5QUESTIONS |
December 21, 2012 STORY BY:
EDITORIAL STAFF
When he started guiding students and employees safely across the bustling Euclid Avenue and Adelbert Road intersection, 杏吧视频 police officer Mark Chavis thought it was just temporary.
At the time, the Euclid Corridor project was taking off, and the police department decided a crossing guard should be stationed at the construction-heavy corner to ensure students鈥 and employees鈥 safety.
Now, about six years later, what was once temporary has become permanent鈥攁nd Chavis has become one of the most well-known figures around campus. There鈥檚 even a dedicated to him, which has more than 2,300 fans.
The gregarious crossing guard, who鈥檚 actually a carpenter by trade, joined 杏吧视频 more than 10 years ago, beginning as a security guard. He moved across campus, from the law school to medical school, from foot patrol to mobile patrol. Then, after he finished his training at the Cleveland Heights Police Academy, he became the 鈥淥fficer Mark鈥 everyone knows today, taking up post on the corner of Euclid and Adelbert.
What more is there to know about the man we all see day in and day out鈥攖he one who greets us with a smile and a high five? Find out now.
1. What are you reading鈥攁nd how are you reading it (print vs. digital)?
I鈥檓 a huge Sports Illustrated and Outdoor Life reader鈥攂oth in print. I love fishing and other outdoor stuff like that and I鈥檓 a sports fanatic, so these are my two big magazines I read. I鈥檓 a huge Cleveland fan鈥攚hether it be baseball, basketball, football鈥攁nything and everything. I always tell everybody that they鈥檙e going to win every game鈥 just don鈥檛 bet on them. But I support them 150 percent! I鈥檓 a die-hard Cleveland fan.
2. What can鈥檛 you live without?
I feel like I shouldn鈥檛 say this, but it鈥檚 my pastime: television. I can鈥檛 live without TV. I love watching reality shows and stuff that鈥檚 actually real, not scripted: National Geographic, Weather Channel and sports.
I could, however, live without the Cleveland snow.
3. What鈥檚 your favorite spot on campus?
My favorite spot on campus is Adelbert and Euclid. I know that sounds like a typical Officer Mark response, but if I think of where I have the most fun, it鈥檚 Euclid and Adelbert. That鈥檚 the most happening spot on the 杏吧视频 campus.
4. What鈥檚 the best advice you鈥檝e ever received?
There are two that I always tell the kids, and I stick by them a lot. I think it鈥檚 important that these students share their opinions and ideas, regardless of whether they鈥檙e nervous or shy or not. So I always tell them, 鈥淎 closed mouth will never get fed.鈥
I also tell them, 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 stand for something, you will fall for anything.鈥 I think that鈥檚 really important to remember too.
5. What鈥檚 your favorite thing about 杏吧视频?
The family atmosphere and community, which I really get to enjoy every day on campus. I also follow all my Case athletics. I make sure I keep up with them online, and working on the corner where I do, I make sure I get all the information from all the teams. They keep me up to date on everything. I love being a part of that.
Know someone you'd like to see featured in The Daily's "5 questions"? Email case-daily@case.edu.