a year-and-a-half and remained on staff through COVID-19. She is confident in the safety provided to her as an on-campus worker. 

“I feel safe because I think Liberty is taking precautions in every avenue they can, according to the CDC policies,” Stone said.

The elevated standards for custodial employees include daily self-check surveys, temperature checks, and mandatory masks and gloves.

Throughout the day, the custodial staff clean hallways and stairwells, as well as follow the specific sanitizing protocols that have been added. Stone regularly stocks hand sanitizing stations, and wipes down frequently touched surfaces every two hours.

If a member of the custodial staff experiences any COVID-19 symptoms, he or she must report to a superior. The employee and family would then self-isolate for 14 days to ensure exposure is kept at a minimum.

Once she is cleared to interact with her coworkers in the mornings, Stone leads the team in a Bible study and covers them in prayer before they disperse to their duties around campus.

Although the adjustments are understandably restrictive, Stone is taking the changes in stride and hopes that strictly following procedure will keep LU students and faculty on campus for the remainder of the semester.

Stone prioritizes the physical and emotional well-being of the students she provides a clean environment for and joined the team in hopes of bringing light to the students and campus as a whole. 

Stone’s husband worked alongside her at the beginning of her employment at LU. She reflects fondly on his encouragement to join the custodial team in hopes that she could provide a clean environment to make the students feel at home. 

“The job, to me, is very important because I like living in a clean house, and I want to make sure I keep their common areas clean so that they feel loved and wanted,” Stone said.

Stone chooses to clean without headphones in order to open herself up to more opportunities to speak with and pray for the students. Stone views the university as a mission field in need of individuals full of the Spirit of the Lord, especially during uncertain and tumultuous times. 

Watching students interact with one another in a God-fearing way on a daily basis deeply affects Stone. 

“Seeing students learn about God and seeing their joy brings me joy,”
Stone said.

Nadia Vires is a Feature Writer. Follow her on Twitter at @nadiavires.