Experts on emergency preparedness told an audience of athletics administrators that they should not let their guard down simply because they are not producing major events.

Ted Wasky of the Federal Bureau of Investigation told NCAA Convention delegates January 12 that terrorists will try to attack again and "will not necessarily go for the biggest event."

Wasky and the other panelists -- Peter Beering, terrorism preparedness officer for the city of Indianapolis; Rick Fuson of the Indiana Pacers; and Greg Shaheen, NCAA managing director of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship -- repeatedly emphasized the need for effective planning. Wasky said that administrators can develop a quality plan by addressing four simple questions:

Who is in charge?

Where do you go if something happens (for example, do those responsible go to a staging area or a crisis scene if something occurs)?

What do you do when you get there?

Do you have the tools you need to do your job and, if not, where do you get them?

"If you can answer those questions, you've got a good plan," Watsky said.

Beering stressed the importance of establishing relationships with everybody who is responsible for managing the event, for "developing systems for the mundane that can flex for the spectacular" and for developing systems that can recognize when circumstances are going awry. "Think about contingencies ahead of time," he said, "and rehearse the plan so it's second nature."

Fuson said that in the wake of September 11, administrators need to have their practices assessed or reassessed by somebody in the security business. Any plan should be achievable (too many plans have too much fluff, he said) and communicated to a staff that knows the plan and their specific responsibilities.

Beering also noted the importance of keeping plans simple. He recommended keeping any plan to one page and using only active verbs for instructions. "The reason for that is simple," he said. "When things are going wrong, you don't have time to read a novel."

The panelists offered little comfort to those who seek to achieve a secure environment on the cheap. Fuson said the Pacers have spent $600,000 since September 11 in unbudgeted money for greater security that includes such features as round-the-clock watches on air intakes at Conseco Fieldhouse. "We're in a new normal now," he said. "I don't see it changing."

Nor did Watsky, who said: "If something does happen, the first thing the media is going to ask is, 'How did you prepare for this?' It's tragic if you have to say, 'We didn't think it would happen to us.' "

-- David Pickle

Diversity puts programs in winning column

Five panelists who led a January 12 Association-wide menu session on "Race and Gender Issues" concluded with a common thought: Hiring and retaining a diverse staff not only is the right thing to do, it is a smart way to help a program meet important objectives, including winning.

Eugene Marshall Jr., director of athletics at Ramapo College and chair of the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, moderated the session. Other panelists were Bobby Fong, president of Butler University; Ted Kissell, director of athletics at the University of Dayton; Bette Landman, president of Arcadia University and incoming chair of the Division III Presidents Council; and Christopher Walker, faculty athletics representative at the University of Redlands and incoming chair of the Division III Management Council.

Landman focused on the NCAA structure and noted the need to monitor staffing at leadership positions in the national office. Within the membership, she cited a lack of diversity among a number of committees. She also cited problems at the conference and institutional levels and even within the contests themselves (for instance, game officials).

She also questioned whether the NCAA is marketing men's and women's championships equitably and noted homophobic attitudes that exist within intercollegiate athletics.

Fong spoke broadly about the benefits that derive from diversity and noted the pitfalls that result from a lack of it. "A monochromatic student body is simply disadvantaged educationally," he said. He noted that while the ideal of Martin Luther King Jr. -- that all people should be judged by the content of character and not the color of their skin -- is correct, it does not mean that diversity does not matter. "We can't be human in general," he said. "We are human in particular."

Fong also said that too many employers hire and promote based on "fit, style or collegiality." He said common manifestations of such attitudes are "he doesn't look me in the eye" or "Asians are not assertive enough to lead."

Kissell said that diversity resonates in the competitive arena. "The fact is that a more diverse environment will help you win, and that's what you want," he said. "It's not a matter of filling your quota but of finding people who will help you meet your goals." Kissell emphasized the importance of spending enough time on personnel matters, noting that he devotes up to 40 percent of his time on hiring and development of staff.

He said college sports should beware of pigeon-holing women and minorities in certain positions and should invest in high-potential people who should be properly mentored to handle challenging assignments. Kissell also noted that most athletics directors are white males who may be uncomfortable talking about race issues with minorities. He challenged all of those involved to be less on edge and more candid in communicating about racial matters.

Walker said administrators should aspire to be the "closers" on their campuses -- those who commit to making a difference by actively helping introduce women and minorities into careers in athletics.

He noted the many programs and benefits that are available to assist with professional development, including NCAA scholarships, fellowships, internships and grant programs that are valued in the millions of dollars. "There is money to fund your initiative," he said. "The table has been set and the invitations have been sent out. It's time to come to the party."

