Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct

Committee members: John C. Harper, Bridgewater State College; George A. Klebez, West Virginia Wesleyan College; Marissa Puga, Farleigh Dickinson University; Dell Robinson, Mid-American Conference; Marjorie A. Willadsen, Buena Vista University; Michael Wortley, John Hopkins University; and William Saum, staff liaison, were unable to participate on the call.

[Note:  The following minutes reflect only actions taken (formal votes or “sense of meeting”) in accordance with the NCAA policy governing minutes of all Association entities.  While certain items on the committee’s agenda were acted upon at various times throughout the meeting, all final actions within a given topic are combined in these minutes for convenience of reference.]  

Tuesday, April 9, 2002

1.

Welcome and Announcements.  Mr. Frederick called the meeting to order at 4 p.m.

2.

Use of Native American Mascots, Nicknames and Logos by NCAA Member Institutions.  Mr. Stratten explained that the NCAA Executive Committee had requested the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC) to review the use of Native Americans as team mascots by NCAA member institutions.  Accordingly, MOIC had requested the committee to provide its position on this issue no later than May 1.

It was VOTED

“That the committee develop a statement discouraging the membership’s use of nicknames, mascots, logos or other imagery that depicted Native Americans or their heritage in a matter that was offensive to some or many Native Americans.  The statement should indicate that such usage was in conflict with NCAA Constitution 2.4, the Principle of Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct and the values noted in the committee’s mission statement.  The statement should also recommend that the issue be decided by the member institution, their conferences or community and not at the national level.”

3.

Adjournment.  The conference call was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.