The NCAA Executive Committee has advanced recommendations from its Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity regarding American Indian mascots and the Confederate battle flag.

Meeting August 8 in Indianapolis, the Executive Committee supported recommendations to establish a self-analysis process for institutions that use American Indian mascots and a timeline for completing that review. The self-analysis would include a checklist that institutions would use to determine whether their use of mascots is offensive. Though the Executive Committee did not approve any criteria that would be included in the process at this time, members agreed to let the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC) establish criteria for the Executive Committee's review in August 2004.

If the Executive Committee approves the self-analysis process in August 2004, institutions that use American Indian mascots or nicknames would receive materials by September 1, 2004, and have until July 1, 2005, to complete their review. The Executive Committee subcommittee and the MOIC would review those reports by December 2005. The recommendation is for institutions to conduct the self-analysis through a broad-based review that would include representation from the athletics department, faculty, staff, community, student-athletes, and local American Indian tribes and community.

The recommendation for institutional self-analysis stems from an Executive Committee charge to the MOIC in April 2001 to review the mascot issue. Since then, the MOIC undertook a comprehensive study of the issue, with input from member institutions, American Indian tribes and other constituents. As of now, 31 NCAA institutions have American Indian mascots or nicknames. The concept of institutional self-analysis already has received general support from the Divisions I, II and III governance structures. The MOIC's preliminary report, which was issued in November 2002, also included recommended requirements for conference offices and the NCAA. Those recommendations were also endorsed with one exception (required exclusion of nicknames in NCAA publications), although they have not yet gained an Association-wide consensus. The recommendations include a similar request for conference office self-analysis and Association-wide establishment of criteria for NCAA championships sites.

Wichita State University President Donald Beggs, who chairs the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity, said the feedback the MOIC has received in compiling its report indicates that most schools currently using American Indian mascots and nicknames, particularly those schools that already have established congenial relationships with local tribes, would not have an issue with completing a self-analysis.

"The process is intended to be a positive part of dealing with the issue," Beggs said. "We believe the mascot issue to be an institutional and conference decision -- and we believe the self-analysis to be a constructive process that helps institutions make good decisions."

Confederate battle flag

In addition to its action regarding American Indian mascots, the Executive Committee also reviewed the Confederate battle flag issue and voted to maintain previously established policies concerning Georgia, South Carolina and Mississippi, three states in which the flag issue has been prominent. The Executive Committee agreed the NCAA should continue to honor existing contracts for events in Georgia and to contract for future events in that state; to retain the moratorium on conducting events in South Carolina; and to retain the position of not awarding contracts for NCAA-sponsored predetermined championships in Mississippi.

Executive Committee members reached those decisions after reviewing activity regarding the Confederate battle flag in each of those states. In Georgia, the state legislature replaced a two-year-old state flag last May with a simpler design that does not include any Confederate battle emblem and voted for a March 2004 referendum to decide between the two. The Executive Committee might reconsider its position pending that decision.

The flag issue has not changed in South Carolina since the Confederate battle flag that once flew atop the statehouse was moved to the statehouse lawn. The move was made in response to pressure from civil-rights leaders, but many view the new location as more prominent than the old.

In Mississippi, a 2001 statewide referendum to remove the Confederate emblem from the state flag failed by a 2-to-1 margin.

The discussion regarding the Confederate flag began in April 2000 when the National Association of Basketball Coaches asked the NCAA to move the 2002 Division I Men's Basketball Championship first- and second-round games in the South region to an alternate site. In April 2001, the Executive Committee endorsed criteria for evaluating all future NCAA predetermined championship sites; acted to honor all contractual commitments to conduct championships and other events in Georgia; voted to honor existing contractual commitments in South Carolina; and agreed that the NCAA will not schedule predetermined NCAA championships in Mississippi for the foreseeable future.

Then in August 2001, the Committee established a two-year moratorium on awarding any new NCAA-sponsored predetermined championships or other events and meetings in South Carolina.

"Two years ago, we asked that the flag in South Carolina be moved to a less prominent place, but it was moved to a more prominent place," Beggs said. "We put in place a two-year moratorium with an option for a third year, and since there has been no change in South Carolina, we voted to exercise that third year."

Budget approved

The Executive Committee also reviewed fiscal matters, and as is customary during the group's August meeting, members approved the NCAA operating budget for 2003-04.

The 2003-04 budget of $452,500,000 reflects a projected increase in revenues of about 7.2 percent, or $30.3 million, primarily from the CBS Sports and ESPN television and marketing rights fees. Championships revenue is expected to increase by about 3.3 percent.

As for expenses, the allocation to Division I revenue distribution will increase by 7.8 percent ($19.2 million) based on the plan that was approved last year. Division I also was allocated a 1.6 percent increase to maintain the existing championships program and $1.3 million to fund new initiatives that were approved by the Division I Board of Directors and the Executive Committee last year. In total, Division I has been allocated a 7.2 percent increase or $21.4 million increase over the previous year. Expenses also will increase by 7.2 percent in Divisions II ($1,323,000) and III ($963,000).

Association-wide expenses include $1.6 million for student-athlete welfare programs. The Association-wide budget also includes $600,000 to fund new initiatives and program support approved last year as part of the second year of the biennial budget process. Also included are adjustments for strategic planning, funding for the minority coaches program initiative, investment and audit committee services, and increased funding to enhance the services provided to the membership in the areas of enforcement and membership services.

Other highlights

Executive Committee
August 8/Indianapolis

Approved a recommendation to select Deloitte & Touché as the NCAA's audit firm, replacing Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Approved a recommendation from NCAA general counsel to explore making as a condition of NCAA membership (including for exploratory and provision members) mandatory binding arbitration of claims arising under federal law. The matter will be sent to each division's Management Council for review, with recommendations due back to the Executive Committee by April 2004.

Participated in a strategic-planning session that included drafting an NCAA core purpose, and core values and goals (see related story page 6).