Tristan Lopus
Contributing Writer
MacLeod’s Coffee Shop and Convenience Store — that is, the C-Store, for those who have never read the tartan sign above the door — fuels the Wooster student body. Its many forms of caffeine and sugar make possible the procrastination-induced midnight work sessions in which a considerable portion of the intellectual activity on campus occurs. Often, however, just as rejuvenating as a late night Starbucks or Snickers is the charmingly frank, genuine personality and warm compassion of Gail Wiebe as she prepares your purchase.
With 10 years of experience, Gail is a seasoned veteran of the Campus Dining Services Department. A native of Dalton, Ohio, she is not too far from home here at Wooster, but she has certainly gone places in between. She lived in Pittsburgh for a year whileattending culinary school and subsequently moved to upstate New York for an internship at the renowned Sagamore Hotel, a beautiful Victorian resort on the National Register of Historic Places. After that, she moved back to Ohio and worked at the McKinley Grand Hotel in Canton but was unfortunately laid off two months later when the hotel was acquired by Marriott International. She then worked at the Old Jaol in Wooster for about two years before eventually starting here at the College in Nov. 2004.
Gail is thoroughly experienced at a number of the campus dining locations as she has been employed at Campus Dining Services for the last 10 years. However, persistent back issues have recently confined her largely to the less physically demanding shifts in MacLeod’s. She’s not complaining, though, because she enjoys the intimate atmosphere of the C-Store and the candid interactions with student customers and employees that it allows.
Her favorite part of this post, though, is getting to choose the music she and her customers listen to. Although she certainly holds the potential for tyrannical reign over the C-Store stereo, she enjoys listening to student comments and input and playing what they want to hear at least, “as long as it’s not too heavy,” she said, partially in reference to her own rather “heavy” taste in music.
Gail loves music, but her favorite artists fall decidedly in one genre: “metal- — lots of metal.” She particularly enjoys Volbeat, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Pantera and Lamb of God — “Don’t let the name fool you; they’re not Christian,” she said with a knowing smile. Additionally, Wiebe also enjoys classic rock bands, including The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs and Echo and the Bunnymen. She also mentioned interests in punk, 80s new wave, 90s alt and Johnny Cash, with the essential qualifier, “I don’t consider him country.”
Gail’s son, Austin, has quite adorably acquired his mother’s tastes in music. A single mother, Gail said that Austin just turned five last month; he loves to sing, dance and otherwise jam to his mom’s preference in music. A few of his favorite songs to sing and dance to include “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes and “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” by Cake. Seeing the way music enlivens him, Gail would love to get him started with lessons in an instrument, perhaps guitar, “or do I dare say drums?”
If any mother loves her son enough to suffer the excruciating noise of a boy becoming a drummer, Gail certainly does; she talks about him with an unmistakable twinkle in her eye. Equally apparent, though, is the pride that she invests in her work and the enthusiasm with which she interacts with her fellow members of the Wooster community. Next time you see her working, be sure to say hello, and perhaps even offer your input on the day’s music selection. Just don’t suggest any country.
Know a College employee whom you think the Voice should profile? Let the Features editors know. Email them at BTaylor16@wooster.edu and SKumbhani17@wooster.edu.