-- David Pickle

Homophobia-free environment helps students maximize potential

For the first time at an NCAA Convention, the topic of homophobia in intercollegiate athletics was on the agenda for discussion. About 200 people attended the Association-wide menu session January 12, which featured presentations by panelists and also a question-and-answer session.

The panelists were: Laurie Priest, athletics director at Mount Holyoke College; Michael Muska, athletics director at Oberlin College; Jenny Allard, softball coach at Harvard University; and Dwight Slater, a former Division I-A football student-athlete. Nora Beck, faculty athletics representative at Lewis and Clark College, moderated the session.

Allard offered suggestions for ways coaches could address the issue.

"As coaches, we're in the business of educating student-athletes and maximizing their potential," she said. "I don't believe we can maximize student-athletes' potential if we're not open and accepting of who they are.

"At Harvard, we have a lot of diversity. We have racial diversity, we have religious diversity and we also have sexual diversity. I think, as coaches, we need to create a safe and tolerant environment within our programs and make sure that our student-athletes are not going to suffer any type of harassment or discrimination."

Allard encouraged coaches to take stock of their own beliefs on the issue of homosexuality, and she also asked them to see how they are treating other student-athletes or coaches on campus who happen to be out.

Allard noted that open discussion was a good approach for college students, who have become accustomed to discussing difficult issues.

"We're talking about all kinds of things with our students these days. We talk about hazing, we talk about alcohol and drug use, we talk about gambling, we talk about everything," she said. "Student-athletes know a lot more about things than you think, and they know before you do."

In terms of assisting specific student-athletes who come to their coach with concerns about this topic, Allard encouraged coaches to be prepared.

"The best preparation is simply not being surprised by what student-athletes tell you," she said. "As coaches, you need to remember that you're coaching the total person, not just the athlete within them."

Slater described his difficult experience as a gay student-athlete. After he had come out to his friends the summer before his freshman year of college, he said he found himself "shoved abruptly back into the closet" when he arrived at his university for fall practice. Slater said if he had to describe his experience as a gay student-athlete in one word, "that word would be 'unbearable.'"

No one on his team knew of his sexual orientation, Slater said, but he was still subjected to a climate that he considered intolerant. There were so-called "anti-gay" posters of scantily clad women, the posting of which was supposed to prove heterosexuality. There were offensive comments and ongoing jokes. It eventually became too much for Slater.

"Keeping my sexuality secret in that environment was eating me alive," he said. "My academics were affected, my football was affected. I couldn't sleep or eat."

Slater decided to approach his coach and tell him about his sexual orientation. It did not go well.

"His first words were, 'Are you sure?'" Slater said. "Then, I guess being a coach, he had been taught you need to have a plan for everything and then attack it. So, he had a 'gay plan,' I guess."

The coach wanted Slater to immediately tell his parents, the other coaches, the team. It was too much, too fast.

Slater said if the environment had been even a bit more open to the idea of having a gay athlete, "I'd still be playing football."

"But it wasn't," he said.

Oberlin's Muska encouraged administrators to think about what kind of an environment they have for gay and lesbian student-athletes on their campus.

"As an openly gay male athletics director, I hear all the time from gay and lesbian student-athletes all across the country," he said. "And, unfortunately, 90 percent of their stories are just like Dwight's story. We can't say, 'Oh, we don't have a problem here.' Because we do. And what are we doing to have an open and inclusive environment for our students?"

Muska encouraged administrators to consider how student-athletes are affected by coaches' comments and by hostile environments.

"We are all educators first and foremost, with an obligation to teach and protect all of our student-athletes," Muska said. "If we fail to protect our gay and lesbian student-athletes, we're not doing our jobs."

-- Kay Hawes

Greater SWA involvement can aid program-wide decision-making

The senior woman administrator is someone who should be involved in every aspect of the athletics department. That message, and how to best accomplish that involvement, was the topic for discussion at the Association-wide session, "Involving the Senior Woman Administrator: Strengthening the Athletics Management Team," held January 12.

Panelists were: Bill Bradshaw, athletics director at DePaul University; Mary Ellen Cloninger, senior associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at Utah State University; Arthur Eason, athletics director at William Paterson University of New Jersey; Barb Schroeder, athletics director at Regis University (Colorado); and Miechelle Willis, associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at Ohio State University. Session moderator was Judy Sweet, NCAA vice-president for championships and national office senior woman administrator.

