At its April meeting, the Division I Management Council took another small step toward providing student-athletes more opportunities by giving initial approval to Proposal No. 02-21, which exempts a student-athlete's on- and off-campus employment earnings from both individual and institutional financial aid limits. After thorough review, the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) endorsed this initiative and encouraged all member institutions to support this legislation.

Under the proposal, student-athletes may obtain employment during the academic year consistent with the institution's practices for all students. Any employment earnings that a student-athlete receives shall be exempt from individual and team limits, whether the student-athlete is working on or off campus. Additionally, this legislation simplifies financial aid legislation by eliminating the $2,000 "cap" above full estimated cost of attendance and provides student-athletes with employment opportunities in institutional athletics departments.

The Division I SAAC has outlined its strategic goals for the upcoming year. One of the top priorities is to align the financial opportunities of student-athletes with those of the general student body. The passage of this proposal would provide student-athletes with an opportunity to improve their own financial situations and take advantage of the full benefit of undergraduate life to the same extent as other students.

There are many financial needs that are not covered within the scope of a full scholarship. These needs go far beyond just filling a gas tank and doing laundry; often student-athletes are responsible contributors to the household family incomes back at home. In fact, we have heard instances of full-scholarship student-athletes sending their part-time earnings home after family members have been laid off

from work. Thus, if student-athletes can earn more than $2,000, why should they be prevented from doing so, especially when that amount can be earned legitimately in everyday jobs? For instance, a student-athlete could earn more than $2,000 simply by lifeguarding in the evenings and on weekends.

Additionally, because this proposal provides student-athletes with employment opportunities in institutional athletics departments, it permits employment opportunities in an area that may be relevant to careers. The athletics experience, although extremely valuable, cannot be compared with real work experience. Often student-athletes wish to go into sports marketing, athletics administration or other athletically related careers. If there are opportunities available in athletics departments, student-athletes should be able to obtain such positions. All too often, our graduating student-athletes have walked into interviews and have had employers praise them for their athletics abilities, but then ask, "What work experience do you have in the field?" This proposal would give student-athletes an answer to that question.

The SAAC acknowledges that the concerns of potential abuses if this policy is liberalized. However, it goes without saying that student-athlete employment still will be regulated. Prohibitions against extra benefits and payment for work not performed already are legislated in Bylaws 12 and 16. Student-athletes still will be compensated commensurate with the going rate, whether working on or off campus, and student-athletes will be compensated only for work actually performed. Also, compensation still may not include any remuneration for value that the student-athletes may have for the employer because of the fame or personal following that they have obtained because of athletics.

Finally, concerns about allowing student-athletes to work during the academic year have proven to be overstated. In fact, over a three-year period, most of the infractions involving employment have been related to administrative paperwork, not the $2,000 cap.

It makes sense for all member institutions to support Proposal No. 02-21.

Courtney Hall is a basketball student-athlete at George Mason University and is the SAAC representative to the Division I Committee on Financial Aid. Dylan Malagrino was a swimming and track and field student-athlete at Syracuse University and is the vice-chair of the Division I SAAC.