The NCAA News - Digest

December 2, 1996

• TITLE IX -- Federal appeals court upholds ruling in Brown case
• BUDGET -- Budget, meeting schedule approved for new structure
• SPORTS SCIENCES -- Deadline approaching for speakers' grants
• REGIONAL SEMINARS -- Dates and sites established for 1997 rules-compliance seminars
• LITIGATION -- Judge refuses to provide injunction in Garden case
• CONVENTION -- Flat $100 fee to be used for delegates at '97 event

TITLE IX

Federal appeals court upholds ruling in Brown case

A Federal appeals court announced Novem-ber 21 that it affirmed a U.S. District Court decision that Brown University discriminated against women in demoting two women's sports.

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston upheld the district court's decision last year that Brown violated Title IX when it dropped women's gymnastics and volleyball from university-funded varsity status to donor-funded varsity status in May 1991.

The appeals court decision has been awaited with interest in intercollegiate athletics because of the implications for how the Education Amendments of 1972 (more commonly known as Title IX) will be enforced by the U.S. Office for Civil Rights. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex at educational institutions that receive federal funds.

Brown has not decided whether to appeal the appeals court decision.

Staff contact: Janet M. Justus.

BUDGET

Budget, meeting schedule approved for new structure

The NCAA Administrative Committee has approved a new budgeting process and governance meeting schedule for the first two academic years of the restructured NCAA.

The budget for 1997-98 will be developed under the current structure but approved in the new one. The 1998-99 budget will be developed and approved under the new structure.

Even though the final approval of the budget will occur annually at about the same time as it does now, the overall process will begin earlier each year, with committee recommendations with budget implications due by February 15.

Staff contact: Frank E. Marshall.

SPORTS SCIENCES

Deadline approaching for speakers' grants

The deadline for applications for sports sciences speakers grants is December 16.

Applications will be considered for speakers scheduled from January through June 1997.

Staff contact: Cindy A. Thomas.

REGIONAL SEMINARS

Dates and sites established for 1997 rules-compliance seminar

Dates and sites have been set for the three 1997 NCAA regional rules-compliance seminars.

They are April 23-25 -- New Orleans Hilton Riverside; April 30-May 2 -- Baltimore Omni Inner Harbor; and May 28-30 -- San Francisco Crowne Plaza Parc Fifty-Five.

Staff contacts: John H. Leavens.

LITIGATION

Judge refuses to provide injunction in Ganden case

A federal judge has denied learning-disabled swimmer Chad Ganden a preliminary injunction that would have allowed him to compete for Michigan State University this season.

Ganden is allowed to train with the Michigan State staff but not compete while he awaits the outcome of a lawsuit against the NCAA in which he claims the Association violated the Ameri-cans With Disabilities Act. A trial has not yet been scheduled to resolve the lawsuit.

In a ruling issued November 19, U.S. District Court Judge Blanche M. Manning said Ganden had not proved that he had a reasonable likelihood of success at trial, which is a requirement for a preliminary injunction.

Manning said Ganden had not proved that the NCAA discriminated against him by not allowing him to compete this season.

CONVENTION

Flat $100 fee to be used for delegates at '97 event

A flat registration fee of $100 per person will be charged for the 1997 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

The only exception will be for individuals representing commercial enterprises, in which case a $200 fee will be charged.

The registration fee covers delegate entertainment costs, such as the delegates reception, luncheons and the honors dinner.

Chief executive officers are reminded that NCAA Bylaw 5.1.3.1 stipulates that institutions or conferences that designate both a male and a female as voting or alternate delegates on the appointment-of-delegates form will be allowed to appoint four accredited delegates. In all other circumstances, institutions will be limited to not more than three delegates. They may have any number of visiting (nonvoting) delegates.

Registration fees will be collected at the registration counters.

Staff contacts: Louis J. Spry.