I was sorely disappointed this week when I adventured to North Campus. Not by my interviewee mind you, but by the lack of appreciation for him. Two different groups of students I spoke with had not yet made the acquaintance of Carmelo. However, hope is not lost. I have faith — this is because the school year is only partly underway, and, with time, the appreciation for Carmelo will grow. Isha Tohill ’08 described him as “by far the best card swiper on campus.”

Cheers for Carmelo Melice; ladies and gentlemen, meet the smiling face at the entrance to Robert Purcell Marketplace Eatery. When I arrived at RPU, I found Melice at his post near the door greeting hungry diners and new Robert Purcell Community Center employees as they streamed in. He graciously agreed to be interviewed.

Carmelo was born in Ithaca, but when he was two years old, he and his parents moved back to Sicily to be with his mother’s family. He became fluent in Italian during the 11 years he spent there. When he was 13, he moved back to Ithaca. Melice says family connections were a large part of the reason they chose Ithaca. Melice’s uncle is the owner of Sal’s Pizzeria located in downtown Ithaca.

Melice’s employment at Cornell began in 2002 when he was a senior at Ithaca High School. His mother, who is also employed at Cornell, encouraged him to apply to work at RPCC. Melice’s mother is also a familiar face around campus. She “makes the best pasta on campus,” Melice said.

Melice got the job at RPCC and started work as a dishwasher, cleaning “pots and whatnot.” A change in the cards made the position he now has available — the card swiper who was working back then developed carpal tunnel syndrome and had to opt for an early retirement from RPCC’s front desk. Melice was offered the job and has been there ever since. And don’t worry; his wrists are fine so far.

Some students I spoke with before the interview claimed to have seen Melice out at the frats, so I asked whether the rumors were true. Melice admitted that the first couple of years he worked at Cornell, he used to go out to the frats fairly frequently. However, he says it is rare to catch him out raving now. He explains: “The juniors at Cornell can tell you this: the frat scene gets old — you can only do it for so long.” Melice’s brother, DJ Hydro, is a regular DJ on the frat circuit; if you were able to get in the door at Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s ‘White Party,’ you may have heard his beats.

Brian Santacrose, ’08, wanted to know why Melice dresses up every day — does he have to or does he just like looking nice? As a freshman, I largely dined at Appel, so I don’t remember Melice’s style. But when I arrived at RPCC, I found Santacrose’s question on-point. Melice cut a smart figure at the front, dressed in a blue polo and khakis — quite a different look than the regular Cornell Dining tee-shirts. Melice laughed a little when I asked this question and responded that he certainly is not forced, he just likes to look professional and well put-together while he is at work. In addition, at his other job it is necessary for him to look put-together when he is out in the community.

Melice only works part-time at RPCC for 25 hours a week; he spends his daytime hours working as a real estate agent. Melice took real estate classes at Tompkins County Community College; earlier this year, Melice drove down to Binghamton to take the exam to become a licensed agent. He passed with flying colors and now, at age 22, is one of the youngest real estate agents in Tompkins County. He works with the local Century 21 office.

Melice’s interesting background, smart style, multiple jobs and numerous community connections are all remarkable, but perhaps the most amazing thing about Melice is that he does all of this while raising a child of five years old. Melice did not want to divulge much about his child, but he did tell me that he was a single parent and has been since his son was six months old. He said that although his son’s mother is not in the picture anymore, he thankfully is not raising his child completely on his own. His family helped out greatly and his mother especially has been a real life-saver for him, Carmelo said. He added that he owes his mom the world. He knows he can’t pay her back in money, but he has made it one of his life goals to be able to eventually find a way to make it up to her.