The Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is an entity devoted to student-athlete representation in the NCAA governance structure. The basic structure of the SAAC is rooted in campus SAACs that report to their respective conference committees, each of which have at least one representative on the national SAAC.

While other student-athlete sport-specific groups and outside organizations can peacefully co-exist with the SAAC in intercollegiate athletics, it is through the campus, conference and, ultimately, the national SAAC that student-athlete welfare issues should be addressed.

The SAAC has proven to be an effective vehicle for student-athlete representation within the NCAA governance structure and an advocate for positive change, particularly in student-athlete welfare issues. Recently, another student-athlete group, the Collegiate Athletes' Coalition (CAC), has been outspoken on student-athlete welfare issues. While the SAAC does not oppose other groups taking a position on student-athlete issues, it does believe that the best way to effect meaningful change on student-athlete welfare issues is through the prescribed structure -- and with a unified voice.

Thirty-one student-athletes from each Division I conference convene three times a year to discuss legislation that has been proposed by the membership and to discuss other issues related to student-athlete welfare. Before such meetings, we take time to converse with the student-athletes on campuses within our respective conferences to gain the most informed understanding of the implications of the issues and legislation brought before us. Every student on the committee feels that they have an obligation to be as informed as possible since we represent the voice of all Division I student-athletes.

Thus, the success of the national SAAC is predicated on the strength and effectiveness of conference and campus SAACs. The work of the national SAAC is hampered if conference and campus SAACs are ineffectively organized. Student-athletes on those campuses and in those conferences may view the national SAAC as too distant, and without a strong campus or conference SAAC to which to voice their concerns, those student-athletes may seek the assistance of sport-specific groups or outside organizations.

As the national SAAC, we don't believe that other student-athlete groups or organizations are problematic or contradictory to our mission. Student-athletes as a group are not monolithic. Therefore, it would be presumptuous for the SAAC to assume that student-athlete representation must be of the same opinion and originate from the same organization. However, we do feel that it is important for such groups to work with the SAAC so that our combined energies can best accomplish the task at hand. At times, groups that represent a specific portion of the student-athlete community can be very instrumental in assisting the national SAAC with understanding the implications of an issue or proposal on a specific sport.

It is important, however, that such groups maintain constant and effective communication with the national SAAC. Because our responsibility is to represent all student-athletes, sport-specific groups or outside organizations may risk viewing too narrowly a particular issue as a result of their homogeneous makeup.

Thus, there remains a pressing need for the SAAC and the CAC to establish and maintain formal lines of communication. Such communication will serve to ensure that both organizations are fully aware of the issues confronting student-athletes. Additionally, this relationship also will provide both organizations with a format to remain up to date regarding current legislation or proposals that may be used to address student-athlete welfare issues that may seem to be unresolved or unaddressed.

Groups that represent sport-specific interests do not hinder; rather, they support the SAAC's efforts to ensure that the student-athlete voice is heard within the NCAA legislative process. While the national SAAC has representatives who participate in a multitude of NCAA-sponsored sports, it is always encouraging to hear the informed and intelligent opinions of other student-athlete groups, such as the CAC, whether their sentiments are similar or different.

Bola Bamiduro and Michael Aguirre are student-athletes at Columbia University-Barnard College and Arizona State University, respectively. Bamiduro chairs the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and Aguirre is the committee's vice-chair.