The 2004 Convention, which was distinguished by the push for reform, generally was considered a success for Division III. For many students-athletes, however, it was disappointing.

Dating back to July 2003, the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee dissected the reform package, weighed the pros and cons, and extracted our common passion for our ability to successfully integrate higher education and athletics.

An overwhelming majority of student-athletes expressed their desire to keep the playing and practice seasons status quo. Members of the SAAC understood the importance of the Future of Division III discussions and therefore spent countless hours educating ourselves on proposals and making sure we understood the big picture.

We cannot express enough how much we appreciate the work of the membership, the Management Council and the Presidents Council. Many student-athlete-welfare issues were addressed and we are appreciative of many, including the self-release proposal.

Having allowed a month to pass, we still find ourselves frustrated with the outcome of the playing and practice seasons legislation. For us, one of the most intriguing aspects of Division III is its diversity. There are a number of institutions that do not allow any nontraditional seasons, and there is no competitive disadvantage to those schools. When deciding to attend a Division III institution, we select based on a fit, both academically and athletically, just as a thespian student who wants to take part in a university play looks at both the academics and the theater program.

Two weeks after Convention, eight of us participated in the fourth Division III Student-Athlete Regional Leadership Conference. We were a little skeptical about our legislative discussions because we felt as though we had let our peers down by failing to convince the membership to see things from the student-athlete perspective on issues dealing with the playing and practice seasons.

At the Leadership Conference, national office staff led a 35-minute legislative session and explained the recently adopted legislative proposals. These 35 minutes stung even worse than the five days at Convention. It was the moment we were dreading -- when student-athletes found out the results of some of the reform measures. Needless to say, they were just as disappointed as we were. As the reform is revealed, we seem to be the bearers of bad news.

Despite any discontent, we are ready to move on and look forward to working with the Management and Presidents Councils to continue to make Division III the best it can possibly be. As a committee, we can no longer hang our heads. We are 24 proud young men and women who are committed to enhancing the student-athlete experience.

The future of Division III is now the present and it is time for us to focus on the future of the Division III student-athlete. Athletics is an important component of our higher education experience. As student-athlete leaders, we are well aware that being a Division III student-athlete is a privilege, not a right. We also know that our experiences as student-athletes directly apply to the "real world." We pay for our education and we have to think of life after college athletics.

As fellow SAAC member Dave Masilunas and I begin our role as Management Council representatives, we will look to capitalize on the successes of student-athletes and hope to convey the sheer passion today's student-athletes have for doing what they do: play the sports they love while furthering their education.

In Myles Brand's State of the Association speech, he said, "Student-athletes are at the center of all that we do; and if we want our publics to believe that our core principle is to be supportive of student-athletes, we must be respectful of their situations and their needs."

We look forward to working with administrators and presidents alike. The year 2003 was about reform and the future. In 2004, we look to further enhance Division III and celebrate the great opportunities and profound successes of its student-athletes.

Sarah Forbus is a basketball student-athlete at Denison University and a member of the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.