Landon Jantz is a student employee who has worked at the EMU long before COVID-19. He is used to clocking into a workday shift and rotating through his daily tasks of redirecting guests, organizing misplaced items and helping people access the EMU’s resources. While Landon still works at the EMU, his job roles look a little different because of COVID-19.
With a desire to keep the EMU and all its resources still accessible to students and faculty, stricter safety and health protocols have been implemented throughout the building. The majority of Landon’s tasks have stayed true however, the amount of time he dedicates to his job as well as where he works has changed. He now spends the majority of his shifts stationed at an entrance throughout the EMU, checking people for valid Duck IDs, monitoring how many people are within the building and whether they are upholding social distancing guidelines.
Although Landon is grateful the EMU is still able to function, he misses the hustle and bustle the building once had to offer. For Landon, his job at the EMU has helped him grow into a more confident and outgoing person. He used to dislike talking with strangers however, because of his position and the opportunity to communicate with new people every day, he has become a more easily extroverted person. Unfortunately, with a significant decrease in the amount of traction within the building, he doesn’t get to help, interact or even see nearly as many friendly faces as before.
The EMU has always been a light on campus, a place where anyone can go and find someone to talk to, something to do or an activity/program to belong to. Although the physical state of the EMU has changed, Landon vows that the personality and charisma haven’t. Now more than ever, everyone who works at the EMU is dedicated to supporting and providing experiences for the Duck community.
If there is one thing Landon wants us to know, it’s that the effort people are putting in behind the scenes is unmatched.
“Over the course of working in the EMU, I have talked with and met so many amazing people who work so hard every day in order to keep the building running smoothly. Everyone from guest services, to the card office, to event services, to custodial, to all the vendors’ employees, to the organization and club leaders, to the pro staff… These are all people who work so hard every day and are the backbone of the EMU and who, without this position, I never would have had the opportunity to meet and appreciate.”
If you see Landon around the EMU, make sure to stop, say hi and flash him a smile (even behind your mask)!