Members of the S.A.A.C. set up an event in the Student Union Theater for athletes to raise awareness for blood cancer.  Earl Young was called to give insight on blood cancer and his story of surviving leukemia. A table was set up outside of the theater for those who wanted to swab their jaws to see if they were a match for a blood cancer patient.
London Taylor/The Lion's Roar

The Student Athlete Advisory Committee organized Earl Young’s team with Delete Blood Cancer as a tactic to raise awareness about blood cancer. 

On Monday, Nov. 28, leaders of the S.A.A.C. invited guest speaker Earl Young to speak with the student athletes at the Student Union Theatre. S.A.A.C. President Addison Martinez shared that organizing this event was one of the most challenging things she has done for this organization.

“We’ve done this in the past,” said graduate student Martinez. “We’re trying to make this bigger, which is why we called out Earl Young.”

After the event, a table was set up to further implement blood cancer awareness. The tables were set up from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

“We’re going to do another one in the spring that’ll be bigger,” said Martinez.

S.A.A.C. was adopted at the 1989 NCAA Convention. All NCAA schools were required to start the committee on their campus for the 1989-90 academic year. Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services Sherry Kennemer, serves as an advisor to S.A.A.C. She described the types of events the committee host.

“S.A.A.C. is currently holding a Delete Blood Cancer Drive,” said Kennemer. “The gumbo cook-off was held in October. They will also participate in the Southland Gives Back community project. They are collecting pull tabs for the New Orleans Ronald McDonald House. Competing against the other Southland Conference schools to see who performs the most community service hours during the 2016-17 academic year.”

As president, Martinez is a voice for the student athletes to come to the committee. Her goal for S.A.A.C. is to raise awareness of what the committee is and does.

“We made T-shirts to promote the ‘Lion Up Cup competition,’ to promote attendance of athletes supporting athletes,” said Martinez.

Treasurer Stephen Cassingham, a senior math major described his role to the committee.

“I handle funds, collected money for our gumbo cook-off and I’m just a member otherwise and I participate in other events,” said Cassingham.

S.A.A.C. helps multiple people.

“This organization benefits all students athletes from all 15 sports as well as the Hammond Community,” said Kennemer.

Cassingham stated how he feels about his and the committee’s goal.

“I think it’s cool connecting more athletes in other sports,” said Cassingham. “My hope is that the attendance and participation is better. Promote comradery between all athletes.”sKennemer has seen progress in the members.

“The current members of the S.A.A.C. are leaders on their respective teams,” said Kennemer. “They are seeing that this group can make a difference and are becoming more involved with each activity being planned.”

S.A.A.C. is a service club and a mix from every different team of the school. The committee has volunteered over 2,589.25 hours in the flooding disaster.

“It’s rewarding to see athletes work in the community and not just on themselves,” said Martinez.