SAAC's Impact Starts with 'We Above Me'

By Polina Shemanova

During the past four years, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has experienced a lot of changes as a group which led to the increasing number of awards and accomplishments as an on-campus organization. SAAC currently has 44 members which is the most involvement since it was created.

"In March 2019 we did a complete reorganization and implemented C-Suite in our leadership board. We wanted to add another layer and give more opportunities for student-athletes to step up and gradually enter the leadership positions, " said Mark Trumbo, assistant athletics director for student-sthlete engagement. "SAAC is based on 'We Above Me.'"

Current SAAC co-presidents Ellie Lawler (cross country/track & field) and Emma Gossman (rowing) described committees that had been successfully implemented into SAAC's structure.

"Mental Health, Equity and Professional Development Committees were a huge part of our expansion and what is most important were our student-athletes' true passions that made these committees so successful straight from their foundation," Lawler said.

The committees have multiple future projects on the horizon. The Professional Development Committee is working on an annual Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) event to explain and demonstrate to student-athletes what are they capable and eligible to do with their potential partnerships. The Mental Health Committee is finalizing an opportunity to bring a speaker to talk to student-athletes and coaches about mental toughness in the Spring semester. The Equity Committee is closely working with Diversity and Inclusion Student-Athlete Board (DISAB) and planning other opportunities such as Black Athletes Lives Matter (BALM) March and Diversity Curriculum workshops.

The SAAC's partnership with the new DISAB group is fully driven by student-athletes. During the Summer of 2020, DISAB was organized to create a welcoming and equal atmosphere in the athletics department so every member feels safe and open to share their thoughts. The project that Lawler and Gossman are most proud of was the BALM March that was organized with DISAB and SAAC in Spring 2021. More than 230 student-athletes showed up to stand in solidarity with their teammates against racism and successfully marched in three separate waves from Skytop to Coyne Stadium, where student-athletes from multiple teams addressed the crowd and shared their stories.

"The COVID pandemic, snow, and other difficulties did not stop student-athletes from organizing and staging this crucial event to support our fellow student-athletes," Lawler said.

SAAC and DISAB are also working on an annual fundraising initiative, #44HoursofChange, to support Blessings in a Backpack, an organization that works to alleviate the hunger crisis that has a profound impact on the children of the Syracuse community. In two years #44HoursofChange has raised more than $15,000.

Through SAAC's Community Outreach Committee Syracuse teams also have an opportunity to partner with the Team Impact organization to give children facing serious and chronic illnesses the opportunity to develop relationships and skills that help them complete the full circle of healing. Syracuse Athletics currently has seven teams involved in this project, including women's and men's soccer, women's and men's lacrosse, men's basketball, softball, and field hockey.

The Mental Health Committee has made a huge impact by providing necessary resources for Syracuse student-athletes this semester. Stickers with the qr-codes were posted across the Manley Field House locker rooms and other common spaces. They include valuable mental health resources such as counseling information, meditation apps, books,and articles, podcasts about mental health, in addition to fact sheets about mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and suicide awarenesss.

"Mark only had an idea to make mental health resources available to our student-athletes and provide an easy-access tool for it, however, the whole creation process was fully driven by the Mental Health Committee," Gossman said. "Passion about what we do as SAAC members makes our work so much more efficient and fun."

SAAC has won multiple campus awards and titles that are proof of the dedication and hard work of Syracuse student-athletes. In 2020-21, SAAC had three representatives win the 44 Stars Award, including Kristen Siermachesky (ice hockey) for Excellence by an Organization President, Grace Asch (rowing) for Outstanding Senior Leadership, and Mark Trumbo for Excellence by an Organization Advisor. SAAC has also won the One University Award three times in the past six years.

"I think our reach is getting a lot bigger, we've been noticed a lot more by the administration and main campus, people know who we are and respect our opinion more compared to when I've just started in SAAC," Gossman said. "SAAC is about Unity, Advocacy, and Outreach. We are driven by the same goal and unified as a group of student-athletes from around the world. We are the organization that supports and advocates for the rights of student-athletes. We are striving to help support and connect more with our local Syracuse community."

Syracuse University Athletics

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