Colin Maguire, a sophomore biochemistry major, was looking to find a job on the Syracuse University Job Opportunities website when he found a listing for a building coordinator at Hendricks Chapel. The job was similar to one that he had in high school, so he applied.

At his job at Hendricks Chapel, Maguire sets up the lights and microphones for events, makes sure the events run smoothly and cleans up afterwards. The time he spends at any particular event varies depending on what is needed for each event.

Maguire is a member of the marching band, so the balance between school, work and marching band can be difficult. Luckily, his job offers him a lot of flexibility. He gets to pick the events he works based on his availability and interest.

Maguire tries to work as many events as he can. He gets to be a part of a wide range of events such as concerts, convocations, chancellor’s open forums, religious services and lectures that take place in Hendricks.

“Hendricks is a place where SU comes together,” Maguire said. “Anything good that happens, we go there to celebrate. If a tragedy happens, we’ll go there to mourn. It’s a really cool place to work.”

At Hendricks, Maguire talks on everything from racial inequality to climate change as he interacts with a large variety of student and religious groups.

The job has exposed Maguire to the different religions on campus and their traditions.

Most of the events that he works would not be on his radar if he did not have this job, he said. A lot of the lectures in Hendricks Chapel are about topics that Maguire said he would not have sought out or knew he had the opportunity to learn. Events like a talk by actress Robin Givens, which he greatly enjoyed, would have been something he missed.

“I just wanted a job,” Maguire said. “And I’ve just learned so much.”

Published on December 9, 2015 at 12:01 am

Contact Katie: kazilcos@syr.edu