In the tiresome arguments over student-athlete entitlement, the separation of the student from the athlete is increasingly put in the spotlight.

Each year, though, for five days in Orlando, Florida, such separation seems implausible, as the privilege that comes with being a student and an athlete grows through our participation at the NCAA Leadership Conference. This year, more than 300 diverse and energized student-athletes from Divisions I, II, and III shed their competitive spirits at the annual gathering and opened their minds to becoming agents of positive change.

Twenty-two of the student-athletes at this year's conference were representatives from the Divisions I, II, and III Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAACs). As agents of change at the national level, the SAACs were charged with the responsibility of not only participating in their own leadership growth, but also facilitating sessions relating to particular student-athlete well-being issues in their respective divisions. In these sessions, we focused on the three "E's" -- Education, Engagement and Enlightenment. We educated our peers through discussion about the methods they could use to effect change on campus. In turn, our peers -- through their engaged, personal comments about their campus issues -- enlightened us.

The two days of SAAC sessions thus served as the impetus for our respective committees over the coming year and will allow us to hone our focus on the sincere, relevant well-being issues across our campuses.

The following is a brief look into each SAAC session to provide greater insight into the issues that were discussed:

* During the Division III SAAC sessions, integration of the student-athlete into general campus life was the key topic. Although participants agreed that some student-athletes manage to stay involved in a variety of activities on campus, many still feel that it is difficult to be involved beyond athletics. Student-athletes have to make a conscious choice to be involved in athletics versus other extracurricular activities, or they have to find that balance in their lives to play their sport, perform well academically and contribute in other ways to the campus environment.

* The Division I SAAC sessions featured questions about financial aid, the 20-hour rule, and trust gaps that exist within the athletics department. In terms of financial aid, Division I student-athletes are concerned with counters vs. non-counters. Questions centered on concern for all student-athletes to receive need-based or academic-based aid and not have it count toward the total allotment of scholarships.

An area of great concern involved the 20-hour rule. Student-athletes are struggling with how to address a rule that is continuously and blatantly broken. When we hear stories of coaches forcing their student-athletes to sign a fraudulent document or holding practices at 12:01 a.m. after a competition as punishment for poor performance, the problem is intensified.

* Key issues on the minds of Division II student-athletes related to the improvement of the SAAC structure, recruiting and rules education. Student-athletes were vocal about wishing to improve and enhance their campus SAAC, a concern that was addressed through brainstorming ideas and education about knowing the advocates on campus. Advances in technology and what type of communication should be allowed when contacting recruits was another concern. The majority of student-athletes felt that because of these advances, all electronic communication (instant messaging, text messaging etc.) should be restricted, treating such communication the same as a telephone call.

In terms of rules education, student-athletes were interested in learning if the Division II SAAC could help provide a checklist to student-athletes of eligibility requirements, as well as more educational materials regarding Title IX. To help Division II student-athletes become more educated about rules, the Division II SAAC will be distributing rubber bracelets with the address of the Division II SAAC Web site on them in the fall.

Indeed, each of the Division I, II, and III national SAACs became enlightened by our peers' concern for a plethora of well-being issues. As agents of change at the national level, we are now ready to face a new year of challenges that were brought to our attention by leaders from more than 300 campuses. For now, not only do we have three divisional SAACs, energized and ready to go, but the will of 300 student-athletes who became agents of change in Orlando.

Ian Gray of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, chairs the Division I SAAC; John Semeraro of Saint Leo University chairs the Division II SAAC; and Andrew Baldwin of Nazareth College chairs the Division III SAAC.