by Amy Eastman

The Memorial Union at OSU is a friendly, homey, a busy yet comfortable environment for staff, students, teachers, volunteers, visitors and employees of the university.  The aspect is very important because you want everyone who enters the MU to feel at ease and able to get a taste of the OSU community and atmosphere.

As an employee of the Memorial Union, I am able to partake and experience this positive environment through working at the coffee shop in the library, Java II.  Despite having other on-campus jobs, none other has been more enjoyable and rewarding as my experience and time at Java II.  Working at a coffee shop is hard work and you have to be able to multi-task, have a positive attitude and work well with your co-workers and be flexible, efficient, quick yet consistent.  Customers are picky about coffee drinks and it is our sole purpose to ensure that they are satisfied with the product they pay for and receive a great experience while visiting our coffee shop.  In order for this kind of a business to work it takes employees willing to put forth the effort and time.  From our manager to all of the shift leaders and regular employees, everyone is happy and content to be working and always comes to work with a smile and willingness to work hard.  Everyone puts in 110% effort.  Everyone is so cheerful and excited about serving customers and their job, it makes me want to work harder and better serve our customers.

This kind of positive attitude and experience is what keeps our customers coming back and the sole purpose of the MU to provide “needs for the day, and spirit for the soul.”  The MU creates this friendly, comfortable environment for all the students, teachers and employers of the MU and OSU wouldn’t be the same without it.  There are many students, professors and visitors who come into Java II, some of which don’t order neither drink nor food, but just come to sit and enjoy the ambiance and the company of others.  As an employee of Java II, I come in as well to visit when I am not working, or come to study at a table close by because I truly enjoy the positive and upbeat environment that Java II and the MU creates.  It is a gathering place for many people and creates a sense of community and people feel safe and comfortable here and this is very important.  When students, staff and faculty can feel safe in the place that they learn, work, teach and live then there will only be more positive attitudes, results and success.  I am so lucky and appreciative to be a part of this great community and don’t know where I would be without it.