Frog of the Week: Tara Pope
By Monique Bhimani
Copy Desk Chief

After she graduated in May 2000, Tara Pope applied to work for the TCU Physical Plant. She likes the outdoors and thought it would be a great summer job. Almost three years later, she still works in grounds maintenance and enjoys every day of it.

“I started working two weeks after graduation,” Pope said. “I wanted to work here for just the summer. I stayed because I think TCU could do better.”

A former religion major, Pope is an adamant advocate for improved living wages for campus employees. Last June, base wages were raised from $7.25 to $8 an hour, due in part to Pope’s efforts. According to the national Universal Living Wage organization, the estimated living wage for renting a one-room apartment in the Fort Worth area is $10.50 an hour.

“I’m going to stay here until there’s a better living wage,” Pope said.

For the past two years she has been the secretary of the Staff Assembly. Pope is the first person from the Physical Plant to ever hold office on the Staff Assembly. She will remain on the Staff Assembly as a member this coming year.

“If you love something, you want to make it better,” Pope said. “I have hope that (TCU) can be better.”

When Pope is not busy gathering support for a living wage, she volunteers at Broadway Baptist Church with Agape Meal, a group who serves meals to the homeless. Pope also tutors English as a second language (ESL) students in her spare time.

“I started out having only one or two (ESL) students,” she said. “Now I have about 10.”

In the future, Pope plans to either continue work on living wage issues on a city level or work in the peace and justice department.

Monique Bhimani