ANAHEIM, California -- Though the subject of American Indian mascots can be a contentious one, discussion was civil and informative during the Association-wide session devoted to the topic. The session was one of several offered January 11 during the NCAA Convention.

The session featured the report of the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC) on the issue. The MOIC has spent the past 18 months examining American Indian mascots in intercollegiate athletics, and it recently forwarded a report and several recommendations to the Management Councils in all three divisions.

Amy Hackett, associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator at the University of Utah and a member of the MOIC, explained the many recommendations and referred session attendees to the report issued by the committee.

"After many months of research and analysis, the (MOIC) concluded that the use of American Indian mascots must be of concern to the NCAA," she said. "Based on the feedback we received from American Indians, the committee believes good intentions to honor American Indians do not always end in good results."

The MOIC's recommendations at the institutional level include a proposed institutional self-analysis for those institutions that have American Indian mascots. Pending approval by the various governing bodies of the NCAA, the analysis would become part of the certification process in Division I and part of the Institutional Self-Study Guide in Divisions II and III.

Recommendations at the conference level include monitoring American Indian mascots during conference championships and reviewing conference policies, particularly those related to sportsmanship.

At the Association level, recommendations include setting behavioral standards at championships; the establishment of criteria for NCAA championships sites, including a review of the visibility of American Indian mascots; and the elimination of references to mascot names and logos in NCAA publications and announcements.

Hackett noted that the recommendations are working their way through the governance structure and likely would be examined by the NCAA Executive Committee at a future meeting.

Scott Nichols, director of athletics at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, discussed the issues to be considered by the athletics department and the institution to make changes in an American Indian mascot. Nichols was at the institution, which used to be known as North Adams State College, during its transition from the Mohawks to the Trailblazers.

Nichols said creating a diverse committee to examine the issue had been helpful at Massachusetts Liberal Arts, as had discussion forums on campus.

One realization that helps moves the discussion forward, Nichols said, is the understanding that an institution's opponents may create extremely disrespectful traditions and practices, regardless of how respectful an institution is to the use of the mascot.

"You can't control those outside forces," he said. "You can't control what happens in the crowd during games when people do a drum beat on the bleachers or use the tomahawk chop, and you can't control what's in the media."

Nichols explained that one newspaper, referring to a then-North Adams State loss, referred to one of the school's teams as "Indian roadkill on Route 2."

Nichols also noted that the mascot change had created some opportunities for his institution in terms of new logo development and merchandise, opportunities that he thought would be enhanced at larger schools.

"I think it's important to remember, no matter how much work it takes to change, that these (American Indians) are people," Nichols said. "These are human beings. It's important to do the right thing."

Roger Thomas, director of athletics at the University of North Dakota, presented the perspective of an institution that had considered changing its mascot and had decided to retain it.

"There are many people who end up on both sides of the issue," Thomas said. "We certainly see that there are many groups who have come out in opposition to it, while at the grass-roots level, we don't see that."

Thomas also noted that his institution is located in a state with many American Indian reservations and many uses and references, including an Indian symbol on highway patrol cars and highway road signs. The state of North Dakota also is referred to as the "Sioux State."

"The school has had a long history of Native American students and programs," he said, noting that the school's logo, which is the only representation of the Fighting Sioux, was drawn by a noted American Indian artist.

Thomas concluded his presentation by noting that the state board of education had voted to retain the mascot, thus removing the college president and the athletics department from the debate.

"By edict of the state board of education, we are retaining the name and trying to do everything in our power to ensure that there's a hospitable environment on our campus," he said.