TCU hosted the first Mountain West Student Leadership Summit August 28-29. The summit was designed to unite conference institutions and provide an opportunity for student leaders to network and share ideas.

Summit director Traci Clayton, a TCU junior, was pleased with the success of the event.

“I was so excited to see our months of planning culminate in an experience that was beneficial for all,” said Clayton. “I believe all of the delegates walked away from the summit with new ideas and advantageous relationships.”

Commissioner Craig Thompson spoke to the group about binge drinking and sportsmanship. The Division I Board of Directors has taken a particular interest in sportsmanship issues in recent months.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for student leaders at Mountain West Conference member institutions to step outside the athletics rivalries and unite for a common cause in addressing those issues that affect college students nationwide,” said Thompson. “I congratulate these young men and women for their initiative and look forward to future events.”

Rhode Island coach rallies for autism

Rhode Island baseball Coach Jim Foster, whose 4-year-old daughter has been battling autism since before her second birthday, will take part with the baseball team in a local “Walk Now for Autism.”

The Rams participated in the same event last year, which raised $280,000 for autism research. Last year, Foster and the team participated in the walk. This year, they plan to volunteer as well. They hope to raise $5,000 in donations for Autism Speaks.

“Rhode Island baseball will set a goal for $5,000 to contribute,” Foster said. “Hopefully we will get a little bit more and break that barrier. My personal goal is to raise a half a million dollars for the cause this year ... I tell people, ‘Rhode Island baseball will be there for you wherever and whenever you need us.’”

La Salle educates student-athletes

La Salle student-athletes learned about drug testing and banned substances in a presentation from Frank Uryasz, president of the National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc.

Uryasz focused on drugs and alcohol, dietary supplements, anabolic steroids and energy drinks and also outlined better ways for student-athletes to develop and improve performance, including better hydration and nutrition.

The National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc. conducts the NCAA’s drug-testing program.

Miscellaneous

Tennessee-Martin student-athletes solicited pledges for Community Developmental Services, an agency that serves developmentally disabled adults, through a fund-raiser called Touchdowns for Telethon. They asked donors to pledge an amount for every Skyhawk touchdown during October, and the amount will be given to the Telethon of Stars, which raises money for CDS … Arkansas State’s football team claimed an 83-10 victory over Texas Southern earlier this month, setting a Sun Belt Conference record for points scored by a team in a single game … The Big Ten and the Big East will open the baseball season with the Big East/Big Ten Baseball Challenge hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission. The challenge will feature 27 games in the first three days of the baseball season.