Fans of Park University athletics may love to watch Pirates in action on the court or on the field, but they often don’t see all the things athletes do off the field. Many student athletes are members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, or also known as SAAC.

Alissa Flint is a senior who is a double major in K-12 education and Spanish, a member of the volleyball team and president of SAAC.

She said, “We are the bridge between the athletes and the Park athletic department.” T

Flint said SAAC helps the athletic teams have a voice in things such as student involvement, drug testing and community outreach.

With season cancellations in the 2020 spring semester and lower numbers for the sports teams, SAAC has had to make a comeback this school year.

Nicole Curtis is a junior member on the softball team who is earning her degree in education. She said, “SAAC has given me the opportunity to get to know others within the athletic programs and get in community to work with others on campus.”

To keep the student body involved with sporting events, SAAC has organized virtual watch parties for some athletic games and held activities to keep the spectators involved. The group held a Kahoot game during halftime of a men’s basketball game and awarded the winners with gift cards.

“Students can get involved by participating in the events that we hold on campus,” Curtis said.

Any SAAC event on campus can be attended by any student, and most are events with prizes at the end.

“We want to make Park a home for everyone, and for everyone to have a part in athletic games,” Curtis said.

SAAC members were also able to participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day walk that was held on campus. Alex Rodriguez is a sophomore majoring in criminal justice and a member of the baseball team. He said, “SAAC has been able to get everyone in the Park community involved even when we can’t be on campus.”

Flint said the organization plans to continue fostering that involvement.

“Right now the future of SAAC looks like creating community,” she said. “I really hope we have a great group of kids for the next seasons.”

Rodriguez said, “The best way for students to get involved with SAAC this year is to be active in the campus events and SAAC functions.”

Flint recommended SAAC to any future athletes joining a Pirate team in the upcoming year.

“It’s a great way to get involved in the Park athletics program, meeting student-athletes from different teams, and seeing a little of how things are done behind the scenes,” she said.

To keep up with SAAC’s community service programs or to reach out with a question or comment you can find them on Twitter @park_saac and on Crew by searching Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Alissa Flint also welcomes students to reach out to her directly.