Student-Athletes Get Involved With The Community
 |  Student-athletes take a break outside the Covenant House to pose for a picture. |
Nov. 22, 2000
Tulane University encourages all students to become involved in community service activities ranging from Habitat for Humanity to clothing drives to clinics for local youth. This year Tulane athletes have answered that call to a new degree. The United Way, local elementary students, and the Girl Scouts are among the many beneficiaries of the Wave athlete's recommitment to serve the community. With the expansion of the athletic department's goals to increase overall community involvement, the Green Wave squads are rising to the challenge.
One project already established at Tulane is the successful "Shadow a Student-Athlete Day". Each year students from Lafayette Elementary School have the opportunity that few children get, they can follow a TU student-athlete an experience what it would be like to walk in their shoes for a day.
"The children are not the only ones who look forward to the shadow day program," according to academic counselor Jessica Hammond. "The students-athletes are always asking me when the Lafayette students are coming."
The Lafayette students follow a Green Wave player to classes, practices, workouts and meals. Shadow a Student-Athlete Day is in its third successful year and may be expanded to dates in both the spring and fall due to its popularity and educational value.
One group that spearheads the athlete's involvement in the community is the Student-Athlete Advisory Board, known as SAAB. SAAB is an influential and essential part of organizing the athletes' focus on community service. SAAB is made up of representatives from each of Tulane's 10 athletic teams. The representatives gather once a month to discuss community involvement, as well as everyday issues facing the student athlete. They also host team-to-team activities, which allow fellow student athletes to socialize with each other during, what can be an intense practice season. SAAB recently held a clothing drive to collect personal clothing articles for those in need. The drive was held during the month of September and was highly successful. Through the influence of SAAB 100% participation was achieved. In the future SAAB plans to do other clothing drives and continue to work with the Office Student Services office to coordinate future community service related projects.
Rob Koonce, Assistant Athletic Director for Student Services, serves as the University liaison to the United Way and is responsible for the coordination of community service activities with the athletes. With the assistance of Athletics Director Rick Dickson, who is dedicated channeling more effort towards the community, Tulane is well on its way to developing a stand out of community involvement.
"I have always wanted to focus more effort on developing a better relations with the community. Rick Dickson has encouraged and assisted us in developing Tulane into a community service oriented program." Koonce said. Another area in which the student athletes can reach out to the youth of New Orleans is through a Pen Pal program. This program connects a group of student-athletes with a local sixth grade class. Through the Pen Pal program elementary students learn about the everyday life of a Tulane student-athlete Tulane also provides tickets to Tulane events to local schools and community groups.
The Girl Scouts in the New Orleans area benefited from the Green Wave's calling to the community. Recently, they were able to attend a Green Wave volleyball match and receive some playing tips afterward. Upon completion of the Cincinnati-Tulane match, the Wave's volleyball team put on a mini clinic for the young ladies. The coaches and athletes showed them some basic skills and signed autographs for the aspiring athletes.
"This was a wonderful and valuable experience for everyone involved including the players and coaches," said TU head volleyball coach Betsy Becker-Ferrer. "When I was a Girl Scout we didn't have any opportunities like this and I think I would have had fun and learned from the clinic. After all, I always looked up to the older girls who played sports."
Volleyball is planning to continue with community service during the off-season. They plan to get involved with Special Olympics, work with Saint Michael Special School, and possibly work with Habitat for Humanity.
Soccer also hosted a clinic for the Girl Scouts after the Marquette match. About 240 girls from the area came to meet the team and pick up some on-field pointers. This is one of the many events that the soccer team has participated in and they already have several service projects for the spring.
"Taking the opportunity to spend time with the local kids and be good role models is important," said head coach Eliot Perkins. "Most importantly we, the girls and the coaches, feel it is vital to spend significant time giving back and being good role models while still showcasing the athletes."
Tulane also plans to have similar clinics with men's and women's basketball, baseball and possibility other spring sports. Each of the teams are actively involved in some service event. Tulane is looking to become involved in more activities including the United Way, the Boy and Girl Scouts, the Big Brother Big Sister program, Girls and Boys Club of America, the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD), the New Orleans Church of Christ Christian Outreach Ministries and several other organizations. Tulane looks to be involved in the Tulane-Xavier Community Outreach program that is accompanied by a significant grant to establish sports and academic camps in the summer months.
Giving back to the community that supports Tulane is an important part of the Tulane Athletics department's focus this year. The Green Wave student-athletes realize how important it is to give back to a community that supports. The expansion of community service and community involvement will continue through the spring semester and into the future. With the Wave's renewed enthusiasm and the resources to focus on the community, athletes and the University have the ability to go beyond the field to the streets. The Wave will continue to roll towards a community service program that is recognized throughout the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas.
