San Jose State Hosts 2008 WAC SAAC Conference
Brittany Boehm and Justin Paysinger will serve as hosts for the 2008 WAC SAAC Conference this weekend at San Jose State.
Spartan football member Justin Paysinger and women's soccer player Brittany Boehm are already familiar with being leaders on the field. This weekend, June 27 through June 29, they will have the opportunity to put their leadership skills to use at this year's Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) Conference, hosted by San Jose State University.
The annual conference gives student-athletes an opportunity to view proposed NCAA legislation, voice the concerns of today's student-athletes, and come up with solutions to those concerns. Each of the nine schools in the WAC will be represented by one male and one female student-athlete.
“It helps us understand the bigger picture of athletics. A lot of athletes that don't get to serve in a conference like this don't get to see how much work goes in to WAC, SAAC, and the NCAA in general but this conference gives us an opportunity to see truly how much hard work is involved. This conference makes us appreciate the work that goes into athletics at the collegiate level,” says Paysinger.
Paysinger, a two-year starter at center for the Spartans, also serves as Vice President of the San Jose State SAAC. “I just like getting involved with these types of events. Just trying to make a difference in the lives of athletes here at SJSU, in the WAC, SAAC, and all NCAA athletes in general. It's rewarding to know that I have a voice,” says Paysinger, who came to SJSU from Beverly Hills High School, Beverly Hills, Calif. in 2004.
Boehm, who will be going into her third year with the women's soccer team next season, has also served as a San Jose State women's soccer SAAC representative since her freshman year. Boehm's responsibilities as a SAAC representative involve voicing the concerns of student-athletes and finding solutions to them.
“I talk to my players and see if they have any concerns with anything that's going on with the athletics department. If it deals with class scheduling, athletic advisors, coaches, anything if they have problems or issues they take to the meetings, we talk about it, and try to find a solution to it,” says Boehm.
Boehm was selected for the conference by Student Services Coordinator Whitney Rotrock and fellow SAAC representatives Michelle Minotti and Paysinger. This will be the first WAC SAAC conference for Boehm, who came to SJSU from California High School in San Ramon, Calif.
“I love just being active with my fellow students. I heard about this and I'm glad I volunteered as a freshman. It's something that I've always wanted to do but couldn't do in the past,” says Boehm.
Both Boehm and Paysinger look forward to the conference as an opportunity to learn from other attendees while offering their own ideas. “I hope to just share my insight and my experiences here. Just be able to relate with other attendees and compare and contrast issues here at SJSU and at other schools. I'll give my input and listen to theirs to see if they can help me with issues we have at our school,” says Paysinger.