Oct. 14, 2004

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is making a positive impact on the UNLV campus and in the Las Vegas Community. Recently, the SAAC was in involved in the Take Back The Night event held by the UNLV Jean Nidetch Women's Center on October 6th. Take Back the Night is a world-wide event that UNLV was proud to participate in for the 11th-annual time. The event honors victims and empower survivors of violence.

"Our goal of the SAAC is to help promote a positive image of student-athletes on campus and around the city," said Michele Suszek, the SAAC president and current senior on the UNLV Cross Country team. "We also realize the importance of making a contribution to our community and those people who are not as fortunate as many of us are."

The SAAC has additional functions planned for the rest of this semester, including teaming up with the Las Vegas Mission during Thanksgiving and Christmas break to feed the homeless.

"The SAAC is made up of team leaders from each of UNLV's teams and ultimately sacrifices much of their time to enhance the welfare and perception of athletes abroad," said Eric Toliver, UNLV Associate Athletics Director who oversees this committee. "We are dedicated to supporting our campus endeavors and to ensuring that a student-athlete voice is heard within the NCAA & UNLV structure."

In addition to campus and community outreach projects, the SAAC also produces a student-athlete newsletter and is involved in campus wide committees and actively participates in the administrative process of the athletics programs and the NCAA.