MAAC Hosts Conference SAAC Forum at ESPN Wide World of Sports
MAAC Sports
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL– The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) hosted its annual Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) fall meeting at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida earlier this month. MAAC Commissioner Richard J. Ensor with the MAAC SAAC, worked with ESPN to create an ESPN Sports Desk filming set where groups of the student-athletes discussed current topics and issues in collegiate athletics.
The forum was split into four groups of five student-athletes and Commissioner Ensor, each discussing various topics. Each segment was emceed by MAAC SAAC Chair, Emily Altier of Niagara University, and Nicole Sandelier of Monmouth University rotating as moderators.
Some of the topics discussed included; time demands on student-athletes, the O’Bannon versus NCAA antitrust verdict, university resources for cost of attendance stipends and student-athlete nutrition, concussion policies, NCAA policies related to transfers and graduation rates, and even parents involvement in their child’s college athletics.
Additionally, the SAAC members attended their legislative meeting, volunteered at Give Kids the World, and attended the Disney Institute program. At Give Kids the World, the student-athletes donated time to serve families of terminally ill children and were given a tour by current employee and former field hockey player at Quinnipiac University, Lauren Zimniski. At the Disney Institute, the student-athletes were given a formal training on differentiating themselves/company from competition and also learned the core values and level of customer service that makes the Disney experience.
To view the complete forum, visit MAAC.TV.