As muddy winter weather brings increased dirt and finals means increased stress, a new housecleaning and laundry service is in the works for Georgetown students.
Abdullah Alnoor, founder of the Noorcraft UNITY Rose Housewife Network (NUR) outlined the problem faced by Georgetown students.
Students go to a university to study, Alnoor noted, but too many are overwhelmed by challenges of everyday life such as laundry and housework to focus on their homework. She created NUR to meet this need.
Alnoor is planning to introduce the NUR Housewife Network in the near future by means of leaflets distributed to University residences. The homemade leaflets bear Alnoor’s rose logo accompanied by the motto, “Stay peaceful. Focused. Organized.”
Students who have received Alnoor’s advertisements and spoken with her about her services say they recognize her from Lauinger Library.
“She’s there all the time,” Heather O’Brian (CAS ‘07) said. “You see her in the computer lab on the first floor. She sleeps in front of the computers.”
One student described Alnoor’s appearance, saying she is easily identifiable by her distinctive way of dressing.
“She always has her headscarf on,” Jane Kim (CAS ‘07) said, “She has glasses and she’s fairly well spoken.”
University safety officials expressed concerns about the possibility of persons not employed by Georgetown having free access to campus housing.
“We already have information for Georgetown employees, facilities people and residence life people,” Vice President of University Safety Dave Morrell said. “We know who everyone is who’s coming in. If anyone else from the outside comes in, we’d want to know who they are.”
Alnoor envisions her business as a full-service operation, aiming to promote students’ wellbeing by “shopping for bargains, planning menus, coordinating wardrobes, laundering items, organizing homes and cleaning details.”
Alnoor said she expects to charge an average fee of $10 for a load of laundry.
Morrell was doubtful about the feasibility of Alnoor’s venture.
“There would be a number of hurdles they she would have to go through,” he said. “I really doubt the likelihood of that kind of program getting established.”
At the moment, Alnoor’s business plans remain unofficial. She has not extended her advertising campaign beyond a few limited locations, nor discussed her project with the relevant University parties.
Faculty, staff and students are not allowed to duplicate their keys for a housecleaner or any other reason. If they decide to hire someone to do it [the cleaning], I would advise them to be cautious.”
Morrell was also unaware of Alnoor’s scheme.
Alnoor declined to give a complete interview, saying that she did not feel ready.
