Student Athletic Advisory Committee recap

By LAURA BORRELLI
Sports Editor

The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is comprised of representatives from each sports team to fulfill the mission of enhancing the overall student athlete experiences and promoting diversity and inclusion between all members of the community on campus. These student athletes meet on a regular basis to bring the mission on to The College of Saint Rose Campus.

The advisor for SAAC is associate athletic director Karen Haag, who works alongside four student athlete co-chairs: Liz D’Agostino, Colleen Quaglia, Megan Mayers, and Shamim Wambere. The SAAC meeting was held Oct. 16. NCAA proposals were discussed at the meeting with Associate Athletics Director Matt Akins, and Diversity and Inclusion Week was discussed with David Alexander, assistant athletic director for athletics communications and Catie Yanchak, coordinator of athletic digital and video production.

Akins brought up two proposals that the athletes of SAAC voted on. The first proposal was to allow student athletes’ use of name, image and likeness. This would allow student athletes to provide private lessons without having to find an employer. Student athletes would also be able to advertise using their name and publicize their private lessons in the community.

This proposal would permit Division II athletes to benefit from the use of their name while staying consistent with the core values of NCAA. The committee voted in favor of the first proposal.

The second proposal discussed the elimination of nonqualifier qualification status and provides access to athletics aid and practice for all incoming student athletes. This would allow student athletes who do not meet the NCAA qualifications to still receive athletic aid and practice with the team. These student athletes would still stay connected with the team, even though they are not eligible competitions. The committee had 12 members in favor and two opposed.

Alexander and Yanchak discussed with the student athletes different ideas to promote Diversity and Inclusion social media campaign using social media. They had ideas to interview student athletes and create profiles on athletes on campus. This is allowing student athletes to be proactive on campus and using social media as a positive communication tool.

SAAC will be hosting Diversity and Inclusion week from Oct. 27 through 29. This week will be promoting diversity and inclusion on campus as student athletes. Different student athletes will be sharing their stories and talking about how their teammates and fellow athletes are supportive of each other and their experiences on campus. The next meeting will be on Friday, Oct. 30.