In the beginning, current Quincy House DormCrew Captain Nicholas K. Davis '99 says it was thechance to meet fellow classmates while cleaningtheir rooms that encouraged him to stick to hiscleaning post during his first year at Harvard.

"I think my parents were more worried about itthan I was," he says. But "it was wonderful--Icouldn't believe how much I loved it."

Now four years into the job, having heldvarious positions throughout the group'shierarchy, Davis says Dorm Crew's flexibilitycontinues to be a draw.

Dorm Crew worker Jacqueline C. Hamm '01, who isa former Radcliffe rugby player, says that becauseworkers can choose their own schedules, workingfor Dorm Crew was something she could easily fitinto a schedule packed with classes and sportspractices.

"I could start off with a small number of hoursand then increase them as my schedule allowed,"Hamms says, who has since become a Dorm Crewcaptain for Adams House.

And according to group leaders, employees canvirtually tailor-make their schedules, spreadingout their allotment of hours over various days orworking all at once.

Still, most concede that money is themotivating factor to work for DormCrew--especially in the period after studentsleave campus in the end of May.

"It's big bucks and no whammies," Giles jokes,who has worked for the group throughout his fouryears at Harvard College.

Currently, a starting Dorm Crew worker earns$8.85 per hour, a figure that puts Dorm Crewworkers among the highest-paid students on campus.In past years, senior workers received raises witheach extra semester of service, although thepractice has been discontinued this year when itwas discovered that Dorm Crew workers were makingmore money than full-time, non-student employees.

The Business Called Dorm Crew

Aside from the obvious financial incentive,Wolfreys says there are real-world advantages toworking Dorm Crew.

Captains, especially those who hope to startcareers in consulting and business, developmanagement, leadership and problem-solving skillsapplicable to professional jobs, he said.

Wolfreys said Dorm Crew captains have spoken injob interviews about managing a crew of 20 peopleand a building with 400 beds, experience similarto hotel management. "I suspect that there aren'tmany kids who can put that on their resumes," hesaid.

Aside from operating bathroom and dorm cleaningthroughout the year, Dorm Crew also directs thedormitory clean-up that occurs after the Yard andthe Houses are vacated at the end of May, justbefore reunion week and Commencement.

In addition to these high-intensity, well-paidjobs, students have the opportunity to securepositions for the alumni reunions duringCommencement week.