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Tom O’Connor, senior associate director of public relations, shows off his clean new office in the 4230 Building. The UNMC public relations department recently moved into building from its old home on the fifth floor of Swanson Hall. On a side note, O’Connor’s office mates reportedly have a pool underway to see how long it takes him to cover his entire desk with work papers. (Photo by Andrew E. Nelson, UNMC public relations) |
As you may know, the UNMC Public Relations Department recently moved from Swanson Hall — its home for more than 25 years — into the third floor of Annex 10, affectionately known by the catchy name of the 4230 Building.
The move took place on May 21. Our department had known for several months that the move was imminent. Our space on the fifth floor of Swanson Hall was to go to the UNMC Department of Surgery.
I’ll be honest — I looked forward to the move as though it were a root canal.
Harkening back to my old college days when I would employ the cram method of studying for a test in the last day or two, I decided to start to pack three days before the move date.
Shouldn’t be a problem. I always work better under deadline pressure.
To steal a phrase from famed college football analyst Lee Corso — not so fast, my friend.
In nearly 22 years in the same office, I had become a collection area for anything of historical value.
Looking for files on the 1997 merger of University Hospital and Clarkson Hospital? Come see TO.
How about materials pertaining to every building opening on campus since 1987? Yep, yours truly.
Need a videotape of an old newscast? Say no more.
My cluttered office included five filing cabinets — two five-drawer laterals, a four-drawer lateral and two two-drawers — plus, a TV/VCR/DVD, a book shelf, a table with two chairs and a refrigerator.
And, oh yeah, my desk and chair.
Then Karen Burbach cleaned out her office closet and found four big boxes of my stuff … and deposited them in my office. Thanks, Karen.
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Outside my office, I heard one of my colleagues, Lisa Spellman, proudly proclaim, “I got all my stuff in three boxes.” Shut up, Lisa.
For three excruciating days and nights, I packed. I tossed a ton of old files and filled several massive bins with paper. I went places that hadn’t been touched in years.
Greg Anthony, our awesome Environmental Services worker, kept bringing up more bins. John Schleicher from the McGoogan Library of Medicine graciously agreed to come over and take some of the “historical material” off my hands. I have a feeling the library will be filling some bins shortly.
Several PR staff members watched the misery unfolding in my office and asked if they could help. These people — Spellman, Jessica Brummer, Julie Garfield, Maggie Stewart-Grant and Vicky Cerino — are true heroes!
In the packing process, I stirred up enough dust that when I went home at night, I looked like a ditch digger. I sneezed and blew my nose perpetually.
After all the tossing, my box count still reached a staggering 40.
After three consecutive nights of working until 9:45 p.m., I sighed and shut my Swanson Hall door for the last time. It was done.
Now, two weeks later, we have settled into our new digs and are back in the groove.
We miss our old friends at Swanson Hall, but look forward to making new friends in the 4230 Building. We’d also love members of the campus community to stop by and see our new home.
Those who knew me and my old office won’t recognize my new spread. My desk is clean. You can even see the top of it! My table serves as a, well, table, instead of another file cabinet.
If you don’t believe me, stop by and see for yourself. Then sit down for a chat. You won’t even have to clear off a chair.