What's it like to manage the 30-plus students that in the apartments above Murphy's each term? Mike Iskander, the building manager, shares his thoughts on Dartmouth students.
How long have you been a building manager for?
Three years now. My cousin used to manage the building for seven years before and I used to help him, but for three years I've been the only one. My dad's staying with me to help me.
What does a building manager do?
Well, I'm responsible for everything in the building. Security, business, everything.
What is the best part of your job?
Meeting people and knowing new people every year. Sometimes I get five, six people who stay in just one apartment, so I get to know a lot of people.
Any crazy stories?
Well, my job is a 24-hour job and the only bad things happen at three o'clock or four o'clock in the morning. Once, an alarm went off at four o'clock in the morning. And I remember one time, it wasn't the alarm, it was something in Murphy's, the compressor fan in one of the fridges -- something was wrong with it and it made a big noise and all the students woke up and they woke me up.
I had to call the plumber and stay with him until five in the morning to fix this stuff.
Are there any tenants aside from Dartmouth students?
No, we're only directed to Dartmouth students. They're very good kids; they're very nice. Sometimes, there are parties and stuff like that but it's kids so it's pretty easy stuff.
Do you have to break up parties a lot?
Sometimes. We usually try to be nice with the students if they're quiet and keep it in the apartments and stuff like that. But if its past 12 o'clock we have to shut it down, if they're making big noise and music and stuff. My rule is no drinking outside in the hallway. If you want to drink, you have to be in your apartment.
What else do you do?
I work in a coffee shop in the Dirt Cowboy dowstairs. I've worked as a baker there for three years.
