Division III SAAC Mission Statement

The mission of the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity for all student-athletes; protecting student-athlete welfare; and fostering a positive student-athlete image, while maintaining the tenants of the Division III philosophy.

Emerson SAAC Mission Statement

The mission of the Emerson College Student Athletic Advisory Council is to enhance the athletic experience of all Emerson student-athletes by bringing representatives from all varsity sports teams together, serving as a liaison between the student-athletes and administration, recognizing academic achievement, and representing Emerson at Great Northeast Athletic Conference level.  Emerson SAAC is committed to a three prong goal of cultivating Personal & Career Development, Leadership & School Spirit, and Community Service for the Greater Boston community.

Membership:
The SAAC consists of representatives from each sport and will be made up of approximately 28 members. Members are selected by their respective team. It is each member’s responsibility to communicate with his/her respective team about pertinent SAAC discussions and to bring forth what his/her team may want to SAAC to discuss. Membership appointments are for a full year but may be extended if desired.

A team representative must be present at all meetings. Class, competition, and family emergencies are the only excused absences. If a member misses more than two (2) meetings with an unexcused absence the membership may be relinquished and a replacement will be found.

Meetings:
Meetings will be held once a month during the academic year (September to May). Meeting dates and times will be determined on an annual basis at the beginning of each fall semester.

Structure:
SAAC will have an Executive Board that will consist of a President, Vice-President, and Secretary. The Board is responsible for creating the agenda for each meeting and assisting in the facilitation of each meeting. Board members will be voted by the membership on an annual basis. The roles of the Board members are defined below:

President: will communicate meeting dates and times to the membership; will facilitate and lead each meeting with assistance from other Board members and advisor; will be the main liaison to the Advisor; will assist in creating the agenda with the other Board members.

Vice-President: will assist the President as needed; will assist in facilitating the meetings; will facilitate the meetings in the President's absence; will assist in creating the agenda with the other Board members.

Secretary: will record minutes from each meeting; will distribute the minutes to the membership and Advisors in a timely fashion; will assist the President and Vice-President as needed; will assist in creating the agenda with the other Board members.

Great Northeast Athletic Conference SAAC

Our conference, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), has a Conference SAAC of which two (2) members from Emerson College will be asked to serve. Interested persons should inform the Advisors. Obligations may include 1-2 conference calls during the academic year and an annual Spring SAAC Retreat with the Conference Office staff and other member institutions.

Why We Play D-III Athletics

"It's not about getting a scholarship, getting drafted, or making SportsCenter. It's a deep need in us that comes from the heart. We need to practice, to play, to lift, to hustle, to sweat. We do it all for our teammates and for the student in our calculus class that we don't even know.

We don't practice with a future major league first baseman; we practice with a future sports agent. We don't lift weights with a future Olympic wrestler; we lift with a future doctor. We don't run with a future Wimbledon champion; we run with a future CEO. It's a bigger part of us than our friends and family can understand. Sometimes we play for 2,000 fans; sometimes 25. But we still play hard. You cheer for us because you know us. You know more than just our names. Like all of you, we are students first. We don't sign autographs. But we do sign graduate school applications, MCAT exams, and student body petitions. When we miss a kick or strike out, we don't let down an entire state. We only let down our teammates, coaches, and fans.

But the hurt is still the same. We train hard, lift, throw, run, kick, tackle, shoot, dribble, and lift some more, and in the morning we go to class. And in that class we are nothing more than students. It's about pride in ourselves, in our school. It's about our love and passion for the game. And when it's over, when we walk off that court or field for the last time, our hearts crumble. Those tears are real. But deep down inside, we are very proud of ourselves. We will forever be what few can claim...college athletes."

- Sean Sornsin, former baseball student-athlete at Cornell College.