The Slug Dining Hall Work Experience
Is Scrubbing Stevenson’s Dishes Worth the Wage? “I needed a way to support myself through college,” Gio reveals before taking another deep breath, letting her uggs tap in rhythm on the dorm floor. “I wanted to help my parents in any way I could. I didn’t want them to have to worry as much.” While the dining hall isn’t for everyone, to Gio– the money is worth the work. As a freshman at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Giovanna Basile has been working at the Stevenson and Cowell dining hall since the fall quarter. As she sits currently, propped on the edge of my bed, in ripped jeans and a knit sweater. It’s hard to picture her in her usual work attire: no-slip shoes, jeans, and the iconic bright blue t-shirt and matching baseball cap. However, for many students at UCSC, that’s who Gio is– the friendly worker who serves dinner and stuffs the curst of pizza with extra cheese! From babysitter to dining hall worker. Adjusting to her current job has come with a lot of new responsibi...