MASCOTS

Staff review results in school's retention on restriction list

The University of North Dakota remains on a list of colleges and universities subject to restrictions on the use of Native American mascots, names and imagery at NCAA championships, following a review of an appeal submitted by the institution.

The staff review committee designated by the NCAA Executive Committee to review facts related to institutions' appeals noted lack of support for the university's nickname and imagery by the three federally recognized Sioux tribes of North Dakota as a primary consideration in the decision to retain North Dakota on the list.

One primary, but not exclusive, consideration in the review process is documentation that a "namesake" tribe has formally approved use of the mascot, name and imagery of the institution.

The committee also determined that North Dakota will be permitted to host the 2006 Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship West regional without altering its current contract. The committee determined it would not be reasonable to cover up or remove all Native American imagery in Ralph Engelstad Arena, site of the competition, and that the restriction was adopted by the Executive Committee after the contract was awarded to the university. The institution will be prohibited from hosting future championships in the arena.

The university has an opportunity to appeal the decision in writing to the Executive Committee.

LEGAL

Supreme Court denies appeal of 'two-in-four' rule decision

The Association and the Creative Street Media Group jointly have received an award for a film promoting the attributes of NCAA women's basketball.

The film -- titled "All Day, Every Day. Our Game" -- received a Gold Award in the annual Aurora Awards competition, an international program to recognize excellence in the film and video industry by honoring outstanding commercials, cable programming, documentaries, and instructional and corporate videos.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined October 3 to hear an appeal of a decision last year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upholding the NCAA's "two-in-four" rule.

The rule, which allows Division I institutions to participate in certified basketball contests no more than twice every four years, was challenged on antitrust grounds by Worldwide Basketball and Sport Tours and a group of other college basketball promoters.

The 6th Circuit judges ruled in November 2004 that Worldwide Basketball and Sport Tours and the other promoters failed to demonstrate how the rule restricts free trade.

The NCAA rule was instituted to allow student-athletes at different schools the opportuity to participate in the tournaments, instead of limiting participation to perennial favorites.

The case now returns to the Ohio federal district court that initially granted a permanent injunction halting NCAA enforcement of the rule in 2003, for review of remaining issues.

EXHIBIT

Hall of Champions offering exhibit on science of sports

The NCAA Hall of Champions is hosting a three-month educational exhibit that examines the science of sports through interactive components.

The exhibit, "Team Up! Explore Science & Sports" will run through December 26.

The exhibit allows visitors to test their skills in a variety of sports, such as basketball, tennis, soccer and football, while learning about geometry, physics, gravitational force and friction.

Visitors can pitch a baseball in a radar-equipped booth; experiment with balance on a balance beam; make a bounce pass using one of the displays; shoot a marble-sized basketball through a tiny hoop while learning about trajectory angles; and learn how different floor surfaces affect performance.

There also are displays that explain the development of and various types of sports equipment.

"Team Up" is a collaboration of The Discovery Center Museum in Rockford, Illinois, and the Family Museum of Arts and Sciences in Bettendorf, Iowa, with funding from the National Science Foundation.

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