UTRGV plumbing staff talks about their work on campus
Karla Hernandez/THE RIDER
While everyday life continues to happen on campus for students and faculty, some unseen workers keep UTRGV afloat and sustain every building in sight.
Martin Cortez, director for Campus Facilities Operations on the Brownsville campus, talked about the importance of the maintenance crew for the university to run properly.
“If you don’t have proper lighting … it would be difficult to be working in an area that’s not properly lit,” Cortez said. “If it’s too hot or cold, then, of course, they can’t. … Visitors that come to campus … we want them to see a nice presentable area.”
With 45 personnel, counting both office staff and all ground trades in the morning shift and 32 at night, the Brownsville campus works eight hours a day and 40 hours a week. The Campus Facilities Operations counts all of them as a key piece to continue working toward campus improvement.
Meanwhile, the Campus Facilities Operations oversees multiple departments across UTRGV, including a plumbing team of three members.
Abelardo Martinez, a plumber for Campus Facilities Operations, who has worked for the department for over a year, said his passion is what makes his job fulfilling.
“Honestly, nothing is difficult when you’re passionate about your work; this is what you live for and what you make a living from,” Martinez said in Spanish.
He added every shift brings something new; despite it all, he enjoys every hour of his shifts.
Martinez said the plumbing staff considers itself as part of the university community.
“I want students to know that we are here at their service,” he said in Spanish. “We are part of this campus just like the students, the professors and the other staff, we are one complete team.”
Karla Hernandez/THE RIDER
Florencio Santos, a plumber for Campus Facilities Operations, who has been working at UTRGV for 19 years, said his decision to stay has always been simple.
“It’s a good job, I like what I do, I truly enjoy it,” Santos said in Spanish.
For workers such as Santos, the university can be more than a workplace; it can also be part of his family story, as he told The Rider two of his daughters graduated from UTRGV as teachers and his youngest is getting ready to complete her last semester.
“Everything I do, I do it with love,” he said.
Santos said he advises students pursuing a degree to, “Study, move forward and don’t depend on anyone, depend on yourself.”
Martinez added students should pour more value into the opportunities that are given to them.
“Enjoy your youth and take advantage of the time your parents give you to study,” he said. “Without education, life becomes much harder.”
–Sofía Cantú Sauceda contributed to the story.
