When Jake Olkkola stepped into his role as New York University’s (NYU) Director of Athletics, Intramurals, and Recreation, he saw an opportunity to enhance students’ experience with sports and support their overall success. “The most effective way to create an exceptional athletics experience is to ensure students have a safe and accessible way to voice their concerns,” says Olkkola. “An anonymous communication channel provides leadership with genuine insights into critical issues, offering greater visibility into the health and well-being of student-athletes.”
This vision led to the adoption of RealResponse’s innovative technology.
As a two-way, anonymous communication platform, RealResponse allows students to share concerns about mental health, wellness, hazing, and misconduct through familiar channels like text messaging, QR codes, and email. Its Survey feature enables administrators to design digital questionnaires and gather anonymous feedback from students across varsity, club, intramural, and recreational sports, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
The impact is twofold—students have a secure, accessible way to voice concerns, while coaches and athletics leadership can efficiently coordinate support, ensure accountability, and document sensitive information automatically. This system is not intended to take the place of NYU’s other institutional reporting mechanisms.
“NYU has a unique position in the world of college athletics,” says RealResponse Founder and CEO David Chadwick. “Supporting student-athletes in a fast-paced, urban environment—where they’re equally committed to earning a degree and competing in sports—requires real-time technology that facilitates connections when concerns arise and prioritizes their well-being.”
