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Video Interviews with Subcommittees
HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Division III Philosophy places the highest priority on the overall quality of the educational experience and successful completion of all students' academic programs. The Haverford College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is making sure this experience exceeds all expectations.
Haverford's SAAC consists of seven Executive Committee members this year: Johanna Batterton '21 (softball), Julianna Clark '21 (women's basketball), Ryan Giovenco '21 (baseball), Isabel (Izzy) Schwam '22 (volleyball), Jesse Turkson '21 (men's basketball), Roxy Vassighi '21 (field hockey), and Anthony Vizzoni '21 (men's lacrosse). Head coaches Dave Beccaria (baseball) and Jamie Schneck (women's soccer) will continue to serve as athletic department liaisons.
Although the semester is beginning just its third week, SAAC has been hard at work during the summer months to enhance the educational experience of the Haverford community. One of the first things that came out of those summer meetings was a revamped mission statement that is available on SAAC's website.
Julianna Clark explained those changes in our interview with the executive committee, "As times change and the schools grows and our community grows, we wanted to make a mission statement that we felt reflected those changes. So a lot of our additions and changes of wording were meant to be more inclusive of the community as a whole. We're here for everybody and not just the athletes."
Although those changes may seem subtle to some, the messaging from SAAC is clear in that they are here to serve the entire College community. "We want to hear from the community," stated Isabel Schwam. "I think for a long time people were very confused about what SAAC's role was. We are hoping that there is clarification now and that we can be transparent in terms of our work, but also in terms of hearing what the community's feedback is."
In addition to the updated mission statement, SAAC will once again be working on programming with the Office of Academic Resources (OAR), Center for Career and Professional Advising (CCPA), and STRIVE Leadership while each executive committee member additionally serves as the liaison to a group of varsity teams. Another major component of the months of planning was the formation of two subcommittees: athlete/non-athlete dynamic and anti-racism. Johanna Batterton, Julianna Clark, Ryan Giovenco, and Anthony Vizzoni will serve on the athlete/non-athlete dynamic subcommittee while Jesse Turkson, Isabel Schwam, and Roxy Vassighi will work on the anti-racism subcommittee.
"I wanted to join SAAC because athletes are proportionately a large part of this campus. We have a level of accountability to serve the community. I wanted to a part of the committee that serves the community is the most reciprocal way," said Johanna Batterton. "I think the greatest thing about being a Division III athlete is that you are not pigeon-holed to just being an athlete. Sometimes that is a little bit lost in the transition of coming into college. One of our goals is promoting our underclassmen to get involved and meet new people because it will enhance your experience."
Some of the ways in which this subcommittee is extending its reach to the campus community is by posting their events on Haverford Engage, partnering with FAB (Fords Against Boredom), reaching out to The Clerk, and exploring the possibility of creating a community calendar of events.
It is the hope of this subcommittee that through this work the Haverford Community can become its own biggest cheerleader. "Sports are a great way to extend something to root for and something to have fun with," said Anthony Vizzoni. "The community has so many other great things to offer to us. It's a good goal to set to try and bring both things together."
The second subcommittee will be working on anti-racism efforts at Haverford College. Just a couple weeks into the semester, SAAC has already been engaged with Sustained Dialogue's moderator training series. This subcommittee has also consulted with the newly formed Haverford Athletes of Color Coalition (AOCC) to foster a relationship that can help further the cause of that mission.
"I just thought that we can use this platform [SAAC] of representing so many students on campus to just have broader awareness to being actively anti-racist," explained Jesse Turkson "Everyone says this, and I agree 100 percent, if you are not doing anything you are just being a bystander. Being a bystander is just as bad as being complicit."
While those subcommittees continue their work on campus throughout the academic year, another exciting development for all student-athletes is the beginning of team practices this week. Although this will not be the traditional fall season, Haverford student-athletes from all teams have shown great leadership and motivation that is further exemplified by the SAAC executive committee members.
"I think our general motivation as to why we want to continue to being so present, so involved, and acting as if this is a normal season is truly because of the love of the sport," said Roxy Vassighi. "If we aren't going to leave our mark physically, we might us well leave our mark emotionally. We are still here to play for each other and we don't need a game to show that. If I'm holding a stick and a ball and I'm around with my teammates, that's all I need. I don't need to have a competitive season to want to play field hockey."
Haverford College is in a unique position as one of the few schools within the Centennial Conference that is currently learning on campus with every class year having the option to take classes in person or remotely. That opportunity is certainly not lost on the student-athletes.
"We have a huge privilege that we are able to practice right now," said Ryan Giovenco. "We have that opportunity to focus on development. Maybe we lay off the competition a little bit, but we are able to be together as a team and get our work in. So I think we are just really excited about that and recognizing the opportunity that we have in front of us."
The article above is just a brief preview of some of the work Haverford's SAAC will be undertaking this year. Both subcommittees also sat down for interviews that more fully explain the work that each group will be undertaking this year.