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What class! Columbia University janitor graduates with honors
By VERENA DOBNIK
Last Updated: 5:12 PM, May 13, 2012
Class act: Surrounded by fresh-faced youngsters, Columbia University janitor Gac Filipaj give a thumbs up during a graduation ceremony today. The 52-year-old Albanian studied for 12 years to obtain his bachelor's in classics.
For years, Gac Filipaj mopped floors, cleaned toilets and took out trash at Columbia University.
A refugee from war-torn Yugoslavia, he eked out a living working for the Ivy League school. But Sunday was payback time: The 52-year-old janitor donned a cap and gown to graduate with a bachelor's degree in classics.
As a Columbia employee, he didn't have to pay for the classes he took. His favorite subject was the Roman philosopher and statesman Seneca, the janitor said during a break from his work at Lerner Hall, the student union building he cleans.
more...
http://m.nypost.com/p/news/local/what_class_columbia_university_janitor_aiyAUmVik0ac6d6pHwzT7H
doc03
(35,364 posts)mazzarro
(3,450 posts)Does he not realize that his lot has been properly designated as a janitor for life? What does he know about using a degree in classics?
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)to serve as the Janitor for the school!
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)for demonstrating that he can think creatively. Or a launching ground for a literary career.
Or maybe ... Just, maybe ... He enjoys being a janitor and took the classes because he also enjoyed the course work.
flygal
(3,231 posts)I used my degree to work as a flight attendant - and loved it! I earned more waitressing during college than I did my first year flying, but again , I loved it
Sabriel
(5,035 posts)He'll start that whole "let them work as school janitors" thing all over again.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)But usually its only a class or two, because after all they aren't likely to have the time to be full time students or work toward a degree.
What he did was very impressive.
And he was able to do it without student loan debt too. I bet a lot of the kids envy him for that.
CTyankee
(63,912 posts)He worked in the Exchange Student program and since he hadn't finished his undergraduate degree and so he was able to take the necessary courses to complete his B.A.
His degree was just as valid and respected as any other undergrad degree from Columbia. It was great.
A lot of fine colleges have this option for people who work for them. It is a great way for them to get quality staff to go to work for them!
WillyT
(72,631 posts)Can't find a direct link, but go here...
Link: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/
Hit the down button until you get to the seventh video..
Columbia University Janitor Picks Up Degree
FailureToCommunicate
(14,020 posts)<iframe width="560" height="315" src="
" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)where he takes a Harvard history graduate student to town.
He probably got a history Ph.D. and is currently adjunct teaching at a community college right now.
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)No massive debt. This was a true opportunity. The way we should treat every person in the country.
TBF
(32,090 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)The Midway Rebel
(2,191 posts)It was challenging to keep my chin up. College kids can be such slobs. I would do it again. I would like to talk to this guy and hear more of his experiences.
I have since moved on to earn a dual BA and I am currently in an MA program while washing dishes part-time at a restauraunt my wife and I own.