It's 2:30 a.m., and the campus is quiet. Joe Godino rings up a customer's bill and tells him, "At the moment, I'm reading 'Gravity' by James Hartle and a book on abstract algebra by Michael Artin."
As the recipient of a Ph.D. from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., it's no surprise that Godino spends his days reading these books. What may come as a surprise is that he spends his nights working at the U-Store's convenience mart, U2, Monday through Friday.
Night shift workers give various reasons why they choose to work while most sleep. For Godino, the answer is simple: he can work at night and study his sciences during the day.
"There are no restrictions on what I can or cannot do after work," he said. For Godino, working the night shift is a way to make money while continuing to do what he likes best.
The job has other benefits, too.
It's his second year at the U-Store, and Godino said he "loves browsing through the textbooks upstairs." His 30 percent employee discount doesn't hurt either.
For some, however, late shifts are less about personal choice.
Elizabeth Robelorio, night manager of the Wawa, said: "No one else wants to work it."
Her 8-hour shift starts at 11 p.m. and ends at 7 a.m. "Oh, we're like vampires. Sleep through the day and rise at night," she said.
Despite the lonely hours and odd sleeping schedule, the job has its lighter moments.
Both Robelorio and Godino agreed the stores are busiest on Thursday and Saturday nights.
Robelorio remembered a time when a student wandered into the Wawa at 3 a.m. wearing only his boxers and proceeded to lock himself into the freezer.
When he finally came out, he walked around the store picking out items, only to discover he'd left his wallet under a pile of products inside the freezer.
Naked student stories seem to be fairly common among those employees who burn the midnight oil.
Meena Krishnan, another U2 employee, recounted the tale of the boy who "walked into the U2, sang a song for me and [a coworker] and then did a little striptease!"
Entertaining though it may be at times, Godino said his job is temporary. His plans include remote sensing and the computer modeling industry.
But for the moment, he is happy to be in Princeton.
"It's a good place for someone who likes studying," he said.
"You're really lucky," he said, "You have a world of opportunity here."
Read More
GSG approves audit, delays budget approval after ‘insufferable’ meeting
Nikki HanThe final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
The final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
Effort to restore chapel’s pews slowly progresses
Ben GoldstonHead carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Head carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Metals, molecules, and medicine: chemical biology’s influence on health and sustainability
Aanya KaseraChemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.
Chemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.