A summer spent serving constituents in Sacramento will soon come full circle for CSUN women's water polo goalkeeper Marin Byars, who is headed to Capitol Hill to represent The Big West in a national conversation surrounding the future of college athletics.
Byars will travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in a press conference supporting the Protect College Sports Act on Monday, Sept. 14. The event is expected to bring together 18 student-athletes representing 16 Division I conferences to share their perspectives and advocate for the future of collegiate sports.
The bipartisan legislation advanced from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation by a 19-9 vote in June. The proposal would establish nationwide standards governing name, image, and likeness, transfers, eligibility, and enforcement while codifying protections related to scholarships, healthcare, athlete agents, and academic opportunities.
For Byars, the opportunity combines several personal passions: college athletics, student-athlete advocacy, and public service.
What does it mean to represent CSUN and The Big West in this national conversation?
Byars — It means a lot to me. When I was deciding which college to attend, my mom really wanted me to pick a school for academics. "If you're going to be at CSUN, don't just show up; you need to give it everything you have and see how far you can go." I had just become a goalkeeper when COVID started, so it had been an absolute grind to get where I needed to be to compete in college. I had my eyes set on going to Division I, so committing to play at CSUN was already a huge accomplishment.
My mom told me, "Put your absolute best into it, and we're going to see what happens." I volunteered to become involved with SAAC and have been earning a 3.8 since my first semester. It is exciting to see how much hard work can make a difference and lead to an opportunity like this.
How have your experiences with CSUN and Big West SAAC prepared you for this opportunity?
Byars — At CSUN, I had the opportunity to reimagine what a student-athlete advisory committee could look like. When I became president, there was not much of a foundation to build from, so I pulled from my student council experience in high school and talked to the people around me to understand what they wanted.
The first Big West SAAC meeting I attended showed me how impressive and impactful SAAC could be. I was especially inspired by the UC San Diego representatives and everything they were doing on their campus. I thought, "We can do this."
I have worked to spread the word about what SAAC is across our campus. We now have required team representatives attending our meetings, sponsorships, and more student-athletes who want to get involved. I have also been able to share our ideas and struggles with other Big West SAAC groups that may need those ideas. It has been inspiring to experience both sides of that growth and think about what we can continue expanding.
What have you learned while helping grow CSUN SAAC?
Byars — I have learned how much people care, but sometimes they still need somebody to spark that care inside of them. When I said, "I really care about making this bigger," coaches began saying they cared about it, too. Student-athletes started offering ideas and looking for ways to bring different groups together. A lot of people want the same things; sometimes they just need a voice encouraging everyone to come together, share their opinions, and create a community.
We held a movie night at the end of last year, and before the movie started, student-athletes who had not known each other before the school year were playing soccer and volleyball together. During the movie, they were shouting and making jokes. It did not matter because it was all creating community.
Seeing that community become the product of the work that our entire committee put in was incredibly powerful. It feels like a big hug when all those groups come together.
How did your summer internship shape your understanding of advocacy and public service?
Byars — I worked in Congresswoman Doris Matsui's district office and spent a lot of time answering calls from constituents. You don't always realize you can simply call your congressperson. I had 25-minute conversations with people who needed help or just to listen. That connects to my student-athlete experience and my role as a leader. People need a place to talk. Sometimes they need somebody to offer advice, but sometimes they simply need another person to listen.
As a leader, it is important to slow down and listen to the people you represent. The internship also showed me that advocating for student-athlete rights is possible. It is not out of reach. Working in that congressional office reminded me that I am more powerful than I may think and that we are capable of advocating for our own voices.
You are able to make a difference.
What did you learn from coaching young water polo players this summer?
Byars — One thing that can get lost as you grow up, especially when you set a goal of competing at the Division I level, is that sports are supposed to be fun. They are competitive, and we love competing, but they are also supposed to be fun.
I worked with 10-and-under players, and a lot of them were small. I was tiny when I started playing water polo at nine years old, and I have always been small, especially for a goalkeeper.
One of the smallest players came to me before facing a five-meter penalty shot and said, "I don't think I can do it. The cage is too big." I told him, "We do not say that we cannot do it. You can swim to the other side of the cage, get there, and knock it down. I know you can."
He looked at me and said, "Yes, I can do it." Then he got back into the cage and blocked the shot.
It makes me happy to believe in those kids and in my teammates and see everything they can accomplish when people openly believe in one another. We need more of that right now.
What do you hope to learn from the other student-athletes attending the event?
Byars — I am interested in hearing how conferences with football or more resources are being affected by everything happening in college athletics. The Big West does not have football; our experiences and concerns can be different.
I am also curious to learn how student-athletes from the other side of the country feel. We can get caught in our own world in California or The Big West and only hear about the schools our friends attend.
I am excited to meet leaders from other schools and learn from them. There are learning opportunities with anybody, even when you have gone through similar experiences, because every person interprets those experiences differently.
How are you preparing to represent your fellow student-athletes?
Byars — I have an entire presentation ready for CSUN SAAC explaining what the Protect College Sports Act is. I want to ask the group what they think about it, what their priorities are, and what they want me to discuss during the press conference.
I am also spending this week learning more about the different perspectives surrounding the legislation and gathering feedback from Big West student-athletes. During my congressional internship, I learned how to create short biographies with photos to help remember the people attending events. I am planning to make flashcards for the flight so I can learn the names and backgrounds of the people I will meet in Washington.
What do you hope to bring back to CSUN and your fellow Big West student-athletes?
Byars — I hope to bring back the idea that you can do it—that we can put in the effort and make a difference. There are so many people in the world, but you still matter. If you care about something, take care of the people around you and put effort into what matters to you; you can go to Washington, D.C., New York, or downtown Los Angeles. You can do these things.
I hope I can provide an example of that and give hope to student-athletes who may feel stuck or wonder what comes after sports. When you care deeply about something and put the work into it, you can make a difference and get wherever your heart wants to go.
What are you most looking forward to in Washington, D.C.?
Byars — I am excited to meet the California senators and experience the city in a way that is different from being a tourist. The last time I visited, I saw the buildings, the columns, and the museums, and I loved them.
This time, there is something powerful about being in Washington with a purpose and being able to say, "I worked hard to be here, and I belong here."
I am excited to feel like I earned my place there and show that I am capable of making it into that space. And, of course, I am excited to walk around in my new suit.
Gallery: (9-11-2026) CSUN's Marin Byars Photo Gallery