Katelyn Wilburn, Campus Carrier opinions editor

Berry is renowned for its cozy and intimate atmosphere. From its visually appealing ambiance to its welcoming community, none of its qualities would exist without dedicated faculty and staff. They work behind the scenes, cultivating safety in our space, warming the property with their hospitality and always being a reliable source for students who need help. 

This year, we want to pause and say thank you. Thank you for the countless unseen, yet undeniable, acts of kindness, for your patience, professionalism, and the genuine care you show students, peers and visitors alike. 

Faculty and staff fill countless roles to sustain Berry’s needs: the dining staff greets students and feeds them daily, the administration keeps offices running smoothly, the custodial staff ensures our environment is safe and accommodating, and the campus police protect our community. These roles might seem routine, but they create the environment that students thrive in. 

The dining hall is a place that every student at Berry visits. When transitioning from childhood to adulthood, it can be difficult to support all your daily needs. Some students have never cooked before college, and the thought of being the sole person to put food on the table can scare some people. Students are often up past midnight studying and are well known for making a traditional college meal, microwave ramen. The dining hall workers do a lot to keep students happy and healthy, serving nutritious food and keeping the dining hall clean. Berry’s premium nights are an exciting experience for students, switching up the food they normally eat or giving them an excuse to have a conversation with a friend over dinner. The dining hall staff should be appreciated and complimented for feeding out community. 

Professors take their time, patience and hard work to provide us the best education possible. It takes a lot of late nights to complete all the grading and lecture plans in which professors do. In addition to that, but they are constantly working on research so the academic discourse here can continue to thrive. 

Administration deserves our gratitude as well. Our school’s primary objective is to provide higher education to their students, and that wouldn’t be possible without all the administrative staff who ensure the smooth functioning of the institution. Many students lack clarity about their future directions, and administration has always been a valuable resource in such situations. Advising week can be stressful, but when students engage in one-on-one conversations about their future, a 30-minute meeting can significantly boost their confidence and help them take the next step in their lives. Along with these needs, there is no possibility of students getting what they need in a prompt manner without good planning. The secretaries of each school at Berry are always working for this to be our reality. Administration at Berry is one large team, composed of dedicated individuals that deserve to be recognized for their accomplishments. 

Furthermore, the janitorial staff at Berry is a group that deserves a large amount of recognition. Messes are inevitable, and whether it is muddy boots walking inside or someone who accidentally spills their water bottle, the janitorial staff makes sure the inside of our buildings are clean and safe for their purposes. Hygiene is such an important part of our safety, and the cleaners at Berry are maintaining it as their top priority. Much physical labor goes into cleaning, and Berry’s staff works tirelessly to keep us in beautiful learning environments. 

Alongside our hygenic safety, Berry has always prioritized our physical safety. The Berry College Police Department (BCPD) plays a crucial role in our community. The BCPD regularly inspects all our buildings and monitors the gates at night, which requires very long, very late hours. Even though our police could be at home or asleep, they sacrifice their time to keep the Berry Bubble safe. Students can walk around at night or study without stressing about impending danger, and that is a privilege to experience. 

For the Carrier specifically, Kevin Kleine has always been our number one supporter. At every meeting, trip or production night, he is always the first to lend a helping hand. His commitment reflects Berry’s values: dedication to the community, generosity and willingness to go above and beyond for any person he meets. If someone came to Berry looking for an example of how to serve others endlessly, Kevin would be the first person we would recommend. 

Every Wednesday night, Kevin comes into the office to edit our final spreads before we send them to print. When he walks in, we are exhausted, caffeine-driven monsters that are stressed and ready to go to bed. Though we are tired, Kevin never stops brightening the mood. From the fun music he walks in with to the countless jokes, the restless nights always become easier when he comes through the door. Kevin has always been an excellent example of what it means to work at Berry.

To every staff member who has chosen to invest into making Berry a better place, thank you for everything that you do. You are the heartbeat of this college, and your contributions deserve recognition. Your quiet acts of service do not go unnoticed.

Let us thank the staff who make our work possible. Berry is more than its history, traditions and campus. It is the people who bring life to a place that is so special.