As of Jan. 22, most dorm receptionists — popularly known as deskies — have been reassigned from their dormitories to new duties sorting packages at Rooks-Van Dellen Hall (RVD). This shift comes as a result of a move to centralize package pickup to one location, streamlining the process and reducing the strain on individual dorms.
Deskies have long been an integral part of campus life, offering assistance with everything from sports equipment checkouts to distributing mail and supplies. In the past, the role of the position was to ensure that cleaning supplies, sports gear and other dorm necessities were accessible to students. However, the role has evolved over time. According to Director of Housing and Operations Jay Wise, housing staff realized that it was often inconvenient for students to go to their dorm desk during its limited hours of operation. Consequently, many of these items — particularly sporting goods — were moved to the dorm basements for more consistent access.
Because of this, Wise explained that the primary role of deskies has come to focus on sorting and distributing packages. The new centralized system now revolves around a single package pickup location at RVD. Calvin first dipped its feet into centralized package pickup a few years ago, when it moved package pickup to Knollcrest Dining Hall for the first month of the fall semester due to high package volume. Wise cited the growing volume of packages, potential for more efficiency, and financial benefits as the reason for the shift, saying, “We realized that efficiency is there. It helps the mail services staff as well; they’re not having to go around to six, now seven, individual residence halls to get packages.”
The change will also reduce the number of deskies needed to keep packages sorted and available to the community. Clare Rybicki, a freshman resident of Kalsbeek-Huizenga-van Reken (KHvR), was preparing to apply for the role when she learned through a friend that the position was no longer available. She expressed disappointment over the decision, describing the deskie role as a great opportunity for students to step out of their comfort zones. “It’s a really great job, especially for people who are trying to maybe get out of their shell a little bit because people come in and out all the time, so you’re always going to run into someone,” Rybicki explained.
Some deskies told Chimes that the transition has affected the personal connections deskies once formed within their dorms. Elizabeth Ayers, a sophomore deskie from KHvR, shared how the change has altered her interactions with students. “I got to know people’s faces, and I got to recognize names on packages,” Ayers said. However, with the new package pickup system, these interactions have diminished. “I just have such different majors than them or such different schedules that I don’t see them at all anymore,” she said. Ayers also explained that with the increased volume of packages, the personal connection that was once part of the deskie role has been lost. Ayers described her experience working in RVD, stating, “There was hardly a two-minute span where we didn’t have somebody come up to the desk, so we didn’t really have time” to get to know others, she recalled.
The new system has also affected resident assistants (RAs). Brooks Townsend, the RA of 3rd Huizenga, wrote to Chimes that the removal of in-dorm deskies means that he’s now “responsible for mail, something my training didn’t especially focus on.” Townsend wrote that “it’s tough to be a KHvR resident and walk all through the snow and back to get packages.” As the farthest dorm from RVD, KHvR is the most affected by the centralized package pickup.
Wise has assured deskies that they will receive more training to help them acclimate to their new work environment and system. By reorganising the roles and responsibilities of the desk staff and delegating tasks to other staff members or RAs, measures are being put into place to ensure smoother operations. While the social dynamic of the dorms has shifted with the lack of deskies, Wise said that deskies will return to individual dorms for certain events during “exam week and checkout week.”
