The purposes of a SAAC include fostering a positive relationship between the athletic and academic communities, promoting athletics as a valuable part of college life and implementing programs that encourage school spirit and sportsmanship.
SAACs are in place all over the country, with different levels of organization, including at the national and conference level. Amherst has been sending two representatives to the NESCAC SAAC ever since the program started a few years ago. The College's current representatives are men's soccer player Noah Isserman '07 and field hockey and track and field team member Lauren Benson '08. Isserman explained, "This conference committee is a clearinghouse for ideas, and we work to take care of NCAA legislation."
The NESCAC SAAC is a unique way for NESCAC athletes to meet. In addition to the conference SAAC's regular duties, some members will convene at Amherst to participate in a build for Habitat for Humanity in April.
On another level, every other NESCAC school besides Amherst has had its own SAAC. Since the College was the only school in the conference without one, there was a desire for an active SAAC at Amherst. As a result, the Amherst SAAC pilot program began this school year, and it has been laying the groundwork for a fully functioning group starting next school year.
Although the exact conditions of membership are still being decided upon, there are currently over 30 student-athletes in the Amherst SAAC pilot group. There is representation from every varsity sports team as well as most club sports, and that will be continued even as the program becomes fully implemented.
Currently, the SAAC members have formed three subcommittees. The Constitution and Bylaws subcommittee, headed by Isserman and Chris Paradis, head coach of the women's lacrosse team and lead faculty advisor for SAAC, is putting together the SAAC Constitution that is expected to be approved at the April meeting.
The Publicity and Spirit subcommittee is chaired by men's swim team member Alec Goldfield '09 and Erik Nedeau, the cross-country and track and field head coach. "The purpose of this committee is to get more support for Amherst athletic teams and make people more aware of what is going on with our sports teams," Goldfield said.
One project that this subcommittee has implemented is the sports board in Keefe Campus Center. This board shows results from all the sports in season, including pages of recap and events to look forward to in the upcoming week. Although the SAAC has a web site, this board represents something that people can just glance at as they pass through the Campus Center.
Another potential undertaking that SAAC hopes to launch, in order to promote more school spirit, is the sale of a common College fan shirt throughout the year, similar to what Div. I schools do. Goldfield said, "The idea is that with the same color, same shirt, we'll have a much more intimidating presence at sports games."
The third subcommittee of Amherst's SAAC, the Sportsmanship Initiative, is chaired by Benson and Tom Carmean, the men's lacrosse head coach. The t-shirts given out at the men's basketball NESCAC semifinal game on Feb. 24 was organized under the guidance of this committee. "We're trying to build up on the Lord Jeff Nation idea and incorporate that, but with a positive image, instead of negative," said women's basketball representative Sarah Johnston '09. "The biggest thing we're trying to do is foster good school spirit."
The Amherst SAAC can thus serve several important functions. Goldfield hopes that the group can help to put a more positive spin on athletics and garner more support for athletic teams. "Sometimes there is a negative stereotype of athletes," he explained. "We're hoping to help mend the relationship between the academic departments and athletic teams, and show that athletes aren't just trying to get out of class, but rather are trying to do the best they can."
Paradis agrees, and also anticipates SAAC serving as a liaison between the athletic department and sports teams. "We would like SAAC to have representation on as many committees that involve athletics as possible, if there is willingness to have SAAC as parts of them," she said.
Paradis emphasizes that the Amherst SAAC is still just a pilot group, but she expressed positive feelings for the future. "There are lots of chances for potential, in terms of activities and projects that SAAC can get involved in," she said. "As SAAC becomes more visible on campus, I think there is the potential for community service; we can initiate community service for all the sports groups to be a part of. Also, I do think on-campus stuff will be important. There are a lot of needs and functions that this group can serve, in relation to the student-athlete population on campus."
Consisting of a group of motivated individuals, the SAAC is likely to have increasingly positive effects on campus. Isserman, for one, is optimistic. "It's a very exciting opportunity to help structure Amherst's campus in a way that will make it useful in years to come," he affirmed.