Rosemary Broderick, a softball student-athlete at Northern Kentucky and vice chair of the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, recently answered questions about several Division II issues, including the Life in the Balance legislative package, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, SAAC goals for 2010 and the benefits of being a student-athlete. Broderick will become SAAC chair after the 2010 NCAA Convention.

NCAA News: How has SAAC determined its positions on the Life in the Balance package for the 2010 Convention?

SAAC vice chair Rose Broderick: When the Life in Balance proposals first came out and were shared with the national SAAC, it was very clear that student-athletes would be opposed. After all, student-athletes want to play; that’s why we have chosen to pursue sports at this level.

However, once everyone heard from Management Council and Presidents Council members, opinions started to change. Knowing that not all DII student-athletes have the opportunity to speak with Management and Presidents Council representatives, we knew that many student-athletes would not understand the purposes of these proposals.

As vice chair, I saw firsthand how conferences were voting. As national SAAC members, we discussed at length our respective conferences’ opinions. That is when we realized student-athletes were not living a balanced life academically, athletically and socially – such as being involved on campus and participating in community-service activities that make us more well-rounded people. That’s when we knew we had to vote on what we felt was best for our conferences.

We voted to support three of the four proposals in the Life in the Balance package. We took no position on the other − the proposal affecting fall sports − because of the strong opinions on both sides. Even though we are taking no position, though, we still plan on expressing the opinions of DII student-athletes on the Convention floor in January 2010.

NCAA News: The national SAAC has an advantage over conference and campus SAACs in that the national committee has several opportunities throughout the year to interact with the Division II Management Council and Presidents Council. How important is that interaction?

Broderick: We are very fortunate that the Management Council and the Presidents Council value the opinions of student-athletes and are willing to meet with us to extrapolate ideas. Both Councils have been a great resource for SAAC over the years. They are able to provide us information on topics and are able to express to us different opinions on certain issues.

Being able to meet with them allows the national SAAC to be more knowledgeable of hot topics and issues of Division II. We appreciate these two committees and enjoy meeting with them every chance we get.

NCAA News: The SAAC recently also agreed to extend the partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for three more years. This collaboration has become almost synonymous with the Division II SAAC and has resulted in enormous benefits over the past five years. How does it feel for that to be part of your “tradition”?

Broderick: DII SAAC started the partnership with Make-A-Wish in 2003-04 and has contributed more than $1 million since. Make-A-Wish has touched many lives, and we are honored to help wishes come true. Just knowing that we have helped touch children’s lives is what motivates us to raise more money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation every year. It is an unbelievable foundation that has helped so many, and it is truly an honor to have a partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

NCAA News: What’s on the horizon in 2010 for the Division II SAAC? What are the most pressing issues?

Broderick: Our primary emphasis will be on Phase II of the Life in Balance effort that will focus on the nonchampionship segments. It is important for us to make sure that all DII student-athletes understand the purpose behind these proposals, as well as to make sure that DII student-athlete opinions are being heard. Our goals are to create a balanced life for student-athletes while retaining as many competition opportunities as possible.

In Phase II, we plan to take a more aggressive approach. Rather than reacting to issues that are brought to us, we plan to bring ideas and topics to the table for others to consider.

NCAA News: What have you personally enjoyed about being a member of the Division II SAAC? How has it benefited your college experience?

Broderick: Being a member of Division II SAAC has been a huge honor for me. I love everything about SAAC, and it is hard for me to pick only a few things.

Division II SAAC has helped me strengthen my leadership and organizational skills, which has greatly helped me through my last few years in college. It has also made me a more well-rounded person and has given me the self-confidence I need in my future endeavors. Division II SAAC has taught me the type of professionalism I need to use in the future. Many other college students do not get that benefit until they have been in the workforce.

What I enjoy most is making sure the voice of Division II student-athletes is being heard. It is amazing to see how opinions change after our thoughts have been expressed. It is an awesome feeling knowing that we, as student-athletes, can make a difference, and I get to see it firsthand. That, by far, is the best part of being a member of Division II SAAC.

NCAA News: What do you like best about being a student-athlete?

Broderick: As a student-athlete, I get the opportunity to do things many college students do not. I love the competitive aspect of the game and the chance to compete for a national title on behalf of my institution. I also enjoy being tossed into situations that cause friendships to develop with your teammates that last the rest of your life. And I enjoy playing the sport I love at such a high level. Softball has become a huge part of my life, and I do not know what I would do without it. Being a student-athlete has allowed me to keep softball in my life and has pushed me in ways I would have never done on my own.

However, what I enjoy most is all that I have learned from my experiences as a student-athlete – all of those little lessons that have prepared me more than ever for my life after college.