Columbia hosted its first students vs. staff volleyball game on Wednesday, Dec. 3, bringing senior administrators onto the court, including President and CEO Shantay Bolton.
The students were part of Columbia’s Renegades Volleyball team, which organized the event with Emmanuel Lalande, senior vice president of enrollment strategies and student success.
“It’s just an opportunity to engage with students in a different way than we typically would,” said Lalande, who played in a black button-down.
Students beat the administrators 21-6 in the first game. For the second game, the teams mixed, with a final score of 21-7.
Paige Pawlicki, a sophomore film and television major, said she was both nervous and excited about the match.
“It’s great because there’s not many sports teams here,” Pawlicki said. “So for them to acknowledge us and have with us on this night is very exciting for us.”
In October 2024, student clubs lost access to the main practice and game space at East-West University, as the Chronicle previously reported. A month later Columbia returned to the gym after the college signed a letter of intent to rent the facilities again.
Besides Bolton and Lalande, other members of the administration team included: Kristi Beltran, Anakaren Pinto, Gregory Foster-Rice, James Tsitiridis, Matthew Rillie, RaJah Varnado, Adam Weiss, Laurent Pernot and Interim Provost Suzanne McBride,
Avery Hall, social media manager for the Renegades Volleyball club and a junior graphic design major, said the match was the club’s first event of its kind.
“It feels like they’re taking us seriously. Like they’re investing in what students are interested in,” Avery said. “It feels good to have them here supporting us and getting involved.”
Bolton, who came to Columbia last summer, said the match was a way to build trust with students.
“Our students have stated loud and clear that they want us to engage,“ said Bolton, who wore a light blue Columbia T-shirt for the match, “They want us to care about the things that are important to them, and to also show up in spaces and celebrate all aspects of the things that they enjoy doing.”
She said she wants her administrative team to be present for students beyond academics.
“I believe that immersion is important,” she said. “The more we talk to each other, the more we spend time with each other doing difficult things, but also really fun stuff, it helps us to solve the most complex challenges, but to do it together.”
Sophomore music major Emerich Parpart said he had never played volleyball competitively before the game.
“I hope this starts something,” Parpart said. “First teachers versus students game. I hope this isn’t the last.”
Copy edited by Mya DeJesus
