Institutions that use 15-passenger vans to transport student-athletes or other students on field trips should take note of a recent consumer advisory regarding the vans.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a cautionary warning April 9 to users of 15-passenger vans, citing an increased risk of rollover when those vans carry more than 10 occupants.

The NHTSA, which studied the issue after several highly publicized rollover incidents involving college students and student-athletes, found that vans loaded with 10 or more occupants were three times as likely to roll over as compared to other light trucks and vans or lightly loaded 15-passenger vans.

"Our concern is that the handling characteristics of these vehicles change dramatically when they are fully loaded with 10 or more passengers," said Rae Tyson, an NHTSA spokesperson. "The risk of rollover increases three times when they are loaded."

The group's analysis revealed that loading the 15-passenger van causes the center of gravity to shift rearward and upward, increasing the likelihood of rollover. It also found that the shift in the van's center of gravity also increases the potential for loss of control in panic maneuvers.

The NHTSA study also noted that even when carrying between one and four passengers, the 15-passenger vans were 17 percent more likely to be involved in a rollover accident than smaller vans or minivans.

Because of these risks, the NHTSA has announced that "it is important that 15-passenger vans be operated by experienced drivers." While drivers of 15-passenger vans are not required to possess a commercial driver's license, the NHTSA notes that drivers should be familiar with the handling characteristics of vans, especially when the vans are fully loaded.

The NHTSA urged institutions using 15-passenger vans to require seat-belt use at all times since buckling up dramatically increases the chances of survival during a rollover crash. The federal agency noted that 80 percent of victims who died in 15-passenger van rollover accidents last year were not wearing seat belts.

While federal law prohibits the sale of 15-passenger vans for the transport of high-school age students and those who are younger, no such prohibition exists for vehicles that transport college students or other passengers.

The models examined by the NHTSA were: the Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, Dodge Ram Van and Wagon, Ford Econoline, Ford Club Wagon and GMC Rally/
Vandura.

"These are perfectly safe vehicles if they are used properly," said Mike Morrisey, a spokesperson for the General Motors Corporation. "People should always remember that loading affects handling characteristics."

The NCAA, which does not have a policy regarding van travel by member institutions, issued an advisory to representatives of all NCAA member schools April 10, notifying them of the NHTSA's announcement.

Wallace I. Renfro, NCAA director of public relations, noted that whether to use 15-passenger vans and under what conditions remains the decision of each individual institution within the NCAA.

"I think all member schools are interested in safety issues, and they will see how it applies to them," Renfro said of the NHTSA's advisory. "At the end of the day, it's like the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit. You're dependent on individual compliance."

For additional information on van travel in intercollegiate athletics, see "Warning: Road risks ahead," from the August 28, 2000, issue of The NCAA News, at www.ncaa.org.

KeriAnn Lynch, a freshman cross country student-athlete at Syracuse University, has another talent that has nothing to do with running. She's a baton twirler who performs with the Syracuse marching band.

Lynch has been featured during pregame activities and at halftime of home football games, and she also has performed at halftime of Syracuse men's basketball games.

Lynch began her baton twirling career at age 5, and she has performed in Europe, at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Parade and at Universal Studios. She has even performed for two U.S. presidents.

A psychology major, Lynch has proven no slouch on the track either. A walk-on at Syracuse, she has the school's fastest women's 800-meter time of the year (2:18.28).

April moments

While March is known for its basketball madness, April is becoming to be known to NCAA administrators as a month for policy making. April was a prime meeting month for the former NCAA Council, the body that handled the administrative and legislative business of the NCAA, and April remains an annual meeting slot for the Divisions I, II and III Management Councils, the bodies that have helped drive policy changes for the Association since the federated structure appeared in 1997.

A look back at some significant April Council decisions:

April 2000 -- The Division I Management Council accepts a basketball reform package intended to dramatically change the culture of the sport. The package includes provisions for incoming basketball student-athletes to have an academic "head start" by being allowed to enroll in summer classes. The package also limits to five the maximum number of scholarships that institutions may grant in basketball any one year (and a maximum of eight over a two-year span). (The NCAA News, April 24, 2000)

April 1997 -- The NCAA Council, in its final meeting before the Association restructures into federated governance groups, issues interpretations to help Division I institutions comply with legislation that allows student-athletes to earn up to $2,000 beyond a full grant-in-aid. Ultimately, the proposed legislation will go through a one-year moratorium before becoming effective August 1, 1998. (The NCAA News, April 28, 1997)

April 1993 -- The NCAA Council directs the Association's Committee on Financial Aid and Amateurism to review the NCAA's 20-year-old sport-by-sport amateurism legislation. Strong support is expressed for reconsideration of the premise that one can be a professional in one sport and retain NCAA eligibility in other sports. (The NCAA News, April 28, 1993)

April 1989 -- The NCAA Council backs the plan of NCAA Executive Director Richard D. Schultz to establish an athletics certification program and peer-review procedure for Division I programs. Schultz's proposal has its base in the institutional self-study of athletics programs that was made mandatory by the membership at the special NCAA Convention in June 1985. (The NCAA News, April 26, 1989)