The Hawk

Issue date: 1/24/07 Section: Features

Craig Demota, a fun cafeteria worker.

It's a scene every Saint Joseph's student has witnessed countless times. He'll walk over to your table, pick up your trash and take your meal tray, then burst into a contagious gap-toothed smile. At first freshman students are confused, but they will soon catch on. "Do you know any good jokes?" a sophomore will ask. You can't help but encourage him. ""How did the bear fix his own house?" he'll ask.

"With his bare hands."

The man telling the jokes is Craig Demota, although his last name is unnecessary - Craig has achieved one-name status among the students of Saint Joseph's University. The rest of the world has Madonna and Tiger and Paris - at Saint Joe's we have Craig.

Craig, 34, is a dining services worker with mental disabilities. He started work in dining services at Saint Joseph's 20 years ago, picking up trash, pushing in chairs, and wiping tables. Craig does it all with a smile. "It's good for me," he said. "All the students are nice to me, and I'm nice to them. It's cool."

Craig's attendance speaks for itself - he has not missed a day of work in his life. "I do a good job," Craig said, puffing out his chest and breaking another smile.

His managers agree with him. "Craig has great customer service," one said. Even the students notice Craig's hard work. "He's a very hard worker," said Ryan Foran, '08. "He's always pushing in chairs and asking me if he can pick up my trash."

Although his hard work is appreciated by all, most people simply enjoy Craig's company. "Craig has a unique way about himself that everyone like's to have around," another manager mentioned. Students share similar sentiments. "I like when he comes to my table and tells jokes," said John White '08. "His jokes are very original, very simple, and get good laughs from everybody."

Craig was dressed in his usual work attire, ready for another dinnertime rush to begin filling the crimson café. His burgundy dining services shirt hung untucked; his black pants slouched. He took a slurp of frothy hot chocolate from the Styrofoam cup in front of him, and was ready for his next joke.

"Why did the cat go in the house and throw up?" Craig asked. "Because it was a cat-astrophe."

Although almost every student at St. Joe's has encountered Craig, few know him well. He hails from West Philadelphia, a graduate of Overbrook High School. He still lives about two minutes from campus with his mother and uncle.

Continued...

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