Iowa State University Alumni Association| online edition | spring 2006
Megan Winkel

 


SPRING 2006
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Please don't hate me

Who says college students don’t throw temper tantrums? Megan Winkel sees them every day.

Winkel, a senior in management, has been writing tickets for the Department of Public Safety Parking Division for four years. She works 15-17 hours a week for student wages, and in a busy four-hour shift she often writes up to 60 citations.

That’s a lot of angry people.

“I’ve been called all the names in the book,” she says. “We’re just doing our job, just like everyone else. There is no need for dirty looks.”

Most jobs don’t require students to work outside in all kinds of weather AND deal with people who cry, yell, and threaten.

Winkel says it’s hard to deal with people who are rude and inconsiderate. Many people try to plead their way out of tickets, and Winkel does listen. Occasionally she makes exceptions. But sometimes when she runs a license plate she learns that the student begging for mercy already has more than 250 parking tickets.

In rare situations, Winkel has resorted to calling for police backup when she is being threatened. Once, she said, a man actually jumped in and started his car that was already sitting on a tow truck. Winkel has learned how to keep her cool and handle difficult situations.

It’s not a cushy job, but Winkel enjoys the work. The job is on campus, she can easily work around her classes, and she likes her supervisor. It’s a unique job,
and she says it keeps her on her toes because every day is different. And the most amazing part? She’s made a lot of friends.

-- M. Kalkhoff

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