1. ACTION ITEMS.
Review
of NCAA Race Demographic Data.
a. Recommendation. That the data from the 2001-02 Race Demographics of NCAA
Member Institutions’ Athletics Personnel report be formally presented to the
Executive Committee, Board of Directors, President Councils, and Management
Councils of all three divisions, as well as national office senior staff.
b. Rationale. The committee reviewed preliminary data from the 2001-02
Race Demographics of NCAA Member Institutions’ Athletics Personnel Report. The committee was extremely
disappointed in the lack of ethnic minorities in senior-level administrative
and coaching positions. The
committee compared current data with the 1995 statistics and noted no progress
has been made. The committee was
also troubled by data that indicated the largest percentage of ethnic minority
men are employed as academic counselors, facility managers, strength coaches
and equipment managers. The
percentages are not much better for ethnic minority women. Most are employed as academic
counselors, administrative assistants and senior women administrators. The committee believes that the
governance structure must be made aware of these issues so that change may
occur. The committee feels that
reviewing the data in person, and not just on paper, will reveal the gravity of
the situation and the seriousness of this issue.
c. Budget Impact. Costs
associated with travel to selected meetings.
2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
a.
Review of NCAA Race Demographic Data.
(1) Distribution of Race Demographic Data. The committee noted that the report
will be available to member institutions on the NCAA Web site. The committee
recommends that the report be mailed directly to chief executive officers to
alert them of the startling trends.
(2 ) Conference Office Data. The committee discussed the lack of race demographic
data for NCAA conference offices. As a part of future race
demographic
reports, the committee will survey conference offices to obtain this data.
(3) Organization Data.
The committee requested demographic data sorted by conference and by
subdivision for its January 2003 meeting.
b. American Indian Mascot. The committee reviewed a draft report on the use of the
American Indian mascots, names, nicknames, logos and behaviors in
intercollegiate athletics to be presented to the Executive Committee
Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues during its October 2002 meeting.
In completing its charge, the
committee has conducted a comprehensive review of issues surrounding the use of
American Indian mascots in intercollegiate athletics. The committee’s review illustrates that current uses of
American Indian mascots by NCAA member institutions range from being respectful
to offensive.
The committee feels that it is
time for this tradition to be retired.
However, the committee supports a member institution’s
self-determination, and believes that institutions using American Indian
mascots, nicknames and logos should ensure the use is appropriate through a
review of the depiction of and behavior associated with the use by its
athletics teams, cheerleaders, band members, other auxiliary groups and
fans.
Further, those aspects that are
offensive should be eliminated, to ensure that the NCAA’s principles of
cultural diversity and gender equity, sportsmanship and ethical conduct and
nondiscrimination are adhered to during all athletics events.
The MOIC believes specific recommendations in the following three areas should reduce offensive uses of American Indian mascots, nicknames, logos and behaviors in intercollegiate athletics:
(1) NCAA Member Institutions.
Require institutions currently using American Indian mascots to complete a self-analysis checklist to determine if the depiction of the mascot, nickname, logo, or behaviors can be viewed as offensive.
Require the self-analysis be conducted through a broad-based review including representatives from the department of athletics, faculty and staff, community, student-athletes, conference membership and local American Indian tribes or community members.
Require the self-analysis to be
submitted as part of the athletics certification process for Division I
institutions or the self-assessment process for Division II and Division III
institutions (legislative action required).
(2) NCAA Conference Offices.
Require NCAA conferences
to review policies regarding competition with institutions using American
Indian mascots or nicknames. The
policies reviewed should include championships, sportsmanship, etc.
Require conferences to complete
a self-analysis checklist for conference championship venues and host
institutions.
(3) Association.
Continue to monitor the use of American Indian mascots, names, nicknames, logos and behaviors, including the periodic monitoring of self-analysis checklists.
Establish criteria for NCAA
championships sites and venues that eliminate visibility of American Indian
mascots, logos and symbols.
Establish criteria for institutions participating in NCAA championship events to ensure adherence to NCAA Constitution Articles 2.2.2 (principle of student-athlete welfare, cultural diversity and gender equity), 2.4 (principle of sportsmanship and ethical conduct) and 2.6 (principle of nondiscrimination).
Eliminate references to American Indian mascot names, nicknames and logos in NCAA publications and announcements.
c. Review of NCAA Summit on
Athletics Opportunities for Minority Women. The committee reviewed information regarding the Summit on Athletics
Opportunities for Minority Women.
The committee agreed to discuss future summits with the NCAA Committee
on Women’s Athletics.
d. Review of Current Diversity
Initiatives. Committee members participated in
a pilot workshop addressing race issues.
This is the second of three pilot workshops that will be unveiled to the
membership during the 2003 NCAA Convention. The other two workshops address issues related to gender and
sexual orientation.
e. MOIC Strategic Plan. The committee reviewed its strategic plan as well as
the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues’ five-year
plan. The committee requested that
staff provide an evaluation of current initiatives for its January
meeting. It was noted that the
staff liaisons from the MOIC and Committee on Women’s Athletics will work
jointly to prepare this evaluation.
f.
DIVISION I ONLY -
Football Study.
The committee reviewed correspondence from NCAA general counsel and made
final revisions to the football report.
(Attachment)
To ensure the committee’s
recommendations are implemented without delay, the committee agreed to forward
a letter to the Football Study Oversight Committee (FSOC) to request support
for the immediate implementation of it’s recommendations. In addition, the committee will request
support for the allocation of $1 million dollars to address the lack of ethnic
minority head coaches at all coaching levels, and to provide development and
exposure opportunities for a wider group of coaches, to ensure that appropriate
staff are available to support these initiatives, and to send a powerful
message to the membership, the media and other groups that are actively engaged
in this issue.
g. DIVISION II ONLY – Letter to
NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee. The committee noted that the 2005 Elite Eight Men’s Basketball
Championship was awarded to the University of North Dakota and the city of
Grand Forks.
The committee noted the Executive
Committee’s criteria for evaluating NCAA predetermined championship sites. The criteria include, in part “the
ability of a site to promote an atmosphere of respect for and sensitivity to
the dignity of every person.” In
light of the numerous references to American Indians in and around the arena,
the committee believes that the site does not meet this criteria.
The committee noted the
university’s recognition of the unusual national attention and media interest
surrounding the ice hockey arena, the informal, unofficial and official
organizations that are active on opposing the Fighting Sioux team name for a
number of years, the controversy surrounding the arena and the national
spotlight that will surround this championship. The committee believes that awarding this championship to
North Dakota is a violation of NCAA Constitution 2.2.2, 2.4 and 2.6. Accordingly, the committee believes
that the Association will be publicly criticized for failure to adhere to its
principles of cultural diversity and gender equity, sportsmanship and ethical
conduct and nondiscrimination.