2008 ODAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Meeting
November, 16, 2008
Sweet Briar College 

Attendance

Brad Bankston-ODAC

Sara Rechnitzer-ODAC

Bridgewater

Eastern Mennonite

Guilford

Hampden-Sydney

Hollins

Lynchburg

Randolph

Randolph-Macon

Sweet Briar

Virginia Wesleyan

Washington and Lee                                                            

NCAA Legislation

Isaiah Goodman (W&L), who is a member of the NCAA National SAAC, led a discussion with the group about the 2009 NCAA Convention Legislation.  Goodman explained the intent of each proposal and generated discussion among the group. 

Each school was encouraged to return to campus and discuss the legislation with their SAAC committees so that feedback could be provided to Goodman before the Convention. 

Guest Speaker-Stan Goodman

Stan Goodman spent about two hours with the group.  He led discussion and activities that were framed around the topic of diversity and how to build an inclusive environment.  Much of what he discussed with the SAAC was a preview to what he would be doing with the entire conference during the upcoming Diversity Seminar in February with administrators and students.  He also took some time to opening discuss some diversity issues on ODAC campuses.   Post-presentation evaluations were submitted with positive feedback for Johnson's talk. 

Role of SAAC on Campuses

Following lunch, each school spoke for 3-4 minutes about what their SAAC is doing on campus, including events for athletes, fan events and community service events. 

Several schools seemed to have functioning SAACs with lots of new ideas for the upcoming academic year.  The few schools that were rebuilding their SAAC programs were taking notes in order to return to campus with a plan.  

Some SAACs implied the need for more administrative support.  Many also implied that they had newly assigned SAAC Coordinators on campus that were excited to help them get things done. 

Bankston and Rechnitzer both emphasized that SAACs should seek support from Student Government, as that sometimes proves to allot funds to the organization. 

Bankston and Rechnitzer also let everybody know that the ODAC was willing to attend campus SAAC meetings, either to lead discussions about league-wide issues or to help jumpstart a SAAC program, including discussing the intent of SAAC from an NCAA perspective. 

Diversity Seminar-February 6-7, 2009

Bankston spent a few minutes discussing the upcoming conference-wide Diversity Seminar that will take place at the Hotel Roanoke on February 6-7, 2009.  He asked the group about issues they would like to see discussed at this event.  Some suggestions were received from the group to help the ODAC office frame the weekend. 

Bankston also charged the group to go back to campus and talk about it with fellow student-athletes so that campuses would be aware of the event being offered. 

New SAAC Chairs

Two new ODAC SAAC Chairs were elected this year.  Nicole Smith (RAND) and Lindsay Walker (RMC) 

Closing

Bankston and Rechnitzer thanked everyone for coming to the meeting and made everyone aware that if their SAACs needed anything, our office would be more then willing to help out, answer any questions, or attend campus SAAC meetings.