Here's the lift before the collapse.
One article mentioned that the student was an employee of the athletic department.
I wouldn’t go up in a scissor lift fully extended like that if there was no wind at all. If the wind was as strong as some have said here, it was absolutely suicidal to do so.
The football coach called him a “student worker” which I interpreted as meaning he had a student job as a videographer. Students at ND can get jobs as part of their financial aid package.