STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAAC)
OVERVIEW:
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is made up of student-athletes from all 17 intercollegiate athletic teams at St. John's University. The SAAC is responsible for promoting communication between athletics administration and student-athletes, disseminating information, providing feedback and insight into athletics department issues, generating a student-athlete voice within the campus athletics department during the formation of policies, building a sense of community within the athletics program involving all athletic teams, soliciting student-athlete responses to proposed conference and NCAA legislation, organizing community service efforts, creating a vehicle for student-athlete representation on campus-wide committees, and promoting a positive student-athlete image on campus.
MISSION:
The mission of the St. John's University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to serve as the "voice" for student-athletes in fostering communication with administration, addressing concerns/issues across teams, providing feedback on relevant policies, and promoting a positive student-athlete image on campus.
St. John's campus SAAC group is a member of the BIG EAST SAAC, and affiliated with the NCAA SAAC.
2008-2009 SAAC GOALS & OBJECTIVES:
Create an environment where...
• All teams have an open forum to meet and discuss their needs
• There is strong leadership and interaction with the E-Board
• Team representatives come into the meetings prepared with ideas ready to be shared
• Real concerns and needs of each individual team are expressed, not just student athletes as a whole
• Words turn into actions - not just issues that are discussed
• Team representatives communicate to theirs teams what is said in the meetings
• More information is shared about funds and events offered to eligible student-athletes (i.e. contact lens funding)
• More time is spent working with Compliance to prevent beginning of semester account holds
• Multi team bonding/competition events (student-athlete outings, tailgates) and fundraisers (i.e. fashion show, American Idol) are planned and organized...and supported
• Programs available to athletes to help study for midterms
• Priority registration for athletes
Work to support...
• Metro Cards for fencing and all teams that travel into the city for practice
• EZPass for the golf team
• Promotion of the Teams for Teams program
• More involvement in/awareness of community service projects open to everyone
• Designating a Community Service Representative from each team
• More recognition/accurate coverage of all teams and more fan support
• Working with the Torch in order to have accurate information shared on all teams
• Better storage rooms for all team
• Permanent "home" room for training
• Room with permanent fencing strips - place to put them down for practice
• Better access to Taffner for student-athletes not on the basketball teams
• Indoor track; better scheduling for use of track facilities
• More athletic gear for track
• Better times available for practice schedules in Auxiliary gym for golf and all teams
• More advanced and bigger training room
• Athletes lounge (get rid of the game room)
• More access for injured athletes (elevator?)
• Cleaner locker rooms that are shared by fewer sports
• Locker rooms and mainly bathrooms by the softball field
2008-2009 SAAC EXECUTIVE BOARD:
President: Allie Morbitzer (Junior, Track and Field)
Vice President: Tomas Jasiulionis (Senior, Basketball)
Secretary: Ela Gray (Senior, Fencing)
