Donald Rzeppa is a Dispatcher with the Campus Safety Office and the Salem Street Crosswalk Crossing Guard. Since joining the Andover community in 2012, Rzeppa has served in various capacities in Campus Safety, including working the midnight patrol shift and taking calls. In his free time, Rzeppa enjoys writing poetry, reading history, and going to the gym.
How did your experience at Andover start?
I got hired in 2012. My original job was working midnights on Tuesdays and Thursdays in… “the mule,” it’s the utility vehicle. Then I got switched to a desk job, and for the past five to six years, I’ve been doing the crosswalk on Salem Street from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m..
What do your responsibilities include as a member of Campus Safety?
My usual shift [is] 40 hours a week. I’m at the desk answering phone calls, locking doors, if you call us at night or on the weekend, I’m one of three people answering the phones. If there’s a lockout, if you need to get into the gym, or you lose your ID, I’m available to make the IDs for students, and I put the call out there on dispatch to the appropriate officer who’s around monitoring the door alarms that we have on campus. [I monitor] our cameras as well. I [also] do the Salem Street crosswalk, which I do most of the time from Monday to Friday.
What is your favorite part of working on the crosswalk?
It’s fun seeing students, faculty, and staff walking across it. It could be a Monday morning, and everyone looks a little tired, but there’s a lot of happiness going around, and I like that. In a way, I think it keeps me young. I especially love seeing the students happy [going to class], and I just like being around that atmosphere.
From your time at Andover, what’s one piece of advice you have for students?
Please look both ways when you cross the street. If available, please press those buttons on the sides for the lights. I can’t stress that enough. I can’t speak for every adult on campus, but that is a main concern [for me], especially at night. Drivers can’t always see people walking across. They know there’s a crosswalk there, but please press the button that activates the light, it’s all about safety.
What’s your favorite memory from your time at Andover?
It’s Commencement, the whole weekend… It’s sad seeing some of the students leave that I may have gotten used to over the four years, but I’m happy for them when they go on and advance to whatever field they go into. That’s my favorite time of the year. It’s sad, but I’m happy for them.
What do you think is the role of Campus Safety in the Andover community?
First and foremost, the well-being and safety of the students. The students are the largest population that we have here. Of course, we also serve the faculty and staff, they have requests as well. We take care of the health and safety of everyone, but students come first… [For example], the gas explosions in 2018, which affected PA, were a challenging time for all students, staff, and faculty. [Without] great leadership and the school working as a team, the impact on our community could have been much worse. I was proud of how the school handled an extremely difficult situation.
Who’s your hero?
My parents. Both have passed on, but my parents definitely are my heroes.
Outside of Salem Street, what’s your favorite place or thing on campus?
Siberia, when not in use, is a quiet and almost peaceful landscape. When sports are underway, it is exciting to see our teams in action.
What should the Andover community know about Campus Safety?
Just know that our entire department cares about everybody on campus and we will provide safety to the best that we can for the students, staff, and faculty. Of course, students come first. Please approach us for anything. We’re not robots, and we want to help. If somebody has a concern or a question, please approach us at any time. It’s a way that we can build trust within our community. We are approachable. If there’s anything at all, even if you just need advice on something, please approach us, because we’ll always listen.
Speed Round:
Favorite Paresky Commons Meal?
I have to go with pizza. I’m good with cheese or pepperoni.
What do you like to do outside of Andover?
I read history. I like poetry, spending time with my friends, and my girlfriend. I read a lot of history and poetry, so those are my hobbies.
A place you’d like to visit?
Cranes Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Also, [a] Planet Fitness Gym.
A hidden talent or hobby?
I went to cooking school… I [also] write my own poetry sometimes.
What’s your favorite season of the year on campus?
Autumn by far. I love the leaves.
