As snow falls, students clear away snow, lift spirits

During a recent snow storm, members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) were outdoors brushing off snow from cars parked in campus parking lots. These good deeds were done without fanfare but some students were caught in the act.

After students brushed snow off a car, they left behind a customized ice scraper with a business card encouraging car owners to pass along a similar act of kindness.

Michael Tworek, co-president of SAAC, says these acts of kindness by student-athletes were intentional, though the cars were chosen at random. “We believe there’s a lesson to be learned from what we’re doing. That even though we’re tired of winter, it’s important to remember we’re part of a community,” Tworek says. “We took time out of our day to help those who could use a helping hand, and we hope others will adopt what we did and do something similar.”

Members of SAAC got the idea for their project from a speaker who addressed all first-year athletes earlier this year. Scott Goldman, Ph.D., director of clinical and sport psychology at the University of Arizona’s athletic department, talked about a program called Be Kind. Step Up! Its mission is to inspire, motivate and empower others to realize the impact of intentional kindness and to act on it and help change the world.

The snowfall presented an opportunity and “perfect timing,” says Tworek, to put into practice what they heard. “Students have a lot of projects, papers and speeches to complete before spring break and our efforts offer one less thing they have to worry about.”

SAAC serves as the voice for student-athletes in the athletic department and performs community service projects, like this one. “We really enjoyed doing it,” says Tworek.