The New York University Department of Athletics is one of the largest employers on campus. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Athletics employed about 350 students per semester in functional areas such as facility operations, varsity game day and special event management, athletic training, sports information, intramural sports, and general administrative support. Both former and current employees have expressed how their work has improved their communication skills, fostered new friendships, and allowed them to develop skills and the confidence to resolve challenging situations in the workplace.

When NYU's athletic facilities had a limited reopening in November 2020, previous student workers were offered the opportunity to work in facility operation roles at the Palladium Athletic Facility (PAF) and Brooklyn Athletic Facility (BAF).

"The response from past staff members was overwhelmingly positive," said Facility and Events Supervisor Andrew Nesci.

A total of 85 students from 10 different NYU schools responded and expressed interest in working in the athletic facilities. Of the returning students, a majority are enrolled in the College of Arts and Science (33). Also represented are Tandon (13), Tisch (12), Steinhardt (7), Gallatin (5), School of Professional Studies (5), Stern (3), Rory Meyers College of Nursing (3), Liberal Studies (3), and College of Global Public Health (1).

While there was great excitement among returning staff about being able to get back into a routine and reconnect with coworkers and managers in person after a nine-month hiatus, they knew facility operations would look different amid the ongoing pandemic.

"There was a desire among the returning student employees to learn more about what modifications had been made to meet COVID-19 safety guidelines," Nesci said. "As managers, we wanted to ensure student employees felt comfortable, safe, and confident working in the facilities again."

Joey Kinnan, who started as an Operations Attendant at NYU's 404 Fitness facility in September 2019 and transferred to BAF in the fall, acknowledged that being back in the NYU athletic facilities was certainly going to be different this year.

"I anticipated that there would be some growing pains as everyone settled into our new work environment," explained Kinnan, a junior majoring in Instrumental Performance at NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. "However, I was excited for the opportunity to grow and adapt."
 

Arianna Sotero joined the 404 Fitness staff as an Operations Attendant and was promoted to an Operations Lead last fall. Student employees in the Fitness, Operations and Rock Wall areas who have worked for NYU Athletics for at least one semester and received a positive performance review are invited to apply for a staff leadership role as a Lead. Leads provide direct customer service to all members in the facilities while also providing guidance, leadership and training for new staff members, managing emergency situations and assisting supervisors.

"Over these past two years, NYU Athletics has been the biggest factor for building my confidence by providing me the training, information and feedback to thrive," said Sotero, a senior double majoring in Dance and Psychology in NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and College of Arts and Science, respectively.

Easton Muoio, a Lifeguard at the PAF Natatorium, echoed those sentiments.

"With COVID flipping everything upside down, I definitely needed a refresher on the rules of the pool and facilities, as well as clear information about the changes to address safety and health," said Muoio, a junior majoring in Economics and Psychology in NYU's College of Arts and Science (CAS). "That way, if patrons had concerns about our safety practices and changes, I would be able to respond with confidence and make them feel comfortable using the facility."

Full-time NYU Athletics staff members worked together to facilitate multiple Zoom training sessions prior to reopening. These were designed to inform returning student staff about the enhanced safety protocols to minimize the potential exposure and spread of COVID-19 and to demonstrate how the new protocols would impact their work responsibilities.



"Knowing that some of the returning staff members would be working in new roles and potentially in new areas, we wanted to be transparent as far as describing the operational changes, equipment spacing modifications, and enhanced cleaning and safety practices," explained Emily Santonocito, Facility and Events Supervisor for Student Employee Development.

Video tours of the facilities were produced, the NYU Athletics FAQ webpage and staff manual were updated, new signage was designed, and additional daily checklists and cleaning logs were implemented. In addition, managers worked alongside student staff in the fitness areas, supporting them in answering member questions, cleaning machines, and fostering connections among the students in the facility.

Rebekah Casino, a Mathematics and Computer Science major in CAS, has worked for NYU Athletics since her freshman year. The junior serves as an Operations Lead at PAF.

"The managers and staff at NYU Athletics have always created an environment in which it is easy to be confident," Casino stated. "I feel comfortable speaking to all the managers about almost anything. I think that's what makes NYU Athletics so special: the community atmosphere."

A strong sense of team, support, and common purpose are some of the core values that unite the staff. Managers emphasize soft skills that add to the positive environment focused on holistic development, such as ways to manage stress, develop empathy, address conflict, practice mindfulness, and recognize the contributions of others.

"We strive to acknowledge the challenges facing our students today, while reminding them how strong they are and that we are even stronger together," Santonocito concluded. "We want to help them, and they in turn certainly help us."

In late November, out of an abundance of caution, the University decided to close some auxiliary services, including athletic facilities, housing lounges, and select study spaces. According to a statement released by the University, the decision to close was the prudent thing to do given the rising number of cases in NYC and was not in any way because of spread linked to the athletic facilities. Although the time that the athletic facilities were open in the fall was cut short, the impact of the limited reopening was meaningful and remembered fondly by staff.

Many staff were understanding of the decision to close the facilities in light of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city. Even in those three short weeks, staff got back into a routine and were able to experience, however briefly, a sense of normalcy in their daily lives.

Upon learning that the facilities would be closed again, Nick Latchana, a Computer Science major in CAS and a Fitness Attendant at PAF, offered "It is unfortunate that we will not be opening up again for the rest of this semester, but I am so thankful for the few days that I was able to spend on campus. It brought a bit of a sense of normalcy back to my life."

The decision to close the facilities after the Thanksgiving holiday led to feelings of disappointment and loss among the students. But they remained optimistic about the future and expressed gratitude for the opportunity they had to return to campus, interact with their friends and colleagues, open a space for students to work out safely, and experience a bit of normalcy once again.

"I am very thankful that I at least got to work the past two weeks and have a little taste of normalcy," stated Juliana Gomez, an Operations Attendant at PAF and Language and Mind major in CAS. "Thank you, and to all of the full-time staff for all that y'all did to get us back! Hopefully, in the spring I can return and we can keep this momentum going."

Indeed, from all of us in Athletics, we look forward to welcoming you back to the NYU athletic facilities in the near future.