Senior Tim Laramee is the starting right tackle on the football team and he is the Co-President of the Student Athlete Advisory committee (SAAC).

This season, Tim and the rest of the offensive line have helped the Lancers achieve the fourth-best passing offense in the NCAA Division III (351.6 YPG) and the fourth-best total offense in New England (436.7 YPG). For their efforts in a wild 64-63 win over Mass Maritime, the offensive line also copped D3football.com Team of the Week accolades on October 2.

We talked to Tim about SAAC, what the organization is up to this semester and the spring season ahead.

What is your hometown and major?

I am from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts and I have a double major in Elementary Education and psychology.

Why did you decide to come to Worcester State?

I transferred in as a sophomore from Anna Maria because it was cheaper, closer to home, but it was still far enough away. Also, both of my parents went to school here.

What is one thing you would change about the world?

I would try to eliminate the amount of instant hate in the world. People make stereotypes based off of automatic assumptions. I think that people feel either too afraid or are quick to nullify choices of those around them.

What is the purpose of SAAC and how did you first become involved?

Our primary function is to act as a liason between the athletics department and our respective teams. Every team has a representative while our athletics director (John Meany) acts as the advisor and he lets us run the organication. If our teammates bring up any issues they might have, we try to work as a group to find solutions.

We also are involved with community service projects to create a good connection with those outside of Worcester State.

I first became involved with SAAC as a sophomore. I then served as the Vice President last year and I am currently the Co-President with Katherine Bitters, who's on the field hockey team.

Tell me about something that your group is working on right now to help better the student body and the athletics department.

One of the things that we have been working on while I have been involved is trying to come up with priority scheduling for student-athletes. SAAC is trying to come up with a proposal to help student-athletes schedule their classes around games and practices to make things more flexible. We've made a lot of progress on this, but we still have a lot of work to do.

This year we are focusing on participation at games and improving our school spirit. One of the things we did last year was purchase a t-shirt gun which we've been using at most of our home games this semester.

We are also involving the entire athletics department in a contest to increase team-by-team participation. The team which has the highest percentage attendance at other teams games has the chance to win free t-shirts and a pizza party. 

One of the other things we are trying to do is organize a fan bus for games that are off-site including the volleyball game this weekend, ice hockey and basketball games next semester. At the end of the day we are all one team and we have to support each other, especially our teams that are competing off campus.

You mentioned that your group is involved with community service. What is something you are working for this academic year?

Sometime in March we are going to try to host a two-day basketball or multi-sport tournament at a predetermined site in association with Special Olympics. We want to coach, run and referee the entire tournament and host several state-wide special olympics teams.

Two years ago we hosted a similar Special Olympics tournament at our gym and that is what first got me hooked in becoming involved with SAAC. I have an interest in possibly going into Special Education and my aunt has special needs. Its a very rewarding feeling doing things for others and having fun while doint it with your team.

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