Keeping watch throughout the night
Photographs by Jeff Miller
When most of the university community is fast asleep, its nocturnal members are handling business of nightmare prevention. Some provide safety and warmth, others guidance and friendship. Some are locked in computer rooms; others fly off in the dark to save a life.
Students sleeping and studying in their residence halls are warm because of people like Jeff Smits, who checks on coal distribution in one of the steam-generating boilers at the Charter Street Heating and Cooling Plant.
Veterinary medicine student Jessica Czederpiltz and certified veterinary technician Kristen Lynch monitor the medical condition of a nine-month-old cat recovering from a kidney transplant at the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Not far away, Med Flight pilot Gil Cowell prepares the UW Hospital and Clinics emergency helicopters for their next lifesaving missions. Meanwhile, Sellery Hall housefellow Lindsay McFarlane politely reinforces university quiet time policy and University Police officer Matt Winkler tickets a pizza deliveryman for driving in the bus lane.
In an undisclosed location, Harold Pydo of the Division of Information Technology’s (DoIT) Data Center Operations processes grade reports and class registrations and payroll, work generated by 350 dayside servers.
There are many others on the night shift at the university, each of them making it easier for the rest of us to have sweet dreams.
“If they [university people] want to be cold during the winter and hot during the summer, then maybe they wouldn’t need us. … But I love my job … and want them to be able to do their work comfortably.”
— Jeff Smits, senior power plant operator at the Charter Street Heating and Cooling Plant. Worked at UW for three years, but has done similar work for 20 years. Crews rotate shifts on a weekly basis.
“We’re here because of trauma, and trauma’s not scheduled. … We have to be there when needed.”
— Gil Cowell, Med Flight pilot at UW Hospital and Clinics for 2.5 years. Day and night shifts rotate.
“I need to be here and available to be called on at any time during the night. I need to make sure I can handle any situation, whether it’s two in the morning or two in the afternoon.”
— Lindsay McFarlane (standing center), senior and resident housefellow on 6B Sellery Hall. Started training in August.
“I think the university, having such a diverse population, is almost always functioning 24 hours a day. … As long as there are people out and about, people always have problems or need help, or need questions answered, so it’s really important that there are people like myself or the other officers who are available …”
— Matt Winkler (standing at left), University Police officer, two years. Generally works on third shift, 9 p.m.-7 a.m.
“We get emergencies in the middle of the night and it’s kind of a surreal feel sometimes. … It’s just us [veterinary technicians] and the doctor … you watch ER on TV and we’re actually kind of doing that here.”
— Kristen Lynch (at right), certified veterinary technician at the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Critical Care Unit. Has worked third shift, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., for three years. Shares childcare duties with husband.
“The only difficulty [in working through the night] is, if there is any problem, you’re getting someone out of bed.”
— Harold Pydo, information systems network support professional at DoIT’s Data Center Operations. Started out on third shift 14 years ago, went to day shift for six or seven years. Now back on nights.