He knows what time you eat lunch, he knows exactly what is in your breakfast wrap, he may even know your name. With his infectious smile and the hands of a Dove Soap model, Souleymane Marzouk is a familiar fixture to any student who has ever stopped by the Courtyard Cafe at the Hopkins Center.
"Most of the time I am not a shy guy." Marzouk said. "I think if you are going to see someone everyday you have to take the time to say 'Hi. How are you?' and really care how they are doing."
Though a number of people on campus have taken the opportunity to get to know "Souley," as he prefers to be called, many Dartmouth students know little about the soft-spoken and friendly cashier. Marzouk, who was born in the West African country of Mali, has worked for the College for five years. A resident of the United States for the past 17 years, Marzouk graduated from the University of Illinois, where he concentrated in recreational management, and currently resides in Hartford, Vt.
While working at Dartmouth, Marzouk attended the University of New Hampshire, where in addition to his studies he worked for a program that helps children with disabilities and their families to remain athletically active. Marzouk himself enjoys winter sports designed for people with disabilities, such as sledge-hockey and ski racing.
At Dartmouth, Marzouk has developed a close rapport with many people. Whether welcoming a group of friends back from an off-term, or questioning a student as to why he skipped breakfast, Marzouk fosters a sense of familiarity that many students appreciate.
Stephanie St. Louis '08 expressed gratitude for Marzouk's contribution to her experience at Dartmouth. After injuring herself in the art studio this past summer, St. Louis went to the Hopkins Center in search of first-aid and encountered Marzouk.
"I went over to say hi and already felt a little better when he gave me his usual smile and 'Hello Ms. Stephanie.' I showed him my wound and told him how I was on my way to go look for an ice pack and before I knew it he whipped a plastic bag out of some secret cabinet and filled it with ice and asked me if I thought it would be okay," St. Louis said. "You can tell that he is really there for students and genuinely cares about us. I hope he realizes how much we appreciate and care about him too."
According to Marzouk, the responsiveness of Dartmouth students helps him to maintain an upbeat attitude.
"The majority of students are very friendly. The majority of the time students respond back and then if someone is consistent you should take the time to get to know them," Marzouk said. "One vibe feeds another. If someone is responsive, you keep it going and you don't vent it on to the next person."
In the future, Marzouk tentatively plans on attending nursing school. He will wait, however, until his wife, Justyna, whom he married in September 2005, returns from Poland, where she is completing a degree in business. The two plan on visiting Marzouk's family in Mali in December. Marzouk, however, is not sure whether the pair will settle in the Upper Valley.
"Living here long-term is something that we are still thinking about because her happiness is important to me," Marzouk said. "Overall I feel like a super lucky guy."