Bradshaw said he works closely with Jean Lenti Ponsetto, senior associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at DePaul. Ponsetto has a hand in practically everything the athletics department does, an arrangement that has resulted in positive results and positive feedback, Bradshaw said.

"Our decisions seem more universally accepted -- by the staff, the coaches and the student-athletes," Bradshaw said. "To give you an idea of just how involved she is, I am here talking about the role of the SWA, while Jean is back at a men's basketball game (at DePaul) overseeing a packed house."

Cloninger noted that athletics directors can impact the role of the senior woman administrator in a variety of ways, from their assignments to where their offices are located.

"First, provide the opportunity for broad-based assignments and recognize the value the SWA can bring to your team," she said. "Encourage trust and loyalty by communicating with her about all significant issues."

Schroeder encouraged administrators to look for potential within their staff, and she noted that Division II had recognized the need to address use of SWAs.

"For years I've heard, 'We just can't afford (to hire additional staff) and we don't have any positions available,'" she said. "I think it's time to move beyond that. When I became athletics director, I saw an opportunity to start growing someone on my own staff."

Schroeder said she encourages administrators in similar situations to talk to the full-time women on their staffs, from coaches and athletic trainers to sports information personnel.

"The important thing is to make sure you're getting someone who has interest in furthering her career in athletics administration. I did that, and when I did I discovered that my basketball coach was very interested," Schroeder said, noting that she eventually appointed the coach as SWA, added to her responsibilities and also gave her a modest pay raise. Schroeder provides development opportunities for the SWA, who is expanding her knowledge in areas, such as compliance and marketing.

"I hope and encourage all of you who have used money as an excuse in the past (to not appoint an SWA) to set that aside and look at how you can build someone who is already on your staff," she said. "My feeling is that, especially for Division II, it's time to to train and mentor these women to go out and be qualified for leadership positions."

--Kay Hawes

Hazing forum draws a crowd

The Association-wide forum on hazing and fan control attracted a standing-room-only crowd January 12.

Tim Clark, NCAA education outreach program coordinator, moderated the discussion. The panelists were: Thomas A. Butcher, university counsel at Grand Valley State University; Richard A. Farnham, athletics director at the University of Vermont; Armin Pipho, athletics director at Concordia College, Moorhead; and Meg Stevens, former student-athlete at State University of New York College at Cortland and chair of the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Pipho discussed the use of an athletics department hazing policy and the importance of giving student-athletes specific, concrete examples of hazing and unacceptable conduct.

Farnham briefly described the experiences at Vermont in January 2000, when the university president canceled the remainder of the men's ice hockey season after he discovered that student-athletes from the team had been involved in a hazing incident and then lied about their involvement.

Farnham encouraged the development of a hazing policy that student-athletes would accept.

"Students must have ownership of hazing prevention efforts," Farnham said. "They need to be involved in the defining of hazing, in the interpretation of dangers, in crafting policies and in preventing hazing from occurring." He noted that education of the student-athletes needs to be at the heart of the program. Vermont implemented a program that:

Develops a contract for student-athletes that defines hazing and the consequences of participation;

Initiates a leadership program for team captains;

Institutes a mandatory preseason community-service project;

Establishes a program of education, making use of the student-athlete advisory committee, for all student-athletes to help dispel the myth that "forcing" someone to participate is an essential part of hazing;

Encourages each team to partner with the community, with the student-athletes becoming ambassadors for the school; and

Establishes a for-credit life skills course for all first-year student-athletes that includes hazing and other topics.

Stevens encouraged administrators to think about ways to prevent hazing by offering other alternatives for student-athletes.

"Student-athletes need to feel like they are a team off of the court, and they may turn to hazing in an effort to accomplish that," she said. "Let them know there are many kinds of team-building activities available. Suggest community-service projects, team dinners or other activities."

Butcher discussed the legal implications of hazing for universities and colleges, and noted that definitions matter.

"Students define hazing differently (than administrators)," he said, noting that he no longer asks if someone has been hazed. "Instead, I ask if there is a ritual, a tradition or an initiation rite in which someone gets hurt."

Butcher also noted that 40 states criminalize hazing, with Ohio's anti-hazing legislation including civil penalties, as well. And, the state of Arizona now requires institutions to have policies mandating anti-hazing education for student-athletes.

In a subsequent presentation, Butcher discussed the legalities of fan control and the types of lawsuits universities had seen regarding injuries to fans.

"The law says that when people come onto our property to watch games, they are invitees, and we have a duty to keep the premises safe," Butcher said.

-- Kay Hawes