Whether alleviating the freshmen struggle to find campus landmarks or cracking jokes about their daily observations of your hectic comings and goings to and from your dorm, the Allied Barton staff doesn’t just provide students with a sense of security, but familiarity.
As the Allied Barton Security at Temple plays an integral role during the absurdly busy first couple weeks of the semester, we wanted to pay tribute to them and recognize them as this week’s Campus Celebrity.
While student schedules bear no resemblance to stability, the faces of Allied Barton Security add a sense of comfort. But the relationship between students and Allied Barton is that of a give and take. Allied Barton staff member, Edith McCurry finds Temple students to be intelligent, respectful and inspiring. After many conversations with students, she decided that she wanted to enroll in Temple. Although she initially didn’t want to pursue higher education following her graduation from Prep Charter High, McCurry, also a mother, now wants to pursue Early Childhood Education beginning in the spring semester.
McCurry, 24, began working for Allied Barton in October 2013. She previously worked in sales at a beauty supply store before coming to Allied Barton. While the nervousness that she felt on her first day has completely dissipated, she does deal with situations that may cause the average person slight discomfort. McCurry constantly encounters people trying to come into both dorms and academic buildings with no Temple affiliation. She’s also dealt with the guests of dorm residents attempting to come into dorms with fake ID’s.
Last spring, Temple students made a tribute video for Allied Barton and played it for them at their training center on 16th and Cecil B. Moore. McCurry smiles while recalling the video which featured multiple members of the Allied Barton staff from Temple. The video epitomizes the very friendly nature of the relationship between Allied Barton and Temple students. The respect for one another’s character is mutual as is the interest in one another’s lives.
Whether saying “come on in, friend” after swiping you in at Johnson Hall or helping you locate misplaced items, we begin to learn the small things really do count as we get older. And when Allied Barton staff such as McCurry takes the time of day to talk to you outside of their duties, it should continue to be appreciated.