If you have entered campus on the corner of Agate Street and East 13th Avenue, then you may have noticed the information kiosk at the east University entrance. What you may have missed is Gary Davis, the man who provides visitors with information and a warm welcome.
From 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., he stands in a small shed-like building adorned with two sliding windows. According to the Oregon University System, his job title is an office assistant, but he would rather be called the “University greeter.”
Because Davis works at one of the main entrances to the University, he says he has a lot of regulars who come through his entrance, including University faculty, students workers and food deliverers, but also more sporadic visitors, mainly high school students interested in coming to tour the campus.
“Most of these visitors are new to campus and have been on the road for a very long time and have arrived in this strange place,” Davis said. “My job is to listen to their concerns and needs and get them comfortable.”
University senior Theresa Higgins recalls driving past the kiosk a few years ago with her dad for a campus tour when Davis greeted them.
“It was nice to have an actual person welcome us,” Higgins said. “I remember him asking us if we knew the state tree for California. My dad and I didn’t know, but he let us know it was the Redwood.”
Inside of Davis’ booth hangs a list on the wall closest to where he sits. The half sheet of paper is a list of all the U.S. states and their state trees. Davis explained that when cars from out of state pull up, he checks his sheet quickly and can later quiz visitors on their state tree.
“People are always very impressed that I know their state tree,” Davis said. “It’s just something fun that I like to do, and it makes me more personable. It makes my job fun.”
A position officially associated with the University’s Department of Public Safety, Davis’ job entails distributing parking permits, information and reporting suspicious activity, but his daily tasks involve much more.
“I am the first face people see when they arrive to this side of campus; it is the customer service portion of public safety,” Davis said. “My job title doesn’t describe what I do because, really, I greet people.”
Davis says he enjoys being in the DPS sector; however, he describes his job as a unique niche in public safety.
“While most employees working for DPS are writing out citations and receiving a lot of negative heart from people, I get all the positive,” Davis said. “People really appreciate being pointed in the right direction.”
Captain of the Department of Public Safety’s Commuter Services and Special Event Security Herb Horner said Davis’ kiosk plays a pivotal role in welcoming.
“The staff in Oregon Hall and in the Office of Admissions put on all the student orientations and student tours, and they say that it is very helpful having a person to welcome and guide guests,” Horner said. “This campus isn’t exactly user-friendly with its closed portion and many entrances and can be hard to navigate. I regularly get feedback that people are very grateful that when they come to campus there is a person there and not just a map. People are not left on their own.”
For the past five years, Davis has seen visitors from every state except from North Dakota: “No one comes from North Dakota,” Davis said. He said the University attracts visitors from all over the country, and because of it, he can recognize almost any out-of-state license plate from an impressive distance and can even tell the difference between an accent from North Carolina and from Georgia.
Davis says he enjoys his job because he not only works alongside DPS and Oregon Hall, but also he gets to be a part of the campus community and has gotten to know the “regulars.”
“After a few years of saying ‘hello’ and giving a wave every morning, you really get to know people,” Davis said.
Depending on the time of day, time of year or depending on campus events going on, Davis sees a range of visitors who are coming through the university and has many stories to tell.
Davis recalls one time when a family from out of state arrived at his entrance and thought they were at Oregon State University.
“Before telling them they were at the wrong university, I had to give them a bad time about wearing orange and black beaver attire,” Davis said.
When it comes to representing the University, Davis says he feels proud to be a part of such a successful university.
“I think that there are a lot of people here working together to accomplish good things. You really have to be a team pla
yer here to get anything done,” Davis said. “I play an integral part of the public safety team, but I am also out here being a people person.”
Davis realizes that for University visitors, he has the potential to make or break their first impressions. He says he uses his patience and positive attitude to make sure guests always feel welcome.
“I have to be presentable and friendly,” Davis said. “It’s just me and the kiosk out here to greet these people, so most importantly, I try to shave everyday.”
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