After completing a comprehensive review of issues surrounding institutions' use of American Indian mascots, nicknames and imagery, the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC) is recommending that schools that use them thoroughly examine whether they offend any of their constituents.

The MOIC, meeting September 23-25 in Phoenix, took an aggressive approach to ensuring that NCAA institutions with American Indian mascots conduct their athletics activities in a respectful environment. In fact, the MOIC believes that the tradition of using American Indian mascots ought to be retired; however, the committee realizes and supports member institutions' rights to determine what their mascot should be, as long as institutions ensure the use is appropriate.

To determine such appropriateness, the MOIC is recommending that schools conduct a review "of the depiction of and behaviors associated with the use by their athletics teams, cheerleaders, band members, other auxiliary groups and fans." The review would rely on feedback from department of athletics representatives, faculty and staff, individuals from the community, student-athletes, conference membership and local American Indian tribes or community members.

To make sure the review is meaningful, the MOIC is asking that legislation be adopted to require the self-analysis to be submitted as part of the athletics certification process for Division I institutions or the self-assessment process for Divisions II and III institutions. Division I institutions would have to conduct the review regardless of where they fall in the certification cycle.

According to the proposal, aspects of mascot use or behaviors associated with mascots that the review finds to be offensive would have to be eliminated in order to comply with the NCAA's principles of cultural diversity and gender equity, sportsmanship and ethical conduct and nondiscrimination.

"We believe this system does not hurt the institutions that have exercised cultural respect through their mascots -- those that have tried to work with tribes and community members to ensure there's that respect," said MOIC Chair Eugene Marshall, athletics director at Ramapo College. "But for schools that conduct practices that are offensive, it holds them accountable for change."

The MOIC also is recommending reviews at the conference and NCAA levels. Conferences would be required to review policies regarding contests with institutions using American Indian mascots or nicknames, and to complete a self-analysis checklist for conference championship venues and host institutions. At the NCAA level, the MOIC would work with staff to establish criteria for NCAA championships sites that eliminate the use of American Indian mascots, logos and symbols in arena signage, championships publications and announcements.

"We're not making these recommendations lightly," Marshall said. "This comes only after a thorough, 18-month study indicating that, yes, we do have some schools out there that use mascots, imagery or behaviors that are in fact offensive to American Indians. We took great pains to make respectful recommendations in accordance with the NCAA constitution in reference to the type of environment in which student-athletes compete. That respect is the basis on which we made our recommendations.

"The system we want to put in place is respectful of each institution on an individual basis -- we're not trying to lump all of them into one -- but we're also trying to respect the American Indian tribes and everybody's rights."

The issue of American Indian mascots and nicknames has been controversial for some time. Some American Indian constituent groups have protested NCAA schools' use of mascots and the behaviors that they prompt from fans or participants at athletics contests, but some school administrators have countered that the mascots and nicknames are not intended to be offensive and should therefore be retained.

Some critics also say that curbing the use of American Indian mascots would be "hypocritical" if other groups are allowed to be represented by mascots (for example, Irish, Dutchmen, Quakers, Scots, etc.). Marshall said, however, that the MOIC's review showed that the American Indian mascot issue was unique because the Indian mascots and imagery often depict religious, cultural or tribal customs inappropriately.

"The face paints, the wardrobe and the dances hold special meaning," he said, "and many American Indian constituents, whether they are located near the universities that use them or not, feel they have no place at an athletics contest."

The MOIC recommendations will be forwarded to the Executive Committee's subcommittee on gender and diversity, which next meets October 30.

Division II championship site

One immediate concern the MOIC has regarding the use of mascots at NCAA championships is with the 2005 Division II Men's Basketball Championship, scheduled to be at the University of North Dakota, which uses American Indian nicknames and imagery.

The committee raised concern that the site was awarded without regard to the American Indian matter and agreed to ask that the Division II Men's Basketball Committee reconsider awarding North Dakota the championship. Specifically, the committee noted the Executive Committee's criteria for evaluating NCAA predetermined championship sites, which include "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 does not meet the criteria.

Marshall said the MOIC noted the amount of national attention and media interest surrounding the university's ice hockey arena, and the informal, unofficial and official organizations that have actively opposed the Fighting Sioux team name for a number of years.

"It's impossible to ignore the controversy surrounding the arena and the national spotlight that will shine on this championship," Marshall said. "The MOIC believes that by awarding this championship to North Dakota, the NCAA will be publicly criticized for failure to adhere to its principles of cultural diversity and gender equity, sportsmanship and ethical conduct and nondiscrimination."

The issue is an example of why the MOIC believes it is important for the Association to establish criteria for predetermined sites in this regard. The committee also believes that teams that use American Indian mascots or imagery that are selected to participate in championships should not be allowed to bring their mascots or use inappropriate signage. That issue likely will be further addressed by the Divisions I, II and III championships bodies.

The Division I Championships/
Competition Cabinet at its September meeting already took the position that while institutions should support the dignity and welfare of all individuals, it would be inappropriate to restrict access to championships for teams that use American Indian mascots, nicknames or imagery.

"The cabinet is committed to the creation and preservation of quality championship opportunities for all student-athletes, regardless of their age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, creed or sexual orientation," the position statement reads. "(But) it is the position of the cabinet that access to or the location of NCAA championship events should not be restricted because of issues related to the use by institutions of American Indian mascots or images."

Other highlights

Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee
September 23-25/Phoenix

Reaffirmed support for the allocation of $1 million to address the lack of ethnic minority head coaches in football by (1) providing development and exposure opportunities for a wider group of coaches, (2) ensuring that appropriate staff are available to support these initiatives, and (3) sending a powerful message to the membership, the media and other groups that are actively engaged in this issue.

Continued to review ways to improve diversity at the graduate assistant position in football, including the concept of a matching grant that would provide schools with an incentive for hiring ethnic minorities in those positions.

Reviewed data from the 2001 Race Demographics of NCAA Member Institutions' Athletics Personnel (see story, page 1). The committee recommended that the report be formally presented to the Executive Committee, the Division I Board of Directors, the Divisions II and III Presidents Councils, and the Divisions I, II and III Management Councils, as well as to NCAA national office senior staff.

Agreed to partner with the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics to evaluate gender and diversity initiatives at an upcoming joint meeting to determine the impact the programs have in diversifying intercollegiate athletics.