With all of the changes that have come alongside the recent dining provider replacement, Coates Student Center now has a forward-facing staff of student workers that began at the start of the semester. In the midst of the renovations and changes to Coates over the summer, the student information desk that was once located upstairs has moved to the primary location in front of Einstein Bros. Bagels at the center of Coates. Additionally, the newly named Coates Market, a grab-and-go convenience store, now features student workers alongside employees hired by Chartwells.
Coates student workers have been a part of the student center for years now, but they were previously located next to the Waxahachie room on the second floor. As a part of changes over the summer, the desk was made into a general information center to increase “visibility to ensure we’re meeting the needs of students and guests,” Wills Brown, Director of Student Engagement & Development, wrote in an email.
Maya Sakrani, senior sociology and communication double-major, has worked in this position since her sophomore year and has continued to enjoy the Coates Assistant Personnel job. These students answer questions at the information desk, open and close the building, do regular rounds, clean up areas of Coates and set up rooms that have been reserved for the day.
“I think my favorite part is there’s time to get homework done,” Sakrani said. “Because I think if you pace well, you can just set the rooms pretty quickly, and then you just kind of camp out in one spot. The desk down here was a recent addition. It used to be an office upstairs, which was really nice because it was just very private and quiet.”
Jules Nunn, junior marketing major, began this job this year after receiving an email from Cleighton Schedule. Since then, Nunn has gotten into the swing of the position and has now come to enjoy various aspects of the job.
“My favorite part of the job is, honestly, the opportunity to have a little bit of freedom during your work,” Nunn said “Because once the classes are set up and once you have walk-throughs every 30 minutes to an hour, and then after that, it’s up to you what you want to do.”
Alongside the individuals at the information desk, the shift to Chartwells resulted in new positions for students at the Coates Market. These student workers have only recently been hired given the recency of the position’s conception. As a result, there are just two right now. Regardless, they play a crucial role in ensuring that items in the market are ready and available for students who need a quick dining option throughout the day. Being paid similarly to other Chartwells workers, Claire King, first-year neuroscience and computer science double-major, found the job on a whim but has continued to take advantage of the opportunity.
“I essentially stock all products, zone the fridges and shelves and assist people during checkout,” King wrote in an email. “I originally applied to be a Starbucks Barista on Handshake, but they needed more workers for the Coates Market. … I do think I’m being paid fairly; this was one of the best-paying jobs on campus I could find, and I wouldn’t say my job is incredibly tedious.”
Through these new and revamped student work positions at Coates, students at Trinity have more opportunities, such as work-study programs. Despite this upside, these positions come with ups and downs, as stated by the workers themselves.
“Please clean up after yourself because if you don’t, we do,” Sakrani said. “And it’s gross. And we’re people. And we’re all adults. We can throw our garbage away. And also we’re here to help.”
