1. ACTION
ITEM.
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, Presidents 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 woman 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 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 its 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 related to the
Confederate battle flag. 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
would 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.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association
October 8, 2002 KG:tw/rcr