National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News Digest

April 21, 1997

DIVISION II

Presidents approve plans to enhance rules compliance

The NCAA Division II Presidents Council Transition Team recently approved plans for programs to strengthen and enhance membership compliance programs.

The presidents gave final approval to details of a program to enhance compliance services for active Division II members and an educational assessment program for Division II provisional members.

In another matter of interest to Division II, Arend D. Lubbers, president of Grand Valley State University, and Joan K. Wadlow, chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, have been ap-pointed to fill vacancies on the Division II subcommittee of the NCAA Presidents Commission and the NCAA Division II Presidents Council Transition Team.

Staff contact: Nancy L. Mitchell


LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

More than 300 student-athletes to meet May 27-30 in Florida

More than 300 student-athletes will gather May 27-30 in Florida to discuss career preparation and the student-athlete image.

The two topics will be the focus of the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference in Orlando at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

The purpose of the conference is to expand on the leadership capabilities of student-athletes selected to participate, said Ronald J. Stratten, NCAA group executive director for education services.

Staff contact: Ronald J. Stratton

TITLE IX

Registration deadline near for Kansas City Title IX seminar

Vacancies still remain for a May 12-13 Title IX seminar in Kansas City, Missouri.

The purpose of the Title IX seminar is to help educate the membership on how to assure compliance with Title IX.

Staff contacts: Janet M. Justus (overall) andKaily C. Sola (registration information).

BETTY FORD PROGRAM

Vacancies remain for popular drug-awareness program

A number of vacancies remain for the 1997 NCAA/Betty Ford Professional in Residence program.

Since 1991, more than 250 representatives have gone through the program, which raises awareness and provides a better understanding about alcoholism and drug addiction.

Each NCAA institution is permitted to send two representatives to the three-day PIR program at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California. Past participants have called it a remarkable experience and have encouraged others to take advantage of the opportunity.

Expenses for the program, hotel costs and most meal costs are covered by the program. Represen-tatives are responsible for travel expenses, some meals and any incidental expenses.

The remaining 1997 program dates, along with the deadlines for applications, are as follows: May 20-23 (April 21); June 3-6 (May 5); August 26-29 (July 28); September 23-26 (August 25); October 7-10 (September 8); December 2-5 (November 3); and December 16-19 (November 10).

The program is part of the NCAA Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) program, administered through NCAA Sports Sciences.

Staff contact: Elizabeth Binkley

TELEVISION

Men's basketball championship gains week's highest ratings

The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship was the highest-rated television program for the week in which it aired.

The game, won in overtime by the University of Arizona over the University of Kentucky, led CBS to a win over NBC in the Nielsen Media Research ratings race.

CBS's 9.4 rating and 16 share was identical to NBC's score, but Nielsen representatives estimated that there were more people watching CBS shows for the week.

The NCAA finals drew an 18.9 rating and 31 share.

Staff contact: James A. Marchiony

SPORTSMANSHIP SURVEY

A recent survey shows that the percentage of athletes who accept trash-talking as part of life in college basketball is down sharply from the percentage indicated in a similar survey taken in 1993-94.

A survey on sportsmanship issues conducted recently by the National Associa-tion of Basketball Coaches, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the Institute for Inter-national Sport showed that 43.4 percent of the men's basketball players surveyed in Divisions I, II and III, plus the NAIA, accepted trash talk at least to some degree. In contrast, a similar question three years ago was supported by 58.2 percent of the respondents.

The 29-item questionnaire is based on responses from almost 1,800 men's and women's basketball players. Areas covered included issues such as cheating, adherence to rules and fighting.

For more information, contact the Institute for International Sport at 800/447-9889.